[StephN]

Yes, A.A., I have heard of doctors who carefully screen new patients because they only want a certain percentage to be on Medicare. My uncle in Spokane moved to Moscow, Idaho to be closer to his son and grandchildren after my aunt died. He had the worst time trying to get on with a new doctor and when he was finally accepted into a practice the doctor was quite young and did not have the experience with heart patients that my uncle wanted.

My uncle ended up moving BACK to Spokane and is very happy to be with his prior doctors.

And my cousin in Florida has to drive four hours to see her specialist - one that takes Medicare patients with her rather rare problem.

Sarah - I know firsthand about the French medical system. My inlaws were frequent users. But my mother-in-law would go in for a complaint and come out with more pills than she could carry!! Those doctors can really be DRUG PUSHERS. She would end up with problems from the interactions and her doctor here would take her off half that stuff and she would feel much better.
The worst thing is that so many French women are addicted to sleeping pills. We did not know that about my mother-in-law until she had a hospital stay here and had the withdrawal signs. The nurses here identified it and asked what all she had been taking. We found them hidden in her bedroom, and showed her doctor who was quite shocked and said those pills had been actually doing her more harm than good.