ironporer

And here one can choose to live in any of 50 states in a geographical area similar in size to the EU with it's 25.

jambo_2004

Knew someone would say that. Not the same thing mate, you're still in the country. You learn or experience very little that's new from moving to another state. There's a vast difference from living in Rome and Paris than California and Texas.

Lion in Winter

Just a bit.

Sue

I work for a non-profit agency that helps people with things like rent, utilities, and medicine. Approx. 90% of the people we see are "working poor", out of those only 1 out of 50 have any type of health insurance. They earn too much to get medicaid and can't afford to pay for insurance. Many of them go without vital medicine because they have to make the choice of paying their rent, buying food etc. Some of our clients are retired and are just over the income limit to receive medicaid or medicare. Imagine having to make the choice between which meds you can afford to buy this month and which ones have to wait until the following month. There are more and more people who work that can't afford insurance. It breaks my heart to see and hear these peoples stories, so please try and remember that not everyone who does not have health insurance does it by choice.

Sue

ElsieTheMaid

Excuse me, but I get tired of people saying that health care in England is free. I remember HUGE chunks of NHS taxes coming out of my paycheck.

BritGuyTN

yes - its paid for taxation so is not really free, BUT i get a similar amount coming out of my US paycheck for medicare but don't receive any benefit from it !!!

what bullshit is that? paying for something i don't/can't access???

jambo_2004

They didnt, they said health care in the UK.

ironporer

Then don't look at the social security contribution you make every week then- as with medicare, you won't see anything from it 'till 65...and it's a hell of a lot more (plus the matching amount paid by your employer!). Of course if you die and have surviving children they would get SSI, or maybe you could be disabled....

AlisonPA

I saw what my husband is expected to get as a pension when he retires (long time away thankfully) and it's a lot of money. His mother died last year and I couldnt believe what she was getting and a total contrast from the terrible UK pensions.

Chopper-Chris

you havin a laugh mate?

you must be Scottish or Welsh I suppose, with that chip on your shoulder about the countries terminology...get over it.

UK/England who cares, we all knew what was meant

ElsieTheMaid

Well....being that I'm from England, I personalized it. Didn't mean to offend anyone

Chopper-Chris

I do the same all the time, England just rolls off the tongue (or fingers) than UK, plus, when people ask me where I'm from, I always say England, I know it upsets some people from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and maybe its a bad habit, but please, if it only takes that much to upset people, then they need to get out more.

:lecture:

BritGuyTN

A lot of money?!?!

do you call $13k a year a lot of money? if you do then fair enough - if you don't then your're possibly confusing social security payments with a 401k

'If you have been working all your life contributing the maximum to the Social Security system, you could receive over $13,000 at your normal retirement age ($20,000 for a couple).'

Manc

isn't the UK?
£78 per week
less than £6000 per year.

AlisonPA

That works out too just over £4,000 a year!

Just went to the US Social Security on line calculator that give projections. At today's rate if my husband retired at 62 he would get $1,500 per month, rising to $2,000 per month and around $2,500 per month at 70. Bit different to the UK. How anyone can survive on 78b quid a week is beyond me.