Sandra23

Your exactly right. Remembering England and actually living there again I'm sure would be a totally different experience than anything I might hope for. I've only been back once as an adult. As you can imagine there were alot of changes. I still have school mates I keep in touch with now. I don't however, have much family there. As I said I have built a life here, and as much as I would love the chance to go back, the reality is that it is a huge undertaking to start a new life anywhere especially at my age and with the economy being so unpredictable.

Xebedee

So enjoy the good stuff here, eh?
There's always a trip back to enjoy the history/countryside/pub life. Plug back in for a bit.

You could actually consider yourself to be a different sort. Pick and choose the best of both as you see fit. A real adventurer.
If you have been an expat for so long, you have pretty much earned the right to do/take what you want from either culture. Anyone who survives that has (sort of) passed an ordeal by fire, as it were.

Sandra23

I guess what I miss the most is that sence of security. The toughest thing for me as a divorced single (my son and daughter are now both on their own) ,is the fear that everything I've established, everything I've worked for could be lost with one major medical crisis. I have a savings account, an ivestment account, a retirement account, and a checking account. But I know I'm not the only one that has that thought in back of my head that, it just won't be enough of a safeguard. I do thank you for your encouraging words. I' not as pecimistic as I must sound. I do have good freinds here and I have a great time as often as I can. I Holiday in St. petersburg in florida every year. I also travel to California. Last March I went to my neice's wedding in Ohio and in the spring I will be going to visit my sister in Chicargo. Ialso keep up with my artwork, mostly oil painting. Life is full. I just need Health insurance and my life would be complete. I'm part of that growing American population that has two great jobs and now health insurance. What's your experience with insurance or lack of?

Xebedee

My family has been without it and it was very scary. Cobra isn't really a viable option for most.
My Daughter had lived with us (until recently) without health insurance and had to use county services.
My Wife had her on county services and they were ok.
I have none at the mo - I am on my wife's policy.
I've held jobs which didn't offer it at all and some which denied spousal coverage.
I've known a fair few people who didn't have it at all.

I find the whole US health insurance thing morally bankrupt and am hoping that the next President will do something decent. *Throws salt and spits*.

The baby boomers impact is the one thing that bothers me most. They are just starting to retire and when my generation does, who knows what impact they will have had. I don't think it won't be minor.

Insurance is really important in retirement isn't it? Medicare is really minimal and its still insurance anyway. My thoughts for retirement are to share it between here and the UK. If the UK continues to go down the toilet, we stay here. If it gets crap here, we go there. Until then we just plan to do 1/2 and 1/2.

I wouldn't move back to the UK just because of the NHS. Saying that, if I were single, pissed off and without coverage, my opinion might be different. Its a tough call to make.
But then, when you have a lot invested here, well.

Poppy girl

Most of you know my opinion on this but lets voice it yet again lol

I love the US and my life here, if my mother was not there I would never bother to go back to the UK.

The pro's... personally quality of life is better here and I would never earn in the UK what I do in the US.


But thats just my opinion each to thier own.

Sandra23

I'm Guessing that every imigrant that's moved here has a similar story. I would say it's an American story too. Americans seem to be finally and justly angry about the healthcare crisis. It's certainly become a hot topic on the political platform this year. Maybe if the government received the same lousy health insurance as the general public they'd make the necessary reforms. It's really sad that such a wealthy country has such enormouse social issues. All the best with you and your family. Hope you keep whatever insurance you have. I have too much vested here to consider a major move to UK or anywhere else. I hope whoever wins this election keeps healthcare on the front burner. Cheers for now

Jerseygirl

Heaven forbid but what if your health failed...as a result you lost your job...had no healthcare insurance. Your savings and assests could soon be eaten up by medical costs. That's why so many of us believe that one day we will have to return to the UK.

Sandra23

That's the reason most people come here. I get paid very well as well. I work once a week as a free lance artist. I have a full time retail job in a high end boutique. That job supplements my part time job which actually pays more than my full time job. But, neither job offers health insurance. Private insurance is unaffordable. Everyone likes it here if they have the security of health insurance. What about you? Do you have health insurance?

Poppy girl

No I don't have insurance and yes I know I should, I can afford it but keep saying tomorrow tomorrow so many different plans out there and just never got around to it

Poppy girl

Don't talk that up Jersey I will cross that bridge if and when I come to it I am not going to live my life worrying about it..

HunterGreen

There are many great things about the US, and many bad things. There are many great things about my home country, and many bad things. So apart from all that, since it balances eachother basically, I would tell them to stay the heck where you are. Moving countries will forever uproot you, neither country will ever be exactly what you need (although at times it might seem that way), and you'll always end up missing people no matter where you live. So stay put if you can. Travel lots, but live in one country. Once you move you're forever living a life of wondering if you should stay or go. I'm definitely not an un-adventurous person, but moving countries should be outlawed. Unless you're within driving distance.

ukelaine

It's not that easy to answer. It would depend on your age, HEALTH and if you are single or coming with family, kids.

Getting a job may not be as easy as you think.

I found having had the same job in England for 15 years and working for the British Government meant ZERO when applying for a job here.

Even my brother who came over here to live who had a successful business in England who ignored my remarks, it took him a year to find a job
The is because he has always looked on me as the KID sister even though I'm in my 40's and so I know nothing in his eyes.

In my present situation I would love to get on a plane and go home

But, saying that I havn't been home for 14 years, who knows what I will find, as someone else said after a while you remember only the good things, which is good, but, then going back you can then have a rude awakening

One girl I know who had lived here for many years and then went back home, was there about a year and then came back again !

She said she now feels lost in both places, but, her kids knew the USA and came back. I think if you are single or without kids it can be easier to relocate to different countries in this case.

Biggest con is Health insurance in USA, it can strip you of everything if there is a major illness, that is the biggest thing I would say to think about before coming.

Elaine

another bloody yank

N/A

Hiro11

Maybe it's because I'm a mid-thirties guy in good shape with a good job and good health coverage, but I'm always astonished at how big a deal healthcare is to you expats. Informally, I'll bet 30% of the threads on here are about concerns over US healthcare. Maybe it's that, growing up in America, you're aware the having good health coverage is an absolutely critical part of a job's compensation. It's also self-evident that healthcare's something you have to think about in all aspects of your finances as well, especially in retirement planning. I guess I could understand finding the system upsetting if one's used to being able to walk into any doctor's office anywhere for free. However, if you haven't grown up with that expectation, it's really not that distressing to know that you have to be able to whip out an insurance card. I can see that if you don't have insurance, it's a problem. The point is to avoid, at all costs, being in that situation. Moving to the US without good health insurance is clearly a really bad idea. It may change you career options and modify how you live your life, but that's the way things are here. To Americans, that's obvious. To Brits, it might not be.

Xebedee

As a true American, do you consider yourself more or less free than your British "counterpart" under their NHS system?
Do you have more social liberty because the Govt isn't in control of your health care or do you have less because your vocation is guided and to an extent, limited by your need for health benefits?