Hi Laurel,
I think your view of European healthcare is not entirely correct. Which is understandable, because American media don't really cover what's going on here. There are big differences between countries, and I believe there is no true Socialist country left here.
Most countries are trying to find a compromise between Socialism and Capitalism, to improve quality of life and to protect the weak and the sick.
I live in the Netherlands, where we have a good healthcare system with affordable insurance that's obligatory for all. We can choose our insurance company and our program, but we have to get coverage for the basics.
I have not paid one cent for all my regular therapies, and although my Zoladex & Arimidex tx were not the standard of care at the time when I was diagnosed, my insurance pays for it. My onc said it was up to me whether I wanted to do hormonal tx, but he signed the papers so I would get coverage. I also get most of my CAM therapies reimbursed by my insurance. I pay a couple of extra Euro's for coverage.
In my country it would be unthinkable that someone would be refused chemo until they payed their bills. I know of someone who had to sell her car to get treatment, in the US. I know of several people who got into deep financial trouble because their plans didn't cover all treatments.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems I think. Just like there are differences between breastcancer patients. Europe isn't one country with one government.
Just my two cents.
Love
Jacqueline
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Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.
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