Nations with Free or Low-Cost Health Care Systems

United Kingdom - National Health Service (NHS): Free at point of use, Funded by taxes.

France - State-funded, high-quality care. Patients pay upfront, reimbursed up to 70–100%.

Germany - Public insurance system. Mostly free or very low-cost care.

Sweden - Universal, publicly funded care. Small co-pays.

Norway - Universal coverage with small co-pays. Funded by taxation.

Finland - Publicly funded health services. Small out-of-pocket charges.

Denmark - Free at point of use. Funded by taxes.

Italy - National Health Service (SSN): Free or low-cost care.

Spain - Free public health system for residents.

Portugal - Universal system; some nominal fees for services.

Netherlands - Mandatory insurance, heavily regulated. Subsidies ensure universal access.

Austria - Compulsory insurance, care mostly free at use.

Belgium - Public/private mix; high coverage and reimbursement.

Switzerland - Mandatory private insurance with income-based subsidies.

Ireland - Universal system; many services are free, others have co-pays.

Greece - National Health System offers largely free care to citizens.

Iceland - Universal care funded by taxes.

Luxembourg - Public system with high reimbursement.

Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary - Public insurance systems with broad access.

Canada - Universal coverage for citizens and permanent residents. Funded by taxes.

Australia - Medicare system: publicly funded. Free at point of use for most services.

New Zealand - Tax-funded public system. Free hospital care, subsidized primary care.

Japan - Universal coverage through mandatory insurance. Government caps fees and co-pays.

South Korea - National Health Insurance (NHI). Very low out-of-pocket costs.

Taiwan - Single-payer National Health Insurance. High efficiency, low cost to users.

China - Nominally universal coverage through public insurance schemes. Out-of-pocket costs can still be high in some regions.

Israel - Universal health insurance. Four competing public health funds.

Brazil - SUS (Unified Health System): Free, universal care. Funded by taxes, used by most citizens.

Chile - Public system (FONASA) for the majority. Free for low-income and older adults.

Costa Rica - Free health care through the CCSS. Funded by taxes and employer contributions.

Cuba - Entirely government-run system. Free for all citizens.

Notes

Some nations have small co-pays or supplemental insurance.

Emergency care is often free or subsidized, even for non-citizens in these countries.

The U.S., notably, does not have universal free healthcare, though it provides coverage for seniors (Medicare), low-income (Medicaid), and veterans.