lansbury

Mrs L needed to see her doctor semi urgently today. Phoned the office at 11am and I am siting in the office waiting room waiting right now while she is seen. Try that with the NHS on a Saturday back in the UK.

Jerseygirl

IMO US healthcare is brilliant...as long as you have good insurance and/or $$$$$s.

scrubbedexpat097

So true.

We are battling the hearts electrical circuit right now. He hasn't quite blown a fuse yet but the amount of scaring from his heart attack is causing lots of erratic and missed beats.

This man amazes me. He doesn't slow down. I have to remind him how old we are sometimes, because I can't keep up with all his madcap ideas

Yep.


And that is the answer. Good insurance and lots of cash

lansbury

Just good ole Medicare.

scrubbedexpat097

Hope Mrs L is doing ok.

Jerseygirl

Is it good? Doesn't that cost an arm and a leg too? As we never intended to retire in the US I don't know a great deal about it.

lansbury

Not too bad. A flare up of some arthritis in her neck. She needed some pain medication and steroid tablets. Too painful to wait to Tuesday. Our doctors office is open Saturdays.

Costs her $190 a month that includes part B and D and dental. Part A is free. $104.95 is deducted from her SS payment for part B, so we don't miss that. Remainder is because she chose to have and Advantage plan with drug coverage, other benefits, plus dental.

Jerseygirl

So as long as you can afford $190 per month healthcare when retired is good? Apart from meds...does that cover her for all eventualities? No out of pocket co-pays, deductibles etc? There must be some down side as that sounds too good to be true.

scot47

I have found NHS24 to be pretty good. Local A&E plus helicopter to mainland if needed. It saved my life !

scrubbedexpat097

Helicopter and Medical Center saved my husband's life as well, but it cost us a lot of $$$$!!

SanDiegogirl

Depends on what type of Medicare Advantage plan you take - the plan is run by private insurance companies.

A friend of mine has an Advantage plan and basically she is allowed to go to one medical group, but then she does not pay the 20% excess which Medicare do not pay for services. She also has a lower co-payment. The plan basically takes over her Medicare paperwork.

Some Advantage plans have no additional premiums, but little extra benefits apart from the administration side of things.

lansbury

Not sure what the deductible is, not very much. Doctor was $20 co-pay. The dental cover included is for $1500 a year, which is par for dental cover in Oregon. Plus there is gym membership included as a benefit.

scrubbedexpat097

Gym coverage....now you've done it.

Never mention exercise to JG

Jerseygirl

scrubbedexpat097