I live near Rochester NY. We have a huge financial debocle called the "Fast Ferry." It's a ferry that travels from Rochester NY to Toronto Canada. There was an analysis done on Canadian and why they come ride the ferry. Quite a few came to the US for health care. Not even that phased the guy.
You can give your friend this article written by Michael bassett from New Zealand, the explemenatary welfare state laboratory in the English-sepaking world. Add to it he was a member of Socialist International with capital "S" worn on its sleeves:
http://rogerdouglas.org.nz/b020306.htm
Let's see what he thinks.