Originally Posted by Rushman

I was serious, I couldn't sit at the computer all day taking the piss out of people.....I'd enjoy it so much I'd forget to eat and die of malnutrition before my 66th birthday.

I dunno how you do it......you're my hero.

Originally Posted by Ray

I have waitress service .................

Originally Posted by Rushman

I might have to shack up at your place then cos Mrs.R won't be having any of that.

Originally Posted by Bob

It isn't so black and white though for most is it...there's up and downs to everywhere, but when your married to a septic, you either put up with it to be with someone you love, or you chose to not be, and be somewhere else that'll make you happy, but that breaks up a relationship, so again, not going to be happy.

Personally, I don't mind it here, I don't love it, but I don't hate it either, I'd say indifferent, but I don't fancy being old and or poor here, and certainly not here if I weren't in a position to afford/drive a car here.

Originally Posted by jen_andreson

It is scandalous, but at least we have choices and options as to where to retire. My husband got denied some meds and had to quit his job while stuck in an NHS queue...which we never anticipated or expected to happen. Fortunately we were able to find the money to pay for private. At least here we know what our insurance does/not cover and we can plan accordingly. We were very unlucky, and also know that we're not representative of NHS care.

My FIL (lives here) retired with lifetime insurance, which supplements his medicare. He and his wife have had all of their treatments (heart cath, knee replacement, yearly medicals) and meds fully paid for. They are very lucky, and not representative of US OAPs.

Impossible to generalise, as there are too many factors at play and both systems are going to see a lot of change in the next decade.

Originally Posted by Giantaxe

Indeed. Who knows what the healthcare landscape will look like when we retire. But, given that medicare now covers medications (admittedly, with a bizarre set of holes) and I will almost certainly be able to fill Medicare's holes with supplemental insurance, I would prefer to be covered by Medicare than the NHS. The problem in the US is not so much Medicare, but the window between the ages of 50 and 65 where people are very vulnerable to losing employment-based insurance and often need significant healthcare. This the age range that suffers the largest rate of health cost-related bankruptcies.

Originally Posted by Mallory

The upside for hubby and myself - our Social Security (i.e. state pension), will be double that of what we would receive in the UK, and we can start drawing it (at a reduced rate), at age 62. We will both be eligible for Medicare at age 65. All depends on yr circumstances.

Originally Posted by Old William

Pity it's only worth half as much though.

As for medicaire/aid vs NHS? I know which I prefer.

Originally Posted by TruBrit

morning/afternoon old bill

Originally Posted by Old William

Pity it's only worth half as much though.

As for medicaire/aid vs NHS? I know which I prefer.

Originally Posted by TruBrit

morning/afternoon old bill

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

Have you ever lived anywhere else but the UK?

Originally Posted by Old William

Well...I may have

Originally Posted by TruBrit

you should take a couple of yrs out sometime, really broadens one's horizons