NHS
Sep 4th 2020, 7:52 pm
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,648
Re: NHS
Well for sure your family doesn't do things by halves! Thank you for sharing your personal stories and I hope your loved ones are recovering. I don't think we'd be able to afford private healthcare but worth looking into down the road just in case. That's very reassuring about emergency medical care! Health care workers are such incredible people! Thanks christmasoompa - very much appreciated.
It is used primarily for those treatments for which one has to wait - such as knee/hip replacement.... a top up policy
Sep 4th 2020, 7:59 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 114
Re: NHS
Most people think the NHS is wonderful and I agree. If you have something seriously wrong with you - heart attack, cancer, stroke, etc - you are whisked in and treated; without worrying about how much it is going to cost you.
But, as an NPR program showed recently, and as some of my UK friends have noted, elected surgeries have long wait list - one pal waited 18 months for a knee surgery. ( I used to work in the NHS and it has usually been like this for years).
While in my area in SoCal - lots of retirees - you might wait 3 months to get in to see a knee specialist, once that is over it would be only a further 3 months to get the surgery; and as you say, depending on your health plan, you can pick your doctor and pick your hospital
ALL my pals in the UK have a private health insurance top up (e.g. BUPA) to get that treatment which is not going to kill you, but is mighty painful and debilitating if you have to wait 18 months to get fixed.
No doubt, that health care would be a deciding factor if hubby and I ever really looked at moving back.
But, as an NPR program showed recently, and as some of my UK friends have noted, elected surgeries have long wait list - one pal waited 18 months for a knee surgery. ( I used to work in the NHS and it has usually been like this for years).
While in my area in SoCal - lots of retirees - you might wait 3 months to get in to see a knee specialist, once that is over it would be only a further 3 months to get the surgery; and as you say, depending on your health plan, you can pick your doctor and pick your hospital
ALL my pals in the UK have a private health insurance top up (e.g. BUPA) to get that treatment which is not going to kill you, but is mighty painful and debilitating if you have to wait 18 months to get fixed.
No doubt, that health care would be a deciding factor if hubby and I ever really looked at moving back.
Sep 4th 2020, 8:01 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 114
Re: NHS
Private medical cover in the UK is nowhere as expensive as in the US . Remember, the service they offer does not include emergency treatment (you would not be taken to a private hospital for heart attacks, strokes, etc), nor day to day treatment, visits to GP's, on going prescriptions.
It is used primarily for those treatments for which one has to wait - such as knee/hip replacement.... a top up policy
It is used primarily for those treatments for which one has to wait - such as knee/hip replacement.... a top up policy
Sep 4th 2020, 8:10 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 114
Re: NHS
LOL - you're not my wife are you? I joke; she has similar heart issues, diagnosed as palpitations; she had a heart attack 10 years ago which resulted in her having stents put in, was done overnight and she was back home 2 days later; the palpitations are down to her getting older.
The NHS is what you make of it; I have no complaints, it's there when I need it. Never had any problem getting appointments or medications (they even deliver to your house nowadays).
They have been magnificent during COVID, some of them have paid the ultimate price of their dedication.
All the above is said within the background of my wife being a nurse at our GP surgery, so what I get may not reflect reality for the majority; an experienced nurse gets as good as a doctor when it comes to diagnostics; many are now in such roles.
The NHS is what you make of it; I have no complaints, it's there when I need it. Never had any problem getting appointments or medications (they even deliver to your house nowadays).
They have been magnificent during COVID, some of them have paid the ultimate price of their dedication.
All the above is said within the background of my wife being a nurse at our GP surgery, so what I get may not reflect reality for the majority; an experienced nurse gets as good as a doctor when it comes to diagnostics; many are now in such roles.
