Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Haha must be the more you use it the more you lose it.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

You can also have wonderful treatment, but also still have massive wait times in the US too, or find that you cover is cancelled and there's nothing you can do about it.

Anyway, personal anecdotes don't really mean much, anyone can find good and bad stories for either, but it's the whole picture which matters, and that's the basic blanket level of cover.

But if we are going to play the anecdotes game, my mother who's 72 recently broke her wrist, was at the hospital and seen within minutes, had a whole body scan and the density stuff etc within the hour and was able to leave a couple hours later. On the other hand, cousin in the US who has great employer benefits, when their kid just broke his arm, he waited in the ER for 5 hours to get seen. When he did get seen, they did the scan and cast very quickly, checked it again a couple days later and had to reset the bone and do more stuff, all very good care.

Completely unfair comparisons though, because my mother fell over 10am on a Tuesday morning, Cousin's were at the ER on a Friday night at 6pm.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Incredible posts - and VERY lengthy. I am supposed to be studying, why did I start reading all this , it's so easy to get distracted!! I want to say to the original poster that "is the grass greener" thread is still active, and asks exactly the same question as yours; the answers, though, are slightly different.
This one mentions healthcare - a lot - and sounds very frightening to people who are debating coming here. I am an RN and feel able to say, having been trained by the NHS and worked for the NHS for 20+yrs, that the NHS is not a wondrous thing. It has great aims, works well in an emergency situation, but try telling that to the OAP who needs hip/knee replacement for a chronic condition and is put on a very long waiting list, only on the day of surgery to be cancelled due to staff shortage, etc. etc. It happens, ALL the time.
The elderly in UK aren't treated terribly well. It isn't the England I grew up in where you are respectful of elders and police/authority.
I'm not saying that is the case ALL the time, it just happens that way here - happens that way there.
People die in USA because of a poor healthcare system and guess what - it happens in UK, too. People die in trolleys, in corridors, get sent home sick/dying, etc.
USA is not unique in that.
From my observation and experience here(in America), the elderly - and there are a lot of them - seem to get treated well. They are respected and have a far better lifestyle than the elderly I came into contact with in UK.
This is just an observation and opinion.
I just wanted to point out to the original poster that it isn't all doom and gloom in the US, and that the UK has a lot of flaws,too.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

:confused: In other words you were replying to her post.

We've seen so many come and go on here, telling us what to do when they haven't even left Britain, when you get here maybe I'll listen to your lectures.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

The problem in the US isn't so much the elderly - who have access to Medicare - but more those that are under age 65 who have little or no insurance. Being without insurance in the window between, say, 50 and 65 is very very scary in the US, both from a medical and from a financial standpoint. Once you reach Medicare eligibility, you're in relatively good shape in the US imo.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I am not sure why you took just a bit from my post and quoted it ? :)

My main point was that to get the wonderful treatment, one needs good insurance in the first place -something that is out of the reach of many Americans .

Women in their 50's having to doctor themselves is a disgrace ,the UK might offer long surgery wait times (with a copy of Womans own from'82 ) but at least they will get seen !

I know you were not debating that fact BTW :) I just wanted to add .

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Are the wait times really that long in the UK? Again it's anecdotal, but all my family members over there have received very prompt treatment recently.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

No ,I don't think they are actually (I left in 2005 ) .

I was just giving an example of the 'horrors ';) I often get asked about by *some * of my American friends when talking of healthcare in the UK .

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Best not to upset them too much ;)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Which goes against the growing old in the US doom and gloom merchants. Unless you class growing old as being from 50 onwards. Personally I class it from 65 onwards, what is IMHO normal retirement age.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Not really. To reach age 65 and Medicare you have to get through that decade and a half of vulnerability to job and/or health insurance loss just at the time that crap starts to happen way more frequently from a medical point of view. If you're bereft of insurance in your early '50's, the fact that you'll get Medicare at age 65 is kind of moot: your lack of insurance before then often forms a large barrier to their "growing old" in the US, especially when they can get single-payer healthcare in the UK. It's no wonder that so many Brits think of moving back around that age or earlier. I know I wouldn't live here absent good health insurance in that age bracket.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Medicare works very well in this country. Just ask the seniors. The next move is to get the same facilities for everyone else in this country. The current administration is working on it.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I really have nothing to add. I just wanted to say that if that's your real photo... I think you look really cute! :)

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

LOL !

