Crazy... $2000 isnt much compared to what surgery costs, I know you have other bills too, but many people easily rack up $20.000 a week, for some its much more...

It's not just a case of being financially better off but mentally, these bills cause lots of stress which in turn means more care...

I can understand the grandparents being upset, its not just the baby but also their son...

Has your husband spent much time in the UK??? Does he enjoy it when he is there???

Oh yeah believe me I know! That's what worries me, what if we are in a major car accident or need surgery. That's what I mentioned to my MIL and she said so if you can't pay it you file for Medical bankruptcy. Are you serious I'd rather avoid bankruptcy if I can.

Yeah I can understand them being upset I sure had the guilt treatment last night from them. Believe me it's made me think if I'm being to mean and maybe we should just stick it out here. My husband has been over there on several trips and does like it out there. I think he's getting more excited on the idea of living in a smaller English town with a lot of history. But he's nervous about uprooting when the economy isn't great and jobs are rare to come by.

Go ahead and Rub it in, Just kidding I appreciate your info.

To my knowledge there is no law in the USA saying anyone gets vacation time, I just heard that the average American gets 9 days vacation a year, I'm not sure if that includes days like Martin Luther King and July 4th or not...

Many places here only give you one week off after one year of service, two weeks after two years, the third year seems to vary alot, from 5 to 10 years, and everytime you change jobs you lose vaction time and start off with one week again, plus you have to wait 3-6 months for medical benefits to kick in, at least at the places Ive worked, No wonder people stay in jobs that they hate, its very negative and unproductive in my eyes...

Ive been self employeed for 16 years, previous to that there was only one year in nineteen when I had three weeks vacation... it should have been more but the company got bought out and the rules were changed, the carrot was pulled further away...

Sorry to randomly just chime in but yes, yes, oh god yes! The health care is one of the biggest reasons we've decided to go back. Even though DH works for the feds over here his health care coverage plan he has is kind of pants. We had to pay several thousand $$$s in bills after DS was born and it's currently costing DH $4700 in dental bills. I worry about this stuff so much I once was really torn over whether to take DS into the ER (mild burn on hand from radiator but health insurance nurseline insisted I take him in to prevent infection) because I was worried about the $100 copay. (I did take him in the end and spent 3 hours being accosted by crazy homeless/drunk folks).

Meanwhile my FIL thinks the NHS is operating out of mud huts or something....

[QUOTE=NatalieLucy;9468169]Oh yeah believe me I know! That's what worries me, what if we are in a major car accident or need surgery. That's what I mentioned to my MIL and she said so if you can't pay it you file for Medical bankruptcy. Are you serious I'd rather avoid bankruptcy if I can.

Bankruptcy Medical or otherwise is a not a picnic, everything changes from there, no 5% or 10% car loans, your interest would be more like 36-40%, thats just to start, all other future credit would cost you a fortune, no disrespect but you M.I.L. sounds a little green, bankruptcy breaks up some families, just by adding more stress...

This is a much more rational thing to be concerned about than all the claptrap about the NHS.

The best thing is to not discuss it for a while and let things simmer down, while in the back of you mind you need to set goals and discuss this with your husband quietly...Id not discuss it with his parents...

Its a definate plus that your husband enjoys the UK...
We all want to live in small english village by the way...

If I were you Id look at making long term plans of a move maybe a few years down the road, sometime before your child enters school.

Id guess its not exactly easy to get a Job in the UK right now, but not impossible, it all depends what kind of work you do and if there is a need for those workers right now.

20 years ago I went back and finished up coming back to the US as I couldnt get a job, that may have been my fault setting high goals for myself, maybe I should have aimed lower, still I applied and got two jobs promised that did not pan out... today Id take a job driving a dustbin lorry just to be there... Live n learn...

Dont get stressed out and have a good think, soul search, write things down to weigh up your problems and how to sort them out, I find making notes is a good thing, of course I'm older...

I always say follow your gut feeling...

How long have you been here???

Best Wishes Fish.

Exactly...

Thanks Fish! Yeah we had been talking about October 2012 to move, although I'd love to be there right now. I'm in Graphic Design and there quite a few jobs in many areas for that field right now. My husband has a degree in Communications and hasn't really been able to find anything decent since he graduated here. Right now he works as an Office administrator part time at a local museum. We are making lists I just have a strong feeling that I want to be back. I've been in the US for 7 years now.

Thats all sounds pretty decent to me, Good luck to you...

I missing our UK NHS.

I have had toothache for a while. Got 3 filling, 2 are old fills needing touched up and one cracked but only surface damage. $300 per tooth i quoted after $150 for the first visit, clean,xray etc...

Been waiting to get some coverage to get the cost done and been living with some toothache pain cause I just cant afford hundreds of dollars.

If i was back in Uk, i would have had all 3 sorted by now.

My wife suffers headaches, bad ones alot. cant afford her pills as over $100 for 6 pillls. Scotland is free or 4 pound, she has a headache now and just finished her last proper pill.

I will never have a go at the nhs again. Yes they may have waiting times etc but you dont fear for rent, or being in pain.

Thanks for randomly chiming in Jenn...
Weve hardly touched on the dentist subject but you make some good points, we havent seen a dentist in years, of course one day we will have to break down and go.

I've been in a few ER's, our local ER is good, but in the big city you run into the poorest people as they are so desperate for some care.

That sounds pretty sad Hooksy, I sure hope your wife can afford her next pain pills, I thought drugs in Canada were much cheaper than the USA, it sounds like I'm wrong.

I cant afford Dental coverage, the price is outragous, we just pay for a dentist when we need one.

Its amazing how people moan and take the NHS for granted, its not perfect but it covers everyone, I know my relatives are happy with it.
Good luck to you both.

Take a look at the Trillium plans on the Ontario site. You might be surprised at what assistance is there. People think of it as help for low incomes but it's not. It's a scheme for people with high drugs costs in relation to their income.

In Canada unless you have extended benefits through your place of employment, you are not covered for dental or for prescriptions. Even if you have benefits they usually only cover some dental procedures and a % of your prescriptions. i have paid out at least $10,000 over the years for dental work that is why I am up to my eyes in debt. I know that i will never moan about the NHS again either!
you don't know how lucky you are until you no longer have it!