Hi Rob,

(Note: any spelling or grammatical errors are mine.)

I then asked Grok: "Who has the best overall healthcare system in the world, including socialized and non-socialized medicine?

Its response:

===
As of January 2026, there is no single universally agreed-upon "best" healthcare system in the world, as rankings vary depending on the methodology, metrics (e.g., access, affordability, outcomes, efficiency, equity, innovation), and data sources used. Different indices emphasize different priorities: population-level health outcomes and universal access favor
systems like those in East Asia or Northern Europe, while others highlight innovation or choice. However, several countries consistently rank at or near the top across major 2025-2026 evaluations.

Top Contenders for the Best Overall Healthcare System

Here are the most frequently cited leaders based on recent global rankings:

- Taiwan -- Frequently ranked #1 in comprehensive indices like the 2025 CEOWORLD Health Care Index (score ~78-86 depending on variant). It features a single-payer National Health Insurance system that provides universal
coverage, low costs, short wait times, high-quality care, excellent outcomes (e.g., top survival rates for major diseases), and strong digital integration. It's praised for balancing affordability, accessibility, and efficiency.

- South Korea -- Regularly #2 or very close behind Taiwan (e.g., in CEOWORLD and similar lists). It offers universal coverage through the National Health Insurance Service, rapid access to advanced care, cutting-edge technology, and outstanding preventive services and cancer/heart disease outcomes.

- Singapore -- Often in the global top 5-10 (and #1 in some older or specific metrics like efficiency and outcomes relative to spending). Its hybrid model combines mandatory personal savings (MediSave), universal catastrophic insurance, heavy private-sector delivery, and government subsidies/regulation. It achieves world-class life expectancy, low infant mortality, and cost
control (spending ~4-5% of GDP for elite results) while emphasizing personal responsibility and competition.

Other strong performers that frequently appear in top 10s across sources
(e.g., CEOWORLD, Numbeo-derived lists, Legatum Prosperity Index health pillar proxies, and various 2025 compilations):

- Japan -- Exceptional longevity, preventive focus, and high-tech care.

- Switzerland -- Top-tier quality, innovation, choice via mandatory private insurance, but expensive.

- Netherlands -- Strong in access, efficiency, and patient-centered care (often
#1 or #2 in Commonwealth Fund reports).

- Australia -- Frequently tops Commonwealth Fund-style comparisons for overall performance, equity, and outcomes.

- Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark -- Excel in universal access, equity, and population health.

Key Insights from Major Sources (2025-2026 Context)

- CEOWORLD Health Care Index (2025) -- Taiwan #1, followed closely by South Korea, with strong showings
from Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, and others.

- Commonwealth Fund Mirror, Mirror (latest 2024, with consistent patterns into 2025) -- Focuses on high-income peers: Australia, Netherlands, and UK lead; U.S. ranks last. (No major 2025 update shifts this dramatically.)

- Numbeo and crowd-sourced/expat indices -- Often favor Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and European systems for perceived qulity and affordability.]

- Other compilations (e.g., Legatum health pillar influences, expat/medical tourism rankings)-- Highlight Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and Nordic
nations for blending outcomes with efficiency.

In summary, if forced to pick one "best overall" in early 2026 based on the broadest consensus across quality, access, affordability, outcomes, and efficiency -- Taiwan edges out as the most frequent top-ranked system today.
It delivers outstanding results for its population at remarkably low cost and with minimal disparities.

That said, Singapore remains a standout for its remarkable efficiency and
value (best "bang for buck"), while Switzerland or the Netherlands may feel "best" if prioritizing choice, innovation, or short waits in a high-income context.

The ideal system depends on what matters most to you: universal low-cost
access (Taiwan/South Korea), efficiency and prevention (Singapore), or premium quality/choice (Switzerland). All top performers outperform the U.S. significantly on population-level metrics despite far lower spending.
===

-- Sean

... Where there's a will, there's an inheritance tax.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

The ideal system depends on what matters most to you: universal low-cost

>access (Taiwan/South Korea), efficiency and prevention (Singapore), or premiu
>quality/choice (Switzerland). All top performers outperform the U.S.
>significantly on population-level metrics despite far lower spending.
>===

I was not surprised to see countries like Switzerland and Norway in
the upper slots but when I did my second search I was a bit surprised
to see all those asian countries. I expected to find China in there
somewhere with 'universal health care', being communist, but these
days that generally means limited services and long waits unless
you happen to be in the upper tiny percentage of people running
the country or related to them.

