In Spain, citizens are proud of government health care program

David S. Hartwig

Special to the Gateway

I strongly support a public health care option, the likes of which exists in other industrialized nations. These other nations have come to the conclusion that universal coverage for all is a common good for society. The reasons for having such a system are so many, from purely economic to moral ones, that they should be drowning out the disingenuous rhetoric of those who wish to keep this bankrupt U.S. system in place.

I know what I’m talking about. I’m an American citizen, although I’ve lived in Spain for the past eight years. Here I am fully covered, I have my own doctor and I don’t pay a cent out of pocket.

Fortunately in these years, I’ve only been to the doctor’s office twice, but I’ve always known that my personal doctor is there for me, that, for any emergency, for any chronic condition that may develop, I’ll receive the attention I need — for free.

And I’m convinced that this peace of mind has, in fact, kept me out of the doctor’s office.

During these years, I’ve paid into the system like everyone else. And it’s a system that works.

In the United States, the situation for the uninsured would be “knock on wood and count your blessings.” I lived many years after my university studies and as a self-employed fisherman in Alaska with just this reality and just this mentality; and it’s not pleasant.

We know quite well that the situation in the United States is not only bad for the uninsured but also for the insured who pay so much out of pocket, who are denied care or who have to fight with an HMO, a doctor or their insurance company to get the attention they need.

That stress is non-existent here. The doctor concentrates on the patient, and, if necessary, refers him or her to a specialist. Although I’ve only seen my doctor a couple of times, my wife has recently become pregnant. She also recently lost her job with Bank of America here in Madrid when it moved into the offices of Merrill Lynch.

Being what’s considered a high-risk pregnancy because of her age, she has had four ultrasounds, two blood tests, one amniocentesis, two consultation visits with a midwife at a hospital and access to her own midwife at the neighborhood clinic.

She will continue with the monthly ultrasounds, the exercise/breathing classes to come, and, of course, she will deliver our child about December.

For all of this, she will have paid a little more than a Euro a month for the potassium and folic acid supplement she takes daily. Now that’s good medicine!

Everyone wins: the state, the taxpayers, the businesses — big and small — and, especially, the citizens.

Spaniards are downright proud of their health system, just behind Jamon Iberico. And it doesn’t matter from which end of the political spectrum they come. They support it, and they’re willing to defend it.

Unfortunately, just after hamburgers, we Americans are famous for our lack of health care. And that absolutely baffles the Spanish.

“How is it possible that the richest country on earth can’t provide for its citizens?” It’s disheartening to listen to the U.S. news media, the commentators, the average Joe posting an opinion on a Web site, all these foot soldiers rallying against this “big-spending, socialist government” health care plan.

Obviously, government has its place. Shall we make the public schools private, privatize the military, or even privatize Medicare?

Government does have a place in the care of its citizens. The only government I see here in Spain is the face of my doctor taking care of me, my wife, my future son. It’s a government that’s efficient, that’s streamlined, that doesn’t put the burden of providing health care on the shoulders of its small businesses, nor its large ones.

In fact, many large companies here offer their employees private health insurance as a perk. Individuals can buy it as well. These policyholders can choose to use whichever system suits them — the public or private.

So, yes, capitalism is alive and well here. Of course, my wife and I always buy insurance to cover us on our periodic trips to the states. I wish every American could have the same coverage and tranquility when it comes to health care that I do. Health care should be a right, just as a child has the right to learn, or a U.S. citizen has the right to bear an arm.

Meanwhile, he might try laying off those burgers a bit more.

David S. Hartwig graduated from Gig Harbor High School and the University of Washington. He has been teaching English in Spain for the past eight years.