The Price Was Right

As senior citizens, my traveling companions and I had always wondered what would happen to us if we became seriously ill in a foreign country. Well, it happened to me this September in the beautiful city of Bilbao, Spain. On the day in question, we ate fresh trout in a local restaurant and even though I developed stomach cramps soon after dinner, my traveling companion did not.

My condition finally dictated that a physician be called. A young doctor soon arrived, administered a shot and wrote a prescription. However, he made it clear that if I were not better in 30 minutes, he would have me admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. When we arrived at the hospital, I was immediately admitted and fully examined by four doctors. The medical care I received was superb.

The cost, including doctor’s house call, ambulance, lab tests, X-rays, EKG, physicians and nurses attending me, was nothing! Why? Because Spain has socialized medicine. I estimated that the treatment would have cost a minimum of $5,000 in the U.S.

EDNA M. TOBIAS

Claremont