We have a system like that in Sweden too. The patient fee differs from region to region and it’s generally quite small. You’re still required to pay it if you book a visit and don’t show up.

I think it is essentially to deter unnecessary visits.

Youth do not pay at all. There’s also a high cost protection so if you end up paying a certain sum, then you’re given a free card and any subsequent costs for that year are nulled. That includes most anything, including medication, but not dental care.

Currently that sum is 1450 crowns, about $150USD.

There is some push to have dental care fall under the same rules.

Japan could use that. Ambulances are free and so they sometimes get overused because old people call them at the drop of a hat. But I got a tooth filled for ￥1700 (less than 20 USD) so they're doing something right.

We have free doctor visits and everyone I know still doesn't want to go there, unless the pain is getting really bad. I would say everyone hates doctor visits.

Ambulance rides cost a minimum of 1k USD. If you are not admitted to the hospital then it is not covered. If you are admitted then all costs ambulance and care normally has a 500$ copay and then you pay 20% or less depending on the insurance.

A broken leg that requires immediate surgery is something to admit. Just a cast is urgent care only, so you probably are S.O.L.

This is based on my experience with multiple insurances, there are tonnes of options, so I'm sure someone else would say it is different for them.

For a family of 4 insurance is about 3k/month split between employer and employee. The amount that would cost is largely unknowable. My insurance has a $500 deductible, so I would definitely pay at least that much, probably more. After that insurance would cover 80-90% of the cost until an out of pocket maximum, which is 3k/person or 6k/family for me. A final cost around 1k would probably be a good deal, and up to 4-5k could happen depending on out of network fuckery.

For my family of four I was paying half of $2400 per month (my employer paid the other half) for a very good PPO plan (meaning I could choose my own doctors) that had a $25 copay for doctor visits and no copay for medications after I met the $500 per person pharmacy deductible. That was up until I was laid off, then I had to pay for all of it until my COBRA coverage ended.