This is a rather long story, but I will try to give the short version. I started buying health insurance when I was about 21 and became more independent of my parents. I lived in California and for most of the years, I was "covered" by Blue Shield. By the time I was in my late 50s and into my 60s, I was paying more than $1000 a month for a crappy $10,000 deductible policy that was really only in place to protect me from some true catastrophe. This policy had a $10,000 deductible for every calendar year. Then I found out a company called IMG (International Medical Group). The insurance was designed for ex-pats that lived abroad and was less expensive because hospital costs and doctors fees abroad are much cheaper than the costs in the US. About two years into coverage with IMG, it was discovered that I had a small cancerous tumor in my kidney that needed to be removed. IMG refused to pay for this operation, calling it a pre-existing condition. They cited a clause on page 25 of the 25-page contract with them that defined pre-existing condition as any condition or disease regardless of whether it had ever been symptomatic or diagnosed. Well, as you can well understand, it is EXACTLY why we have insurance to cover us for conditions that have never been diagnosed or symptomatic. I had to bring a lawsuit against them to ultimately get my compensation, but had to pay $25,000 in advance for my operation and wait two years to win the lawsuit. This was the last straw for me. The following year, I officially became a resident of Austria. It was one of the best things I ever did. The health care has been brilliant. Everything is paid for. There is no bureaucracy. Every time I am at the hospital or the doctor's office, I give them my healthcare card for 30 seconds, and I am done. Great doctors, great service, top hospitals and equipment, and virtually free pharmaceuticals as well. I need to wait five more years to become a citizen of Austria, and I hope to do that as well. Best Regards, Jimmy Petterson