Sep 4th 2020, 8:24 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,648
Re: NHS
I'm starting to get the picture. So emergency medicine is very similar to the US but it's the electives with potential long the wait lists. So I will definitely want to get my knee replacement done here before moving. I couldn't get a quote on BUPA as I'm not a UK resident and have not been established with a GP for 6+ months but are we talking a few hundred pounds a month or much, much more? Thanks SanDiegogirl.
Sep 4th 2020, 9:24 pm
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,127
Re: NHS
We returned to England in 2017 after almost 30 years in the USA. At age 62 we signed up for private health insurance. £99/month currently for the 2 of us at age 65 and that includes vision and dental. It comes into effect if the waiting time is over 6 weeks on the NHS. (Vision and dental works great)
I haven’t used the private insurance but my wife has. She had to have cataracts done with the extra complications of having had RK surgery 29 years ago. She was recommended to use a particular surgeon, top consultant at our local hospital who also practices at a nearby private hospital run by the Nuffield. She was seen to immediately and the surgeon was brilliant. After doing her first eye he told her that her second eye was much more complicated and he wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it privately as she would need a custom torric lens which was not covered by insurance but was covered by the NHS as her astigmatism was too bad to be corrected fully with glasses. There was also the possibility of him needing to do 2 surgeries and he wouldn’t feel right if that happened. Doing the second eye under the NHS at the NHS hospital was no added delay as she was under his care and he made sure she was a priority case. That second eye did not need 2 surgeries but did need more after care with drops 3 times a day to keep the vision stable. Then at 8:35am one Sunday morning he called her to say that he had just come back from the USA where they had much more experience with RK patients needing cataract surgery and he had some new drops he’d like to try. Could she come into the hospital on Tuesday? Just turn up without an appointment and let them know at reception. The new, once at night drops, have been excellent and my wife is delighted. This was just before the Covid lockdown in March and 3 weeks later he called her on her mobile, we were walking on the moors at the time. He asked how the drops were working and said he would send a repeat prescription through to her GP. A few days later, again while walking on the moors (we live on the edge of the N York’s Moors NP) our local GP surgery called my wife to say that they had received her prescription and would set it up for her. We get our prescriptions via mail so it worked great.
I haven’t needed to use our private insurance yet despite having 3 suspicious moles incised and tested, referral to the cardiac unit for atrial fibrillation, multiple appointments and tests at the hospital and heart ablation to fix the problem in 2018. We can always get a same day appointment with our GP, I can view my blood test results next day using the NHS app so I can say categorically that we are very happy with our healthcare in the 4 years we have been back.
I did notice at our local Nuffield hospital that they advertise their prices for hip and knee replacement. It was £9,500 for a knee or hip including all the aftercare, physical therapy etc. The ad stressed no insurance needed. For my wife’s eye surgery we received one single bill from the hospital for the multiple visits for tests before and after plus the surgery. We paid our £500 deductible and that was it. Quite different from the many experiences we have had in the USA with the many EOBs over many weeks after hospital visits - even a colonoscopy in the USA was a billing nightmare for us despite checking ahead of time that the doctor and facility was “in network”.
I haven’t used the private insurance but my wife has. She had to have cataracts done with the extra complications of having had RK surgery 29 years ago. She was recommended to use a particular surgeon, top consultant at our local hospital who also practices at a nearby private hospital run by the Nuffield. She was seen to immediately and the surgeon was brilliant. After doing her first eye he told her that her second eye was much more complicated and he wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it privately as she would need a custom torric lens which was not covered by insurance but was covered by the NHS as her astigmatism was too bad to be corrected fully with glasses. There was also the possibility of him needing to do 2 surgeries and he wouldn’t feel right if that happened. Doing the second eye under the NHS at the NHS hospital was no added delay as she was under his care and he made sure she was a priority case. That second eye did not need 2 surgeries but did need more after care with drops 3 times a day to keep the vision stable. Then at 8:35am one Sunday morning he called her to say that he had just come back from the USA where they had much more experience with RK patients needing cataract surgery and he had some new drops he’d like to try. Could she come into the hospital on Tuesday? Just turn up without an appointment and let them know at reception. The new, once at night drops, have been excellent and my wife is delighted. This was just before the Covid lockdown in March and 3 weeks later he called her on her mobile, we were walking on the moors at the time. He asked how the drops were working and said he would send a repeat prescription through to her GP. A few days later, again while walking on the moors (we live on the edge of the N York’s Moors NP) our local GP surgery called my wife to say that they had received her prescription and would set it up for her. We get our prescriptions via mail so it worked great.
