So, poor Boone picked up a nasty case of conjunctivitis during his first days in Budapest. It was the last thing he needed as our landing here was, um, bumpy at best. However, we got to experience the marvels of "socialized" medicine as opposed to the market-chained health care we were forced to endure back in the States.
We called our Hungarian "anya"(mother), Hajni, and she whisked Boone off to a swell doctor who, after a short wait, prescribed three medications (one of which was a pupil dilator, which gave Boone a spooky, David Bowie-like visage). The visit and the drugs together cost a mere 25 bucks. Compare that to the U.S., where the visit alone would have likely cost at least eighty bucks, if not more. There was no immediate co-pay and Boone has the option of waiting until his insurance kicks in and will cover the costs.
Our friend Debra had to get an EKG here in Hungary...that plus her prescriptions cost just 16 dollars. The EKG alone in the US would cost 2000 dollars. The discrepancy between the two systems is embarrassing. The more accessible health care is to citizens, regardless of tax-bracket, the better off the United States will be.
