jasper123

Thanks PERCIVAL, yes I am very happy and contented being home, I know the government is going through a big change right now where Cameron is having to cut so many things including benefits and the NHS ----- but the way I look at it is this ---- even if they cut and cut and cut for years ----- the UK will still be a lot easier and gentler place to live then the US has ever been or will ever be.

Fish n Chips 56

Loved your comments above, you make lots of sense to me, I get so frustrated with the life and death double standards...

Im concerned that you dont think the Uk would suit you, I see so much to like, its almost like you have only listened to the bad mouthing, there is good and bad in all, that goes for people and places to live...

Fish n Chips 56

I have to agree with that comment...

Simply put the UK cares more for its people...

jasper123

Too right Fish!!!! this is what I have always said,
you know the weather here has been so bad for months, so much rain, and everyone is fed up with it, but thats the good old British weather, something we all have to accept if we want to live here, but yesterday we had almost a whole day of sunshine, 69f when you get a good day you really do appreciate it
Andy Murray won the Semi final at Wimbey today and so he has made history to go down as the first British man to go through to the mens singles final in 72 years,
even Sir Cliff Richard was there to cheer him on ---- and Sir David Frost too,
the final is on BBC 1 this Sunday!!!!! I hope you all will be able to watch it in the States, I think I remember they always televised Wimbledon in America every year, anyway I hope he wins Sunday.

UkWinds5353

Rodney, were you not of age to get medicare/medicaid before leaving the states?

jasper123

Yes ukwinds I was old enough to get Medicare before I left U.S. Just!!!! but I was 65 when I came home so all I needed to sign up for was the
(free) part A of medicare, its not worth much really it just pays 80% I think of hospital bills if you have a long stay, so as I was coming home to England for good!!!! I had no use for the supplemental parts of medicare B,C,D,E, etc etc
So that saves me about $140 per month and of course even if you are retired and still living in U.S. with so - called Medicare coverage you do know dont you that there is a mass of out of pocket money you have to pay out such as co-pays for the Doc and specialists, and tests, and MRI,S etc and all your co-pays for prescriptions, and a lot of drugs are not even covered so then you will have to pay full price for them. but the out of pocket expenses just go on and on and on

dontheturner

Strange though - At work, in 1971 a friend and I were selling tickets, to Majorca (The Ondine Hotel in Arenal).
Flights from Luton airport to Palma - coach from the door , Friday after tea till return to (am) work Monday morning. £16 each, and we filled three aircraft. Court line Aviation.
And that is when most middle age folks started spreading their wings - without outside help!!! Luton airport, became very very busy. Flight and Hotel, for 4 days to the same place, (but from Nottingham Airport is now still cheap at only £55 each. - inclusive of hotel costs). Don

UkWinds5353

Hi Jasper

I thought you may have been qualified for medicare but just barely.You are still a young one

My mother was under medicare/medicaid and she to had the 80% coverage.She did have private insurance to cover the 20%. Her insurance was very good as there were ZERO co-pays.Her nephew( an insurance agent) found the right insurer that did not require co-pays.I think her premiums were a little higher in order to avoid them, about $170 per month total.It helps to know someone in the business. So it can be done, and hopefully as time goes by and more people begin to use the new health care laws, they will demand even better previsions in the coverage of insurance.I think state's rights can and will play a role as well.

I wish we had universal coverage but for that to happen this country would need to slash spending on the military. That is not going to happen any time soon. People have long memories and understand what a weak military could mean, especially as China and Russia are still interested in gaining influence on the world stage.We also have to be mindfull of the fact that a population of 300+ million can not be covered as easily as France or the UK. 70% of the American population are satisfied with the insurance their employer provides and many of them don't want to pay the cost for the uninsured 30%. Because we are a nation that must adhere to state rights, the federal government can not simply force people into universal coverage. Kinda like getting the European Union to speak, and act,with one voice. Every American state is a nation onto it self.The Affordable Care Act was the next best option. Hopefully as time goes by we will make improvements to it.

bandrui

Here we go again. What a load of codswallop.

cheers

Hey Bea, Where have you been? We sent you out for some fish and chips 3 weeks ago and haven't heard from you since and I for one miss you posts. Any rain in your part of London?

islandwoman120

Floods in Britain: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18750430

formula

America, Canada and Australia are countries that are built on immigration.

Many other countries weren't built on immigration and have immigrants' coming to their shores in search of a better life in these successful countries. To say that the immigrants come to these countries are "working harder than the indigenous population", clearly isnt true. If your claim was true, their counties would be the successful ones and we would be trying to get into their countries as ours wouldn't be successful. People who are successful in their own country, don't emigrate.

It's nothing to do with "what the Daily Mail says" and is everything to do with services, roads, housing, education, healthcare, welfare etc, being unable to cope with the high numbers of immigrants.

The NHS: it's "when" and not "if" the changes will have to come in. Both major political parties talking about charging for some operations/services and rationing others. Too many people are happy not to pay all their taxes to the UK but expect to be given free NHS. The books don't balance as there are too many at it.

cheers

I just checked the Abbey Road web cam and they are finally getting some rain!

http://www.abbeyroad.com/Crossing

Fish n Chips 56

My Parents bought supplimental health insurance to cover what medicaid/medicare didint, My Mum had major surgery and was put in a care home to recover, after 21 days her insurance company dropped her, and this is all perfectly legal, what a load of crap, Dumped as soon as you become a Burden, this is what most people dont know, they have no clue, nobody talks about it, People in this country are clueless about Healthcare Insurance industry, they only assume what they think will happy...

UkWinds5353

Fish

Many health insurance providers care less about their clients.The bottom line for them is pure greed, a desire to acquire our money, and many companies will look for any opportunity to cancel a contract the moment you need to use the insurance.I personally have experience large premiums hikes, constantly going up every six months after having been in a serious auto accident several years ago. The moment I needed to use the insurance, the company I was with made every effort to soak me dry and regain the money they had to spend on my medical care. Its not the same as canceling a policy it's more intended to force you to drop the coverage. The Affordable Care Act puts an end to that practise.My mother's insurance was very reliable and we were lucky my cousin picked that company for my mom. There were several options but he felt one company was the better choice.

I'm sorry what happened to your mother.No one deserves to be treated in a callus manner.Your mother's insurance company should hang their head in shame.Hopefully karma will play a role, and that company will go out of business.The new health care law thankfully does address the issue of contract cancelation.They can no longer hike a person's premiums every few months in order to recoup funds they spent on a claim.They can not cancel or preclude you from a policy due to pre-existing conditions. They are now forced to keep their profit margin at a level which can not exceed 20% of the total premiums.These and other new measures will make a difference.Its not universal coverage like in the UK but the new laws are a huge step in the right direction.

The Affordable Care Act is some what similar to the private health insurance system in Switzerland that most there are covered by. Its compulsory there while here in the States we have the sticky issue of States rights.Some Right Wingers in certain states are already saying they will not join the new system.But I have a feeling many of them will change their mind once they realize that the federal government will no longer have to cover the cost of people treated at hospitals when the patient can't pay the bill. But the hospital will by federal law still have to deliver care.The states that opt out will now get stuck with millions of dollars if they refuse to join the new system. I'm certain that many hospitals will lobby their representatives like there is no tomorrow to force their state government to join the new health care system.

Fish,After your previous experiences I certainly can understand why you would want out, and feel a strong desire to return to the uk. I think I would also.