"Norway has an individual annual deductible ($500 per person per year, as I recall reading, but it's waived for poor people)."

Who would decide who is poor enough to have fees waived? Would patients have to prove receipt of welfare or GAINS? And what about the working poor? I recall that when I was a young man dealing with epilepsy 35-40 years ago I had to pay $75 per visit to see a neurologist. My income was very low and I had no benefits and often simply couldn't afford to go to the appointments, nor could I afford the required medication. I applied for drug coverage through welfare and was told I was ineligible. Personally, I think we're slowly moving toward American-style health care inequity in this country.