So far, I'm quite pleased with the Norwegian health care system - though to be honest, most of my experience has been through "working" as a CNA (it was actually part of language classes), classroom learning, a few doctor's visits, and the stories of other immigrants.

Everyone is covered by the national health insurance. No more worries about getting hit with a huge health care bill. Children have a lot of free stuff - most health care and dental (braces are an exception). I can change my doctor a couple times a year if I want. Some things just make sense: For example, the government sends me a letter to remind me to get cancer screenings every 3 years (I'm female) - and this stuff isn't as possible with the fragmented system in the states.

Now, the downsides are things like longer wait times. This does suck, for sure. Some of this is simply being cost-effective, I'm sure. But other cost effective things work out: For example, if you need a home nurse, you get one covered up to 6 times a day. Free, because it is cheaper than a nursing home. Dental can tend to be expensive and folks have some odd ways of going about this. For example, I've heard of a group of Norwegian dentists in... Poland?... that cater to Norwegians. The cost is often cheaper, even when factoring in the travel costs.

There is a private health care system. The government still pays their normal rate to the private provider and the patient pays the difference. Some folks use this to go around the waiting times and I'm guessing this option would seem more similar to the American system for folks with insurance - though I'm not sure it is ever like the nearly on-demand medical care one comes to expect in the states. The system is vastly better for those with poor coverage or those that have good coverage but can't afford to use it.

Hopefully, if the US does a single-payer system, they take a look at some of the downsides and try some things to lessen them.