£29.10 buys an English person all the asthma inhalers they want for 3 months. If they're under 18 or over 60 they're free.

It costs Americans $50-100 per inhaler.

Here's an explanation for the disparity by "Adam ruins everything": https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDOQpfaUc8#

@bobstechsite I once stayed in the US with a friend and I was surprised to note that when she went to Walmart to pick up her prescription, it cost less than the UK prescription charge at the time.

I wonder if it's simply the case that we pay the same for everything while Americans pay cost price?

It also shouldn't be £29.10 in England when the rest of the UK gets such things for free, but we're used to that bullshit in England nowadays.

@iona it also depends on whether they have insurance or not.

An American without insurance has to pay full hospital prices. This means a short bout of ill health can bankrupt them.

If they do have insurance then the amount they'll pay will vary depending on how generous it is and whether the plan has an excess.

Of course in the UK we use a combination of employee income and employer contributions to fund most healthcare for everyone.

@iona that being said I wouldn't call us a health utopia.

My step-dad was told he'd have to wait weeks for his gall bladder to be removed. After he mentioned he had a Bupa membership he had it done within days by the same doctor in the same hospital.

So, we kind of have a two-tier system. Those who can afford to top-up their care with private insurance get a better service.