Quote Originally Posted by David88vert View Post
Ireland - The poorer you are, the more taxpayer-paid coverage that you can receive. It is not equal and fair to all. Not really a problem in my view though on that point.
Waiting lists for those without private insurance can stretch into years - even for critical operations like heart operations. There are tens of thousands of people waiting for their "free" medical services.
Baby aspirin is a prescription drug - and expensive. 30 baby aspirin can cost 10 Irish pounds. Normal aspirin is hard to find in Ireland.
If you wife needs an OB/GYN for a pregnancy, she will likely have to wait 6 months to a year in some areas - of course, the baby should be born in 9 months.
During the winter flu seasons, there are nearly weekly stories of overcrowded emergency facilities with patients lying on gurneys in the halls for periods up to three days.
That said - most are happy with the doctors and nurses. And most people there agree that private insurance is required to get responsive healthcare - its the only way to jump up the line.

Germany's system seems to be better, but I don't know enough details of it to comment on it.
Are you speaking from experience? Because I lived there the majority of my short life.