But we are living here aren't we...living the so called 'dream'? We have first hand experience of the US healthcare system.

If my Dad had been wealthy (and had private health insurance) he would have still been taken to the NHS emergency room. It is also extremelly likely he would have still had the operation at an NHS hospital.

Is an Open House a cocktail?

Obviously didn't know that private hospitals in the UK don't usually accept emergencies.

And a good one too, apparently,since all you have to do is look at it and you fall over.

I have private health insurance cover in addition to the universal coverage afforded to me through the NHS system, but no way do I consider myself "rich" - reasonably well paid, yes, in a job I very much enjoy doing, with long term prospects for a good pension when the time comes about 35 years from now, even though I am contributing towards it on a monthly basis, as I do towards my free at the point of issue when needed NHS care through my monthly NIC deductions from my salary, which is all I have to do to avail myself of its universal services....as a UK resident.

But I have not, as yet anyway, taken advantage of my private healthcare insurance and only once have I had to make use of the NHS for treatment - a broken collar bone due to injury playing rugby when I was 19...three days in hospital, and three after care visits to A & E (Edinburgh)....all for "free", and the quality of care and attention I received from all medical staff was just..well, just bloody fantastic, really. Maybe I was just lucky, and lucky to be fit and well at the age of 31.

It was because the house had low ceilings.

Spread eagling optional.

Was it in a poorer area?

Those musculature contractions are the worst, aren't they.

I was just about to refer to musculature contractions in my reply to Sally...but you beat me to it.

Exactly.

My father paid into BUPA for a long time - and he wasn't rich either, just a normal business executive in Croyden, not a high flyer. When he needed hospital care towards the end of his life, he used his BUPA money to pay for a private room in very nice facilities - but ALL the doctors, consultants, lab people etc were all NHS people too, they just worked at this hospital as well, ie you get exactly the same medical care, just in different surroundings.

Good point...that private medical care is not only for the rich. I also had BUPA insurance with my job.

Even with private medical care you still have to go through your GP for a referral...unless that's changed since I lived in the UK.

Ah yes! I've lived here for twenty three years but my bikes all have the brakes set up the English way, just to keep it simple!!

Coming back to the high medical bills problem. I was just wondering what would happen if you were in an accident and they rush you to the ER to pull your leg out of your shoulder. They then pull the other leg and slap you with a $50k bill. The hospital can't deny you treatment, and if you're out cold, you can't tell them to leave your leg in your shoulder because you have no insurance.

So how would they make you pay that bill? Especially if you're already living below the bread line.

CWT