Missing the NHS

Say what you will about the NHS (National Health Service) in Britain, but when compared to the lack of health care availability, options, or coverage in the USA, it is an infinitely better system. Yes, there are problems. You may have to wait a few months for non-emergency surgery or to see a specialist, but you will always have access to free unlimited quality health care for yourself and your family. Always. Not so in the USA. Not only do we pay a fortune for our health insurance, but it doesn't even cover the essential care that we need as parents of a young child. Last week we received a bill for $500 because Kellan apparently used up his annual well baby allowance at his 9 and 12 month appointments, and thus, his 15 month check up and injections are billed entirely to us. I'm talking about MMR and chicken pox vaccines. Not covered. And his 18 month visit also falls within the year, so will not be covered. Which means that, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to cancel that visit and simply take him in when our next "year" of coverage begins. I can't afford to pay out of pocket for pediatrician visits which amount to, "Yes, he's big and healthy, see you in three months". I am a research scientist and I don't earn much. And right now I am a very angry and frustrated mother. In Britain, my son would have had the best care, constant care, much more thorough than the every three months appointments here, and all of it would have been free. But here, in the USA, my son will be skipping appointments and receiving only partial care, all of which I am paying for at great expense. The next time that I hear a member of my family back in Britain complain about the NHS, they're going to get an earful!