I find this really interesting - I am in the UK and I am so grateful for the NHS - I am asthmatic so have regular medication and extra checkups - the only cost to me is the prescription charges which average about £8 month (and when I a child that was free, and would be free if I were unemployed, disable or a pensioner, now) It's possible to buy a pre-pay certificate which covers any prescription charges for a year - I don't have one now, as for me it currently works out at about the same as paying for my regular repeats as I go along, but I used to have one when I was younger and on a tight budget.
In addition to birth control prescriptions being free, you also don't pay prescription charges if you have certain medical conditions such as diabetes and cancer.
Although the NHS isn't perfect, I do feel that *in general* it is very good. I have always been able to see a doctor at my GP surgery on the same day if I need one, home visits are avaialable when needed. when I was involved in a car crash and ended up with a long term shoulder problem I saw ER doctors, an orthopedic surgeon and a couple of other consultants, and had x-rays,MRIs, physiotherapy and osteopathy. None of it cost me anything at all.
When my grand-dad was dying, he was able return home - the NHS provided a hospital bed, the disctrict nurse came daily to help with his personal care and medications and the doctor came every few days. I can't imagine how much that level of care would have cost had we had to pay for it. his consultant at the hospital was incredibly good, listened to what he wanted, made sure he understood the risks, and then made sure everything happened fast, so he got to die at home.
I have quite a lot of friends who live in the US and we have discussed these issues - a lot of them are artists and writers and in many cases either they, or their spouses, have had to take/stay in unsatisfactory jobs to maintain insurance coverage because they can't afford to become self-employed and to have health insurance. A close friend and her partner are unable to marry, because he can't divorce his wife (despite having been separated for years) because if he does, she will no longer be covered on his health insurance, and she has significant mental health issues.