We are in the UK, not the US. So it's not completely fair to compare the two systems.
The IHS came in as other countries are not as fair to Brits in their country for healthcare, as the UK is to their citizens in the UK. The UK even looked at existing reciprocal health agreements with other countries and ended some of those as they were not very reciprocal.
Do you remember how Australians and Kiwis got one years grace while the UK was in talks with these countries? Then they too had to pay?
Youth Mobility visas
Brits going to Oz on a temporary visa have to pay for and pass a medical for a visa. They also need private health insurance as what Oz will give these Brits who pay taxes in their country, is very limited. These Brits also have to pay more in taxes.
Aussies to the UK on this visa - no medical required. Full bill free access to the NHS, even for their existing conditions. They pay the same taxes as Brits.
Even on the IHS, they are still better off than Brits working in Oz.
Some of the work visas.
Brits to Oz, they pay for their medical and if anyone in the family is likely to end up being a burden to the Aussie healthcare, the visa is refused. If the visas are granted, they are only given very basic health cover by Australia and need private insurance for the whole family. Some states require them to pay for each child they sent to state school.
Aussies to the UK on a work visa. No medical required and the whole family has full bill free access to the UK, even for existing conditions. They are not billed for sending their children to UK state schools. They don't pay higher rate taxes than a Brit. Even on the IHS, they are still better off than Brits working in Oz.
Brits in the US: medical needs to be paid for and no bill free healthcare provided by the US, even if they are paying taxes to the US.
US citizens in the UK. No medical required for a visa. Bill free use of the NHS even for existing conditions. Even on the IHS, you are FAR better off than what the US give Brits in your county.
It carries on like that for all those who come to the UK, while none or very little bill free healthcare for Brits in their country.
It was this imbalance that was why the UK said they were no longer going to be as generous with our NHS, but would still be more generous than most other countries. It's still a very unfair system for Brits and more needs to be done to make the system equal with every country.