" I managed to come up with enough $ for a private doctor who immediately diagnosed the problem (type A flu which had now caused pneumonia in both lungs) and prescribed the medicine she needed (a misting machine with a medicine to open her lungs plus a powerful antibiotic)."
I'm glad your wife recovered but I would take issue with part of the statement you made.
Did this private doctor tell you that type A flu is a virus, on which antibiotics have no effect and the result of this unnecessary prescription is that many resistant strains are being created.
You could try asking the Austalians for their views on their National Health System as well. (That's for all those Republicans who said they'd move to Oz if Obama won.)
Actually, the Brits I have heard from seem to like their NHS quite a bit and would never exchange it for American "healthcare" (nor the Canadians).
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." Unless you're rich, then it's all free.