When you think of the Olympics, you probably picture intense competition, shiny medals, and athletes living their dreams on the world stage. However, for many U.S. athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, one of the biggest perks wasn't just the chance to compete – the free health care they could finally access.
Don't Miss:
- The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement — How do you compare?
- Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? – How does it compare to the average?
- Don’t miss out on the next Nvidia – you can invest in the future of AI for only $10.
Take Ariana Ramsey, for example. She's a 24-year-old rugby player who helped her team win a historic bronze medal, the first-ever for the U.S. in rugby sevens. But what really got her talking wasn't just the win – it was the free medical care she received in the Olympic Village.
Trending: Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune — How much is that worth today?
Ariana was surprised to learn that the Olympic Village offered free food and a variety of medical services at no cost. That’s why she made the most of it, getting a Pap smear, a dental checkup, and an eye exam – and even received new prescription glasses in just 30 minutes.
In her TikTok videos, which quickly went viral, she was amazed at the level of care available compared to expensive and inaccessible health care back home in the U.S.
In America, even basic medical services can cost a lot of money, especially if you don't have insurance. For illustration, a Pap smear with a pelvic exam can cost between $121-$247, a dental cleaning with X-rays $150-$300, and an eye exam more than $100 – none of which includes any treatments or glasses you might need.
Trending: Will the surge continue or decline on real estate prices? People are finding out about risk-free real estate investing that lets you cash out whenever you want.
The Paris 2024 organizers ensured that all athletes had access to these medical services, covering the costs with help from volunteer health professionals. This wasn't just about keeping the athletes in top shape; it also helped prevent the local health care system from overflowing during the Games.
Ariana’s story resonated with many people in the U.S. and worldwide. She now calls herself a “Universal Free Healthcare Advocate” and is eager to learn more about health care systems in other countries. Her experience in Paris inspired her to push for changes in the U.S.
According to recent federal data, health care in the U.S. was expected to cost $4.8 trillion in 2023, more than the country’s GDP. This is about $14,423 per person in 2023, with an expected increase to $15,074 in 2024. In comparison, in France, the host of the 2024 Games, the cost was estimated to be $5,740 per person in 2020.
Read Next:
- This billion-dollar fund has invested in the next big real estate boom, here's how you can join for $10.
- How do billionaires pay less in income tax than you? Tax deferring is their number one strategy.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
