Yeah Im in the UK and I can't believe how much Americans pay for medication let alone actual surgery or medical procedures. I'd rather be taxed more and not have the worry.
Don't fret none, taxes keep creeping up and insurance premiums keep creeping up, yet we don't benefit from things such as reduced insurance costs or reduced medications or reduced healthcare costs.
In my city, the school district (which has a shady as helI history - superintendent arrested by the FBI, mismanagement of school funds in the tune of $7 million. Even had someone in charge of city funds for a couple of city events that were held every year....they stole money from the funds so the city council pulled the events and they are no longer held; these were city events they've been doing for decades) passed a levy last year to raise funds for "better" school stuff for kids. Based on your property value, your property taxes would increase from $600 to $1800 the first year the levy was in effect (that was last January) and it will go up another $100-500 the next year and stay active for 5 years after that.
This coming January my property taxes will go up about $350. My taxes last January went up $1000. I went from paying around $2,800 in property taxes two years ago to about $4200 a year once January comes around and the new tax year starts.
You know what we got out of all this extra money we pay to the city for school? Reduced bus system - they're running half a dozen fewer buses this year and they pushed the distant from 1 mile to 2 miles from the school that makes you eligible to ride a bus. We live 1.5 miles from the kids' schools, so that means they don't get a bus to pick them up and they either have to walk or get a ride.
The kids also earned 5 extra days off during the school year. I don't even understand why.....apparently the teachers need days to "grade and catch up".
8 years ago the new High School was built and an additional $250 was put on everyone's property taxes and supposed to come off....it hasn't happened yet. We're also still paying an extra $500 for the new community center that was built 10 years ago.....
Taxes keep getting added on and they never come off. It sucks. Don't move here.