The French don’t consider their system socialized.  In fact, they detest socialized medicine. For the French, that’s the British, that’s the Canadians. It’s not the French system.  But unlike in Britain and Canada, there are no waiting lists to get elective surgery or see a specialist.

In France, the sicker you are, the more coverage you get.  For people with one of 30 long-term and expensive illnesses — such as diabetes, mental illness and cancer — the government picks up 100 percent of their health care costs, including surgeries, therapies and drugs.

It’s expensive to provide this kind of health care and social support. France’s health care system is one of the most expensive in the world, but it is still not as expensive as the U.S. system, which is the world’s most costly. The United States spends about twice as much as France on health care. In 2005, U.S. spending came to $6,400 per person. In France, it was $3,300.

Yeah….but it’s still France.

Health Care Lessons From France : NPR.

“France will offer all 18-year-olds a free daily copy of the newspaper of their choice, President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday.”

Because we know how much teenagers LOVE free stuff.  Hey…they should give them all phonebooks too!   And maps…free maps for all!   Polaroid cameras!   Typewriters!

Wait a second…I’ve got a GREAT IDEA!!!!

Let’s give every teenager a FREE FAX MACHINE!!!!!!!!!

France to give free newspaper subscriptions to teens – Yahoo.