I haven’t needed to use our private insurance yet despite having 3 suspicious moles incised and tested, referral to the cardiac unit for atrial fibrillation, multiple appointments and tests at the hospital and heart ablation to fix the problem in 2018. We can always get a same day appointment with our GP, I can view my blood test results next day using the NHS app so I can say categorically that we are very happy with our healthcare in the 4 years we have been back.
I did notice at our local Nuffield hospital that they advertise their prices for hip and knee replacement. It was £9,500 for a knee or hip including all the aftercare, physical therapy etc. The ad stressed no insurance needed. For my wife’s eye surgery we received one single bill from the hospital for the multiple visits for tests before and after plus the surgery. We paid our £500 deductible and that was it. Quite different from the many experiences we have had in the USA with the many EOBs over many weeks after hospital visits - even a colonoscopy in the USA was a billing nightmare for us despite checking ahead of time that the doctor and facility was “in network”.
Last edited by durham_lad; Sep 4th 2020 at 9:28 pm.
Sep 4th 2020, 9:39 pm
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,648
Re: NHS
We returned to England in 2017 after almost 30 years in the USA. At age 62 we signed up for private health insurance. £99/month currently for the 2 of us at age 65 and that includes vision and dental. It comes into effect if the waiting time is over 6 weeks on the NHS. (Vision and dental works great)
.
.
Sep 4th 2020, 9:44 pm
#24
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,127
Re: NHS
We have been very pleased with it. It is very easy to make dental and vision claims online. £50 deductible for dental which includes 2 checkups/cleanings per year. Similar for glasses whenever the prescription changes which it has done each year for me and multiple times per year for my wife with her cataract surgeries and RK complications this last 2 years.
Sep 4th 2020, 10:08 pm
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 114
Re: NHS
We returned to England in 2017 after almost 30 years in the USA. At age 62 we signed up for private health insurance. £99/month currently for the 2 of us at age 65 and that includes vision and dental. It comes into effect if the waiting time is over 6 weeks on the NHS. (Vision and dental works great)
I haven’t used the private insurance but my wife has. She had to have cataracts done with the extra complications of having had RK surgery 29 years ago. She was recommended to use a particular surgeon, top consultant at our local hospital who also practices at a nearby private hospital run by the Nuffield. She was seen to immediately and the surgeon was brilliant. After doing her first eye he told her that her second eye was much more complicated and he wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it privately as she would need a custom torric lens which was not covered by insurance but was covered by the NHS as her astigmatism was too bad to be corrected fully with glasses. There was also the possibility of him needing to do 2 surgeries and he wouldn’t feel right if that happened. Doing the second eye under the NHS at the NHS hospital was no added delay as she was under his care and he made sure she was a priority case. That second eye did not need 2 surgeries but did need more after care with drops 3 times a day to keep the vision stable. Then at 8:35am one Sunday morning he called her to say that he had just come back from the USA where they had much more experience with RK patients needing cataract surgery and he had some new drops he’d like to try. Could she come into the hospital on Tuesday? Just turn up without an appointment and let them know at reception. The new, once at night drops, have been excellent and my wife is delighted. This was just before the Covid lockdown in March and 3 weeks later he called her on her mobile, we were walking on the moors at the time. He asked how the drops were working and said he would send a repeat prescription through to her GP. A few days later, again while walking on the moors (we live on the edge of the N York’s Moors NP) our local GP surgery called my wife to say that they had received her prescription and would set it up for her. We get our prescriptions via mail so it worked great.
