Sweden
Its been said that non natives will be freed from this but I cant find any info on this

Twice as expensive to go to the doctor - if the Social Democrats get to decide
Published 10/5/2023





The Swedes pay among the highest taxes in the world for care and social care. Nevertheless, we have to pay hundreds of rupiahs every time we visit the health center. the emergency room or end up in hospital. It is not enough, believe responsible social democratic regional politicians who now want to double all patient fees with the justification that it is "reasonable".

It is in the Västra Götaland region, where the Social Democrats rule, that the shock increases are announced. A regular visit to the health center, which today costs SEK 100, will cost SEK 200 after the increase.

It will be even worse for those who become acutely ill or injured - a visit to the emergency room will henceforth cost SEK 400. And if you are hospitalized, you must also pay more for each day you occupy a bed. The same for those who need rehabilitation after illness or injury.

The changes will come into effect from the turn of the year if the proposal is hammered through, and the ruling Social Democrats in the region are confident it will happen. It has already been approved by the Strategic Health Care Board.

S in the region: "Reasonable"
There they also wave away popular criticism of the increases. A doubling of all fees at the same time as the levels for high-cost protection are raised "is reasonable".

- It is reasonable to adjust, says the Chair of the Strategic Health and Medical Board, Janette Olsson (S), in a comment to the media.

According to Olsson, patient fees have been stagnant for too long, so doubling on a board is nothing strange, she believes.

Pensioners snubbed exemption from fees
The Social Democrats in the region are also backtracking on the promise of continued free visits for 65-year-olds that was previously announced. Free nurse visits for people over the age of 65 are now being abolished.

The Social Democrats, who governed the region also during the previous term, introduced the exemption from fees before the 2022 election. Many pensioners appreciated the reform and it is assumed to have contributed to many over 65s voting for the Social Democrats in the election. Now that the election is over, the reform is withdrawn.

Fee for chatting with care in app
When it comes to visits to hospital emergency rooms, Olsson justifies the discouraging fee increases by saying that they want to cut the queues and waiting times, which have increased as more and more people go there for non-urgent ailments that they should have gone to the health center with. At the same time, the emergency rooms are burdened more and more with gunshot, blast and knife injuries resulting from gang criminal settlements.

Anyone who uses an app or video chats or talks to a healthcare provider on the phone must also be forced to pay for themselves according to the social democratic proposal. If it is clubbed in the regional council and the party gets what it wants, it will be as expensive as a physical health care visit.

100 million more of the citizens' money
The Social Democrats expect that the increases will mean that they receive an additional 100 million in money from the residents each year. In Stockholm, where the Social Democrats also rule, a regular tax increase has been decided instead.

Other parties in the region have not yet officially taken a position on the increase package. It will finally be decided by the regional council at a meeting later this year.

What a strange world we live in

So who should be paying reparations to who