memes

Not trying to downplay your plight at all, but in America this is also the case. Not only are doctors visits expensive to an extremely outrageous extent, but you might not be able to find one that can take you.

Waitlists for medical, dental, psychiatric etc doctors in my area are a minimum of 3 months long.

A few years ago I called the largest network of therapists in my area for an appointment. They told me I would be on a wait list and I probably wouldn't hear back for 6 weeks. I got a call 6 months later.

Medical doctors and dentists are even worse. No wait lists at all. Emergency clinics full of low quality doctors and practitioners are popping up everywhere because most people don't go to the doctors enough to still be an active patient. They don't go enough to be seen because they can't afford to go unless they are truly terribly sick. Those clinics charge far more, do far less, and care the minimal amount about patients.

A quick look in your ear? $150. You have a real problem? Well, they will charge you the $150 and then tell you to go to the hospital.

I have never heard of anyone in my area getting a dentist appointment in less than 3 months. To even get patient status takes a friend knowing that their doctor is taking new patients. And the chances are that if you can't afford a doctor, your friends can't either.