I haven’t needed to use our private insurance yet despite having 3 suspicious moles incised and tested, referral to the cardiac unit for atrial fibrillation, multiple appointments and tests at the hospital and heart ablation to fix the problem in 2018. We can always get a same day appointment with our GP, I can view my blood test results next day using the NHS app so I can say categorically that we are very happy with our healthcare in the 4 years we have been back.
I did notice at our local Nuffield hospital that they advertise their prices for hip and knee replacement. It was £9,500 for a knee or hip including all the aftercare, physical therapy etc. The ad stressed no insurance needed. For my wife’s eye surgery we received one single bill from the hospital for the multiple visits for tests before and after plus the surgery. We paid our £500 deductible and that was it. Quite different from the many experiences we have had in the USA with the many EOBs over many weeks after hospital visits - even a colonoscopy in the USA was a billing nightmare for us despite checking ahead of time that the doctor and facility was “in network”.
I haven’t used the private insurance but my wife has. She had to have cataracts done with the extra complications of having had RK surgery 29 years ago. She was recommended to use a particular surgeon, top consultant at our local hospital who also practices at a nearby private hospital run by the Nuffield. She was seen to immediately and the surgeon was brilliant. After doing her first eye he told her that her second eye was much more complicated and he wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it privately as she would need a custom torric lens which was not covered by insurance but was covered by the NHS as her astigmatism was too bad to be corrected fully with glasses. There was also the possibility of him needing to do 2 surgeries and he wouldn’t feel right if that happened. Doing the second eye under the NHS at the NHS hospital was no added delay as she was under his care and he made sure she was a priority case. That second eye did not need 2 surgeries but did need more after care with drops 3 times a day to keep the vision stable. Then at 8:35am one Sunday morning he called her to say that he had just come back from the USA where they had much more experience with RK patients needing cataract surgery and he had some new drops he’d like to try. Could she come into the hospital on Tuesday? Just turn up without an appointment and let them know at reception. The new, once at night drops, have been excellent and my wife is delighted. This was just before the Covid lockdown in March and 3 weeks later he called her on her mobile, we were walking on the moors at the time. He asked how the drops were working and said he would send a repeat prescription through to her GP. A few days later, again while walking on the moors (we live on the edge of the N York’s Moors NP) our local GP surgery called my wife to say that they had received her prescription and would set it up for her. We get our prescriptions via mail so it worked great.
I haven’t needed to use our private insurance yet despite having 3 suspicious moles incised and tested, referral to the cardiac unit for atrial fibrillation, multiple appointments and tests at the hospital and heart ablation to fix the problem in 2018. We can always get a same day appointment with our GP, I can view my blood test results next day using the NHS app so I can say categorically that we are very happy with our healthcare in the 4 years we have been back.
I did notice at our local Nuffield hospital that they advertise their prices for hip and knee replacement. It was £9,500 for a knee or hip including all the aftercare, physical therapy etc. The ad stressed no insurance needed. For my wife’s eye surgery we received one single bill from the hospital for the multiple visits for tests before and after plus the surgery. We paid our £500 deductible and that was it. Quite different from the many experiences we have had in the USA with the many EOBs over many weeks after hospital visits - even a colonoscopy in the USA was a billing nightmare for us despite checking ahead of time that the doctor and facility was “in network”.
Sep 5th 2020, 5:40 am
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 3,337
Re: NHS
Thanks for your detail durham_lad. 99.00 a month seems very reasonable for a back-up; I was expecting it to be much higher! I think, as usual, I'm worrying too much. I have a feeling the NHS will meet our needs. And will definitely consider private insurance too. (Just have to pray that the dollar maintains and doesn't lose more value because that will affect a lot of financial decisions.)
