Taiwan tops the expat health care charts

Nearly seven in 10 expats in Taiwan say they spend less on health care than they used to before moving – compared with a global average of just three in 10.

The FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] states in its guide to the country: “As is to be expected of a nation as developed as Taiwan, health care facilities and medical equipment are of outstanding quality. Since 1995, Taiwan has had a socialised health care plan, the National Health Insurance (NHI) which covers nearly all citizens.”

- The Telegraph

My thoughts: Of course the survey is biased, in particular a lot of selection bias. Its respondents are not randomized, so you don't get a good representation. Also, the more important question is do you get quality health care for your dollars spent, however much less you do have to spend? That was a major debate in the comments section... I wish I had more time to look into this more, but some anecdotal "evidence," I've heard from friends who've spent time in Taiwan that you do get decent healthcare in Taiwan. I don't think anyone can beat the technology and innovation of the U.S., but we already know that U.S. health care system is far from being a model one.

Also, this is another piece of real life evidence that a country can be non-socialist and still have a socialist health care finance structure and not combust into a complete socialist government. So surprising! (Not.)