I am retired and have good coverage from a state run system for teachers. It is a merging of the state system and medicare. Definitely not free. The medicare part is around $100/month and the state part is maybe 200 or so. My wife is covered under the same system but not subsidized so our total bill must be over $400. Also, there is considerable out-of-pocket. Not complaining considering the medical care we've had. I think we could come close to the premiums with something like blue-cross but without some of the guaranteed coverage and unlimited amount, etc.