Bartender Geek

I agree entirely with happybat, and of the things you mention should be provided, I'd say that the routine dental care should top that list. That does do a hell of a lot of good, but whatever else you mean by basic care without extensive/expensive testing is of questionable value. Illness needs to be diagnosed and treated. Check-ups that do not provide a product (treatment, cure) are a waste, but it is not known until after the fact. Full care should be provided to every citizen, definitely to include heart surgery which is an expensive cost but often not a continuing and repetitive cost for one patient. Two people in our family have died for lack of heart-related medical care, and I fear for my husband because he can't get preventive treatment before things get to a very threatening level.

There may be something I'm not aware of, but free mammograms for women who can't get care for breast cancer makes me question the purpose. But then, I did go for one myself, and was sent a bill for over $800.