---
* SLMR Rob * Hey!... The message is over... GO AWAY!
* Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)

Rob Mccart wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-

I was not surprised to see countries like Switzerland and Norway in
the upper slots but when I did my second search I was a bit surprised
to see all those asian countries. I expected to find China in there somewhere with 'universal health care', being communist, but these
days that generally means limited services and long waits unless
you happen to be in the upper tiny percentage of people running
the country or related to them.

According to a friend who is married to a Chinese woman and visits China
often, I'm told China actually has decent cheap healthcare (though he tells me Japan's heatlhcare system is better still).

I knew of Taiwan's healthcare system being one of the best but I knew nothing about Singapore's until I asked Grok and did a little research. I know that Singapore is one of the most expensive places in the world to live in but there's tradeoffs for paying out the nose.

I have a Danish friend who tells me that the healthcare system is very good
but they pay a 50% VAT on everything for that. He says that Denmark is a socialist country but it works for them.

Me? I'm very grateful that I have the insurance I do else I'd have been dead years ago (and I say that sincerely).

-- Sean

... After two days in the hospital, I took a turn for the nurse.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

According to a friend who is married to a Chinese woman and visits China

>often, I'm told China actually has decent cheap healthcare (though he tells m
>Japan's heatlhcare system is better still).

Interesting.. I wonder though, shouldn't China's be free for everyone
being communist? Cheap in China would mean 90% of the population
couldn't afford it I'd think..

I knew of Taiwan's healthcare system being one of the best but I knew nothing

>about Singapore's until I asked Grok and did a little research. I know that
>Singapore is one of the most expensive places in the world to live in but
>there's tradeoffs for paying out the nose.

My next door neighbours, they actually bought their property from us,
have lived all over the world setting up for McDonalds to build
restaurants in places like Russia and Czech and the last foreign
country they lived in was Singapore. They liked it better than many
places but said the laws are super strict there, go to jail for spitting
on the sidewalk or littering or get flogged for it, sort of thing..

Me? I'm very grateful that I have the insurance I do else I'd have

>been dead years ago (and I say that sincerely).

Yes, that can happen in a lot of places..

I'm a lot more healthy than typical for my age (most ages) but
I tend to avoid using our medical system, even though virtually
everything is paid for, because I don't want to have the system
waste money on minor things. The few times I've taken a drive to
the hospital it was because of a broken bone or at one time a cut
on my knee that would just not stop bleeding and it turned out
it was right to the bone and took 2 levels of stitches to close..

---
* SLMR Rob * After they make STYROFOAM, what do they ship it in?
* Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)

Rob Mccart wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-

Interesting.. I wonder though, shouldn't China's be free for everyone being communist? Cheap in China would mean 90% of the population
couldn't afford it I'd think..

You'd think so but evidently not.

My next door neighbours, they actually bought their property from us,
have lived all over the world setting up for McDonalds to build restaurants in places like Russia and Czech and the last foreign
country they lived in was Singapore. They liked it better than many
places but said the laws are super strict there, go to jail for
spitting on the sidewalk or littering or get flogged for it, sort of thing..

I've heard Singapore is a very safe place to live and visit. You get what you payt for, I guess.

I'm a lot more healthy than typical for my age (most ages) but
I tend to avoid using our medical system, even though virtually
everything is paid for, because I don't want to have the system
waste money on minor things. The few times I've taken a drive to
the hospital it was because of a broken bone or at one time a cut
on my knee that would just not stop bleeding and it turned out
it was right to the bone and took 2 levels of stitches to close..

In those cases, yes, I agree that an ER visit is needed. I did not become so sickly until after my military service...

-- Sean

... Artifical intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Hello Rob!

** On Thursday 15.01.26 - 08:01, you wrote to SEAN DENNIS:

[...] The few times I've taken a drive to the hospital it
was because of a broken bone or at one time a cut on my
knee that would just not stop bleeding and it turned out
it was right to the bone and took 2 levels of stitches to
close..