I was offered in patient treatment on the NHS or in home treatment where the rehab team come to my home every day. I opted for the later. This Thursday they came and did medical examinations and on Monday, 9am. The team will arrive and we will begin. They will be here every day for some time, then, the counselling team will start (a psychologist one day and physiatrist then next) attending my home initially, then me going there. All organised in two weeks.
Sep 5th 2020, 7:23 am
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 114
Re: NHS
Let me give you another example of the NHS. Due to lockdown I developed a serious alcohol issue. I mean very serious. Two weeks ago I plucked up the courage to seek help and went to see my GP. We talked and we discussed options. At the same time, I joined an online support group. It is international, but most are Americans. It seems getting treatment there often isn’t covered by insurance and if it is, options are limited to generally residential rehab with big out of pocket costs and often long wait times.
I was offered in patient treatment on the NHS or in home treatment where the rehab team come to my home every day. I opted for the later. This Thursday they came and did medical examinations and on Monday, 9am. The team will arrive and we will begin. They will be here every day for some time, then, the counselling team will start (a psychologist one day and physiatrist then next) attending my home initially, then me going there. All organised in two weeks.
I was offered in patient treatment on the NHS or in home treatment where the rehab team come to my home every day. I opted for the later. This Thursday they came and did medical examinations and on Monday, 9am. The team will arrive and we will begin. They will be here every day for some time, then, the counselling team will start (a psychologist one day and physiatrist then next) attending my home initially, then me going there. All organised in two weeks.
I didn't know in home services like that existed anywhere. Best of luck on Monday and for the coming months!
Sep 5th 2020, 7:36 am
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: NHS
NHS has worked fine for me. I have multiple chronic medical conditions including Chronic Kidney Disease. I came back as a permanent resident in 2011 after many years working in Africa, Europe and The Middle East. No regrets !
Sep 5th 2020, 7:44 am
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,127
Re: NHS
Let me give you another example of the NHS. Due to lockdown I developed a serious alcohol issue. I mean very serious. Two weeks ago I plucked up the courage to seek help and went to see my GP. We talked and we discussed options. At the same time, I joined an online support group. It is international, but most are Americans. It seems getting treatment there often isn’t covered by insurance and if it is, options are limited to generally residential rehab with big out of pocket costs and often long wait times.
I was offered in patient treatment on the NHS or in home treatment where the rehab team come to my home every day. I opted for the later. This Thursday they came and did medical examinations and on Monday, 9am. The team will arrive and we will begin. They will be here every day for some time, then, the counselling team will start (a psychologist one day and physiatrist then next) attending my home initially, then me going there. All organised in two weeks.
I was offered in patient treatment on the NHS or in home treatment where the rehab team come to my home every day. I opted for the later. This Thursday they came and did medical examinations and on Monday, 9am. The team will arrive and we will begin. They will be here every day for some time, then, the counselling team will start (a psychologist one day and physiatrist then next) attending my home initially, then me going there. All organised in two weeks.
I have an idea how difficult it is getting affordable insurance for mental help issues in the USA as our son has cerebral palsy, was on anti seizure drugs until he was 16 then suffered from clinical depression while in college but managed to graduate at age 24 and came back to stay with us while looking for a job. This was 2007 and he was uninsurable, not even with an exception for mental problems. Fortunately he got a decent job with insurance, no preconditions, within 6 weeks and has been doing okay although does have bipolar disorder.
Last year he had a rough time with feeling down and low on energy so we persuaded him to see his GP here in England and he was referred to mental where he underwent sessions using CBT through the NHS and it has been really marvelous. (He moved to England in 2017 and lives close by us)
Sep 5th 2020, 8:29 pm
#30
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,648
Re: NHS
A pal in the UK has responded. He and wife (age 71 and 70) pay 275.00 GBP per month for them both. They have a 1,000 GBP deductible . They say that come 70 the premium costs go up considerably - their current premium of 275.00 GBP was increased by 25% over last year's.
Several companies do private insurance so one needs to shop around.
Several companies do private insurance so one needs to shop around.
