I have to agree but only because obviously the US is not the UK. But in saying that, there should be some baseline for affordable healthcare. I have not looked into the Affordable Care Act stuff, we have insurance, but maybe the OP could find something there that's more affordable.

Also, I wonder how and why 25 years of retail employment and you're only just finding it hard to manage? I can't imagine life in Mississippi, nor on a really low wage although it may be cheaper than, for example, California. I guess life continues on and we all plod along doing whatever it takes.

Might be a difference between company stores and franchises. I've known a few who worked company stores - they needed to average 20 hours a week to be eligible for health insurance, and they definitely didn't wait a year. I don't know how much, if anything, they had to contribute to insurance from their paychecks.

Well for starters you are living in the poorest state in the nation.

Secondly if you want a good paying job without an education what's hot now is the oil and gas industry. North Dakota and South Texas are smoking. There's also an oil play going on in SW Mississippi near the Louisiana border. In the oil industry one can work 80 hours on 80 hours off so a lot of people commute where they are from.

Thirdly, healthcare. In England one is expected to follow the rules, in America it's understood that there's exceptions to rules. The insurance companies have high premiums because lots of people get health care but are unable to pay for it so the hospitals sock it to the insurance companies. If you need to see a doctor go to your local emergency room, they are required to provide care. When they show you the bill tell them it's too expensive (which it will be). Ask them to reduce the bill and put you on a payment plan. Pay what you can. In America you can't be too scrupulous.

England. Yes, in England if you're poor you can get counsel housing, free health care and a bit for food and maybe a beer or two at the pub. Just enough to exist but not a pence more. I was at a garden party in England a while back and I was talking to a guy who was well dressed (blue blazer and all that) well spoken, I thought I was talking to a CEO. I found out later through my wife that the guy has always lived in a counsel house and delivers pizza's part time. I was shocked. I came to the realization that they're probably all like that, able bodied men and women, well spoken, intelligent, wasting away in counsel houses.

You pays your monies, you take your choice.

Have you looked at plans under the Affordable Care Act.

In your situation you would be eligible for subsidies and therefore pay a very low premium for a health plan.

It may is too late now since open enrollment was until March 31. The date has been extended (1-2 weeks) for those that claim that they had problems enrolling so there still may be a possibility of signing up.

I suspect Mississippi was one of those states that tried to "not get the word out". They are also one of the states that did not expand Medicaid.

Life in North America in general is no easy. Having lived in 2 of the 3 major countries on this continent, its not much different between the US and Canada, life is just a struggle if you don't have a decent income.

Pro's and con's to both countries if poor.

In Canada you won't have to worry about basic healthcare (but medication is generally not covered, and can be pricey, nor is vision, dental, and a few other things) but if you end up in the ER you won't get a bill which helps.

Social housing here is about the same as the US, years long wait lists, and not really an option for most low income folks.

The US has food stamp program. Canada well depending on where you live, if you can't afford food, you just go hungry. The food banks vary, some are weekly, some are monthly, and some twice a month, but most only provide 1-3 days of food.

Min. wage is higher here, but so is the cost of everything, so while to someone in the US making 7.25/hr a 10.25/hr min. wage seems high, but you have to factor in the higher cost of everything, especially food, and the staples, some like milk can be double or more the price of the US.

We too have an oil industry, but its not an option for most, and not nearly as easy to get a job in as people think it is.

Education too is hard to get, its expensive, and if you have to work full-time is not an option really since few schools offer flexible programming and courses (such as evening and weekend) for working adults who have to work.


Plain and simple, North America you need a decent income to have any sort of real quality of life.

Some council house tenants can spell.

Didn't someone on here say they paid more in UK taxes than they do for medical insurance in the US.

Me?

I have said, on several occasions, that for me: UK(income tax+NI) > US(income tax+SS+medical insurance) by approximately 35%:25%. Property tax is roughly the same +/- $100. YMMV.

+1 -- I know people who aren't doing too well financially and just had to provide their tax returns in order to get very well-priced plans.

You what?

I'm just responding to the post saying that it's offered and saying that it might be in theory, but in reality is harder to be eligible. I never said they got it free.

FFS, read the post properly before going off on a rant.

How dare the riff-raff expect medical treatment?

That is the issue when you have a system where medical care is linked to employment and the employer should be footing part of the bill since that is how the system is currently designed.


Many companies offer "benefits" on paper but reality is they can be hard to qualify for. I work in retail and technically they did offer benefits, but you had to work more then 37.5 hours a week, and well nobody worked that much, we always got 33, 32, 34, 36 week so they could honestly say we didn't qualify.

Companies play dirty tricks to avoid having to actually provide the actual benefits. Management of course got their benefits, but it seems they are special and normal workers don't deserve the same.

The reason people want to go back to the UK is because there ain't much love in the USA. The US is more of a sociopath culture.

My born and bred US buddy struggled until he was 50. He did work in factories for around $400 week including Saturday. He then did a 2 year course for nursing. He now works on the mental health ward and earns $1500 week and gets health insurance. I suggest you and your husband take it in turns to learn. In 4 years time you could be bringing home $3000 week plus insurance.

Assuming they can afford tuition and/or get enough financial aid, as well as being academically suitable for college. (Not saying the OP isn't suitable, but too many see to assume anyone can attain a college education.)