Read the quote below and tell me where you DID NOT say free? let me help you by highlighting it for you. And no, our healthcare is not cheap either. You may pay little or nothing in premiums but that doesn't mean healthcare is cheap.
Your parroted rant about US healthcare is old and tiring. Our healthcare system does not work and is grossly in debt. The level of service we receive is not inline with the amount of money(taxes) we pay to receive it. The vast majority of Americans have healthcare coverage. And the poor(and often stupid who don't prioritize their health over fast food and luxuries) also receive healthcare, it's called medicaid. Yes, without medical benefits you may not get a knee replaced, a brace, or the best cancer treatment. You will however received a ride to the hospital and receive immediate medical care, just ask a scumbag who get's shot on the street. Not one was left to die because they failed to produce a benefits card.
It is free in the sense that you don't pay extra for most care beyond your taxes. And our drug costs are controlled and much lower than in the US. The system works pretty well considering it is underfunded and under staffed. There are long waits for some elective procedures but when my mother had cancer (twice) whe was attended to quickly and well and is still alive. Her hip replacement and ensuing difficulties afterwards were also covered including a whole pile of rehab etc. And just wow, the poor are also stupid? Many can't afford health insurance because they are forced to work a couple minimum wage jobs that aren't even a living wage. Forget being able to make out of pocket expenses. Many in Canada barely make a living wage too but their health care is subsidized by those that do make much more. I don't mind paying taxes to help take care of others in my community. It's called being a caring and decent society.
Now if you have cancer in the US you are looking at out of pocket and co-pay costs. The average patient pays between $6,000 and $10,000 per year out of pocket when premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance were factored in. If a patient needs out-of-network care or a treatment that’s not covered by their insurance plan, the costs only get worse. High co-insurance, deductibles, occasional out-of-network care, and uncovered treatments add up, even for those with good health inmsurance. That doesn't even include some of the drug costs. Newly approved drugs can cost up to $10,000 per month, and patients are expected to pay 20-30% of these costs. That means a year’s worth of these new drugs could cost $24,000 to $36,000 out of pocket
Here's an example of what can happen with a heart attack:
"Drew Calver, 44, of Austin, Texas, had a heart attack last year, resulting in a four-day emergency hospital stay, according to a report from Kaiser Health News. Despite having health-care coverage, he wound up with the six-figure bill — thanks to a practice known as “balance billing.” In balance billing, medical providers that are out of network are unable to reach an agreement with the insurer on a reasonable price for service. In turn, the patient ends up on the hook for the remainder.
And while true that if you are brought into a hospital with life threatening injurues they are legally bound to treat you. But what often happens is they will do the minimum to stabilize you until you can be transferred to a cheaper, charity funded hospital where the level of care you recieve is often lower. Often they will send your bill to collections where you are then harrassed for years or forced to declare bankruptcy. It's not just scumbags shot on the street but could be someone hit by a car or suffering some other accident or having a stroke or heart attack etc. Your empathy for your fellow man is amazing.