On a recent trip stateside I had a few long discussions about health care and dental care, the latter because an implant broke. After a quick check up on costs I let it go until my return to Europe. What amazed me about health care was that a person with insurance would have to shell out a lot of money before insurance stepped in to foot the rest of the costs. Many employers simply can't handle the steep costs of insurance and go with a lower option. Break a leg and you cough up the first $15,000 regardless if you're insured or not. But the dental care stumped me. A friend has been putting away money to take a Costa Rica vacation and get her teeth fixed. Another friend, once a long-time resident abroad, comes to Europe for regular checkups.

Insane differences: if you've got a chronic condition in the States, the prime rate will go up on that if not an outright refusal to insure it. In Europe it's the other way around; a chronic condition could qualify for free coverage.

Now as far as political discussions went, not many were impressed by Obama's reform because it apparently didn't go far enough. I don't know enough about it to form an opinion. Others on the contrary pulled off some spiel about loafers and commies. It must be that manifest destiny clause. I personally have no time or energy to waste with anyone bent on defending a system that's iniquitous and degrading. But an important issue is terminology. What's lambasted as state assistance is simply an inalienable right.

On a personal note I trust you also have positive reasons to go abroad.