<p>i was rather shocked when i read how much cheaper health care costs are in some south american countries (or in mexico even…)</p>
<p>the main reason might simply be that americans have more money to give up so we get charged more, whereas to get enough customers in, say, mexico you have to charge less. </p>
<p>also in south american countries a much smaller percentage of the population tends to receive health care, which might make things cheaper. maybe you have to charge less to get more of them hooked - and then once the population believes health care is essential by virtue of everyone else having it you can raise the prices …</p>
<p>health care costs as a percentage of the average person’s income across nations might be rather stable for instance…</p>