It is me :-)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Because my parents are in their 80's and have had numerous surgeries, cataract ops, incredibly cheap medicines without having to work as a greeter at walmart to get a limited heathcare plan. The waiting lists are way shorter than they were years ago and no one worries about bills.
My sister is going to Africa in Feb and was worried because she had some heart palpitations she had an ECG 2 weeks ago and the results back today all clear - no cost. How would that have worked in the US?

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

So everyone has the right to have a gun because a few hundred years ago it was the wild west? even if they are nuts! you dont think some rights might be amended to go along with the times?

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

If they invade your house and threaten your family and property? Yes, I would shoot them dead.

Or I could do it the way I assume it's done it "good ole blighty"?

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

My partner has medicare and, while it certainly does "work" it is also hideously complicated with literally thousands of different add-on plans run by private insurance companies for things like prescription drug coverage that obviously employ the same people who put together cell phone calling plans to make it impossible to figure out what anything will really cost or to do a sensible comparison between plans because every single one of them is different!!! ... and these plans are practically offered on a per zip code basis! :eek:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Bloody iPad auto correct. Makes my speeeeeling even worse........

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I have not told anyone what to do, nor have I lectured anyone so don't give me that crap. I have lived and worked all over the world so have a perspective on overseas living.

Jesus Christ, do you think because I have not moved yet it does not give me a right to express an opinion? Especially an opinion about the UK. If their life is that bad in the US why don't they bog off elsewhere instead of winging about it?

This forum is polarized into people who love the USA and this who have not had a good time. Unfortunately the balance of posting is from those who had a bad time winging about it and trying to convince others it's all crap and they should leave or not even bother making the move.

For years I wondered why my kiwi friend who moved to the UK referred to us as winging poms. God do I know now.

Life is what you make of it.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Well said !!:thumbup:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Well said..my thoughts exactly !

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Well, for what it's worth I generally prefer it here (USA) and i'm quite glad not to be in the UK right now. I haven't posted because I don't really have anything to complain about. Plus if I say I have had a positive experience might come across as boasting given so many people's crappy experiences.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

:) Don't be silly. Everyone has the right to own a gun because the US Constitution says they have that right, and the US Supreme Court has upheld that right.


Without being presumptuous, perhaps you don't fully understand the meaning of the word "rights". Rights must never be abridged. Full stop. End of story.

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

My right to own slaves has certainly been removed.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Ah... but was it ever actually a right?

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Err, what are all those amendments to the constitution then.....I think the word BL used was "amend" not abridge...?

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I guess you could say it is. My Dad used an insurance agent (someone he's used for years and has confidence in) and bought into the plans he recommended. Like I said, it's how it's done in this country and probably does seem rather complicated to folks from other countries who are used to a different system.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Like I said before, oldies like my Dad and his generation would have a problem with having their "rights" taken away. They own guns, always have and know how to use them responsibly. My hubby on the other hand has always been a city dweller and would probably agree with you. He's never owned a gun and quite frankly the idea of using one on a burgler would scare him half to death :lol:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

You're right, she used "amend"... my bad. Every amendment to the US Constitution expands and/or clarifies rights - they do not curtail rights.

Ian

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Who decides on the definition rights though? As has been said, people used to have the right to keep slaves but times change. Many would concider access to healthcare a right.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

So you're saying its a ratchet effect then? It can only go one way? Rights can be expanded, but not curtailed, even if it is the will of the people to do so? (take this away from guns for a moment, just a general query!)

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

You've got a point there.

Woe betide anyone who doesn't want a gun though :rolleyes:

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

What in the Constitution prevented it? Or what Supreme Court decisions prevented it back when the Constitution was framed? Dred Scott anyone?

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Sure if you live where Chartreuse does in Texas. Apparently it's a felony not to own one there. Luckily he likes guns. I don't, we don't own one, we don't want or need one. Depends on which state you live in really. The different states can make individual amendments to the gun laws. That's the way to go if you want to change anything. You could start an initiative and stand at Walmart and see how many signatures you can get :D If you get enough signatures it will be on the next ballot

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

So if California wanted to ban guns that would be legal??

Let's at least be realistic here: the ability of states to enact their own gun laws is pretty darned circumscribed at this point.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Indeed it is, which is why many nutjobs are pushing for nullification.

Here is a list of nullification efforts from 2010, and it looks as though IA is the first out of the trap in 2011.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

I don't know if you could "ban guns" per se. The right to bear arms is still a constitutional right. But you could move to have limits put on the types of weapons; for instance assault weapons or even feasibly hand guns.

Re: Is this really, that terrible compared to UK?
 

Good luck on that with this Supreme Court.