Re: "The US system is VERY COSTLY"

You can say that again. My husband and I are 'snowbirds' and have had occasion to need health care in Florida. He was bitten by a spider and it got seriously infected, but due to the location of the bite, the doctor advised against surgery (it could have cut a nerve and could have ended in death, he said). So my husband spent 4 days in bed with an IV antibiotic drip, and then was sent home once stabilized for ME to "express" the toxins out of the wound. Total hospital bill for the 4 day stay was over $100,000.00 - US! If we had not had out-of-country medical insurance, we would be paupers. It was outrageous (especially considering no surgery took place at all).

Perhaps the huge sign outside the hospital that said, "FREE VALET PARKING" should have been a clue.