How did the cut so deep occur?

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (618:400/23.10)

The few times I've taken a drive to
the hospital it was because of a broken bone or at one time a cut
on my knee that would just not stop bleeding and it turned out
it was right to the bone and took 2 levels of stitches to close..

In those cases, yes, I agree that an ER visit is needed.

Yes, and you usually can't see your doctor same day so your only
option is the Hospital ER..

I did not become so sickly until after my military service...

At what age did you leave the service? I've run across several
ex-military people in very good shape because they keep up with
exercises and such even after getting out. An uncle of mine in
his late 70's would challenge people 50 years younger to a
pushups contest.. He could out-drink them too.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Mike's Vet and Taxidermy: Either way you get yer dog back
* Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)

at one time I had a cut on my knee that would just not stop

> bleeding and it turned out it was right to the bone and took
> 2 levels of stitches to close..

How did the cut so deep occur?

I was stepping out the back door of my sister's cottage and she
has a water heater right beside the stoop that had a cover on
it made of steel roofing material. I slipped a bit stepping off
the stupid stoop and hit the cut edge of that with my knee..

Funny thing at the hospital.. on that day the full time ER Doctor
had 2 medical residents working with her to learn how things were
done in the ER.. A young man and woman.. I don't think the woman
even wanted to look at the blood, she stayed back and didn't say
anything but the guy, before the ER Doc got there, had a quick look
at my knee and said it didn't look too bad and when the ER Doc
walked in he said I probably didn't even need stitches, just some
butterfly bandages.. She took about 10 seconds looking at the cut
and pretty much threw him out of the room for being an idiot..

---
* SLMR Rob * If things get better with age...I must be magnificent!!
* Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)

Rob Mccart wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-

Yes, and you usually can't see your doctor same day so your only
option is the Hospital ER..

Rarely, I am able to see my doctor at the VA the same day but only if it's for certain things.

If I can wait, and it's on a weekend, I go Sunday mornings at 6 AM as I have been told by the ER staff that's the best time for non-emergent things (like some of my chronic conditions or things like bronchitis where I am just
needing antibiotics).

The VA will pay for up to three visits a year to a local non-VA urgent care clinic also.

At what age did you leave the service? I've run across several
ex-military people in very good shape because they keep up with
exercises and such even after getting out. An uncle of mine in
his late 70's would challenge people 50 years younger to a
pushups contest.. He could out-drink them too.. B)

I was 27 when I got out in September 1998.

I was not exactly an active person then though I am trying to be so now.

Mediucare, through its "Siulver Sneakers" program, will pay for a basic
monthly membership at a local Planet Fitness (aka "Planet Fatass" LOL) gym. Once I can get there, I can workout there safely.

-- Sean

... To a cat, "NO!" means "Not while I'm looking".
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

At what age did you leave the service? I've run across several
ex-military people in very good shape because they keep up with
exercises and such even after getting out.

I was 27 when I got out in September 1998.

Okay, so you are younger than I expected. Did you already have health
issues then or did they show up years later?

I was not exactly an active person then though I am trying to be so now.

I am somewhat over-the-top active. I have to be just to live where
I am, like today I shovelled almost 2 feet of snow from a pathway
here that is over 200 feet long, and I get water from a hole I cut
in the ice and carry pails of it 150 feet up a hill to my place.

Plus when I was in my late 50's I noticed my upper body muscles were
going away I got into doing push-ups to help that. I can do over 100
of them at pretty much any time. On days when I haven't already
overworked muscles doing other things, I can usually do 125..

To clarify, I do fast shallow push-ups, not nose to the floor ones.
You don't build quite as much muscle that way but it is easier on
your joints and the high speed tends to give you a better cardio
workout as well. If someone told me when I was 25 I'd be able to do
this when I was 71 I'd have thought they were crazy.. B)

Mediucare, through its "Siulver Sneakers" program, will pay for a basic

>monthly membership at a local Planet Fitness (aka "Planet Fatass" LOL) gym.
>Once I can get there, I can workout there safely.

A few life insurance companies here have a similar plan available..

Keep at it. It sounds like you are making some progress..

---
* SLMR Rob * I MUST have something better to do than this!!!!
* Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)