Our rego costs include Compulsory
No fault 3rd party personal injury insurance which actually also covers you too. Like the US it varies by State but here in Canberra ACT it is about AU$1200 for a large sedan/wagon (over 1500kg) and AU$1000 for a small one. AU$700 for a Rocket (over 600cc) and less for under 600cc bikes.
Plus we have free universal healthcare for doctors and hospitals as a public patient, including surgery, specialists, imagery and pathology, but waiting lists for elective surgery (non life threatening surgery may be a 3months to a year). If you choose to go to a Dr who does not bulkbill the Govt , you pay an additional fee (mine is Au$50) on top of the Govt rebate of about Au$35 for his AU$85 fee for consultation up to 20min, AU$120 over 20min. Australia's health system just dropped to 2nd in the world for advanced democracies after UK now.
USA's ranked last in the world
.
We get hit with additional tax of about 2% if we do not have Private hospital cover too, but only if you earn more than AU$80,000. Average wages/salary in Oz is about that AU$75-80 K now. Health cover is very rarely or NEVER provided with employment except military and O'seas service like diplomatic staff. Private hospital cover is virtually never gap free but nothing like the deductible excess you guys have.