Your point is valid, but I don't think that's what we're talking about in this thread. Rather, we're talking about Europeans and Americans who have the perception that the overall economic situation of professional employees is dramatically rosier in Europe.

Personally, I think we should have a single payer system if only for the fact that it likely better serves poorer Americans.

The other advantage of a universal system is, it still works when you're so sick you lose your job. COBRA is not good enough.

Yeah, I was talking specifically about the "it would be nice to easily take a gap year"-sourced comparison of healthcare alone - though even that apparently is not so pro-Europe after all, with the folks discussing how you'd have to be actively seeking work to be covered.