You pay perhaps 10-15 USdollars to visit the doctor and then if he can fix it by giving you a prescription you get that. In my case i'll get a time for first the xray which he then looks at and then, if necessary, the operation. Exact cost for xray dont know, i must perhaps pay another 10-15 usdollars. The basicthought behind our system is that it should be affordable for everyone regardless of income. Most of the costs for xray, meds, hospitalstays and operations are paid for by taxes that every taxpayer pay. If you, for some reason, has to go often during a year you can get so called high cost protection. When you have payed a certain sum in a year you are entitled to a big reduction of costs. To me the health care discussion in the states is rather bizarre. No political party would dream of proposing a cut in health care, they know they lose voters immediately.