Comparison
Oct 7th 2005, 8:23 am
#271
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by sprintblue
Well not sure about the rest of the country but here in West Yorkshire NHS is shit. I have 2 friends who both found lumps in their breats, both waited 2 weeks for their appointments to go to the hospital (via NHS) but after 2 weeks of waiting and not receiving their appointments, both decided to go private. One of them just paid out right and with in 2 weeks she had been in and had the operation and was out in recovery when she received her letter from the NHS to go in for her 1st check, approx cost of about £600-£800, the second actually had private health care for which she pays approx £30 per month for and again she was in and out in 3 weeks. So while I think the NHS is pretty crap (round my area anways) you can still go private for a reasonable cost £30 a month for a policy that covers you for most things is what about $50-$60 so you can get decent health care for a not bad price at all. However if you don't have cover (Bupa, RSA etc) already and pay for it out of your own pocket it can work out expensive.
1) I gave birth to my daughter in the US (we are covered through my husband's work with pretty good insurance 80/20 coverage $15 co-pay $500 deductable). After I had her I was sent home after 2 days told to take her to see her Dr for a check up at 2 weeks and me to see my Dr after 6 weeks. I was a new mum only me and my husband in the area... no midwife calling, no health visitor... no nothing... thank God that my mum was at the end of a phone. Oh and of course not to forget the $2500 plus bills we had to pay.
2) I see my Dr who sends me to Quest Diognstics for a blood test... my insurance tell me they are not paying for it and bill me $380... I write to my insurance company and have my Dr write to them arguing that the cost should be covered... insurance company agree to pay up... they pay $48 and the rest is written of in an agreement between Quest and my insurance company... Quest have to making a profit on that $48, I doubt they are doing it as an act of charity.
3) My OB-GYN tells me I have to change my birth control pill because the one she wants me to take is better more affective blah blah (I had been on the same one for 18 months without a problem). So off I go to my pharmacy ready to pay my $10 prescription co-pay to be told my insurance company won't cover it because the is no non brand eqiv... they told me the new one would now cost $50 per month.
4) During my annual prod and poke with my OB-GYN (you know the routine girls) my Dr finds a lump in my breast and wants me to have a mammogram and ultrasound. I make an appointment and told that the earliest appointment is almost a month away... I was really worried and very upset because we had a family friend who died of breast cancer at 30... I had all kinds of things going through my head I called around and managed to get an appointment at a different hospital for 2.5 weeks later. Luckly everything was fine.
My mother in law (in the US) and my mum's step sister (in the UK) both found out within days of each other that they had breast cancer... my mum's step sister started her treatment first and was also given the cold cap treatment (I think that was what is was called... it helps reduce hair loss).
Any NHS critic should experience the US system... because the grass is certainly not greener on the other side... given the option I know which I would take.
I am now expecting my second child who knows what we will end up paying
Ash
Oct 7th 2005, 8:26 am
#272
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
3) My OB-GYN tells me I have to change my birth control pill because the one she wants me to take is better more affective blah blah (I had been on the same one for 18 months without a problem).
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
I am now expecting my second child who knows what we will end up paying
Oct 7th 2005, 8:30 am
#273
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by Manc
1-800-LEE-FREE
Ash
Oct 7th 2005, 8:59 am
#274
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
1-800-LEE-FREE???
Ash
Ash
Oct 7th 2005, 11:02 am
#275
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by rushman
Who could she mean? 
Oct 7th 2005, 11:03 am
#276
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by rushman
There's a suprise!!! 
Oct 7th 2005, 11:05 am
#277
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by rushman
Well they do say that everything America get Britain gets 5 years later. Only we've been lucky with the obesity thing, that took 50 odd years to reach us.
Oct 7th 2005, 11:13 am
#278
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by Bob
I thought that only covered county hospitals, if it were private, they didn't have to take anyone in, even emergency?
(Obviously I don't mean 'you' as in you Bob - YKWIM
)
Oct 7th 2005, 11:19 am
#279
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Comparison
Originally Posted by AmerLisa
Really? Who says that? .
