Preparedness for when

moneyistooshorttomention

It would indeed be a useful experience for anyone to have to spend, say, 5 years:

- on a NMW level job that they hated/bored the life out of them/with some work colleagues they would much rather not have

- having to live in rented accommodation (wondering when they would ever be able to buy a place of their own - or if they would ever manage it)

- getting sacked or redundant from said NMW job more than once and for reasons that aren't fair and then having to be unemployed for some months until the next job came along

- having to wait for medical treatment (because the NHS wouldn't provide it or would make you wait for it and you couldn't afford to deal with it yourself) and worrying whether the health problem would become chronic if not dealt with soon

- mustn't forget that they do need a tv (so they can watch other people living the lifestyle they know is "theirs" too - and get all the more frustrated at not having it themselves)

That list will do for starters....

Doveling

The next ruse will be doing away with state pensions and the NHS. It won't be long before the fuse is lit here let alone in Greece - Butterfly Brain

- having to wait for medical treatment (because the NHS wouldn't provide it or
would make you wait for it and you couldn't afford to deal with it yourself) and
worrying whether the health problem would become chronic if not dealt with
soon
-MTSTM

Seeing this coming for everyone.
We have basic private health care through Mr.D's job.
Told by NHS nothing can be done.
Told by private consultant something must be done or end up in wheelchair!:eek:

When I had my foot done I didn't qualify for a wheelchair until I hadn't been able to walk for six months. Could hire one off the Red Cross if I wanted to leave the house!

Luckily, we have a BHF furniture store near us which also sells second hand aids so got quite a good basic one for £20.00. Also bought my own shower seat and toilet frames. We borrowed the step ramp from one of our lovely neighbours for the odd occasion I did go out in the wheelchair.:)
I got crutches, walking frame and walking stick on prescription.
I feel lucky because we have been able to afford the extra things needed.

I can see health care free for a while yet but anything you may need to make your life easier will have to be paid for or hired, same as with basic private cover.

Ordinarily, we would have donated all these aids back to a charity.
As we have elderly parents and as I possibly may need them again, everything has gone into the loft instead.:(

We will lose the health care package when redundancy hits.

[Deleted User]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of all....... health insurance is the norm in germany and there is basic medical cover in the EU as we all have an E-HIC card that covers immediate needs. I think that insurance is the norm in the USA as well? what I don't know is if there is payment into a state system by every individual?

jk0

This might interest you guys:

I've had three stays in hospital. One at age 5, which I hardly remember, one at 18, and one at 49 just before Christmas.

When I was 18, the hospital was private, paid for by my boarding school's insurance.

I had a private room, but it was awful. The nurses seemed to resent their patients because they had the money to be there, and used to play tricks on me. Stupid things like moving the TV control out of my reach, or not responding to the bell when I needed the toilet.

I swore then I was not going to go back to hospital again, and until last year I managed it.

I had to go to the local NHS hospital as I was in so much pain, but what a difference! The nurses went way beyond what I could have asked, in their caring and kindness.

Try to stay out of private hospitals folks. If at all possible, wait a few months for NHS treatment.

Doveling

No wrath at all - all input appreciated.

I just don't see how people can be expected to save for their health care (which they are paying their stamps for already)when they can scarcely keep body and soul together anyway.

NHS v Private - same as anywhere else you'll find good and bad staff. Have worked in both

Frugalsod

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

At the risk of incurring the wrath of all....... health insurance is the norm in germany and there is basic medical cover in the EU as we all have an E-HIC card that covers immediate needs. I think that insurance is the norm in the USA as well? what I don't know is if there is payment into a state system by every individual?

Many countries have state systems but these are under pressure to be privatised to create business for insurance companies, but the US is getting to the point where insurance is unaffordable for tens of millions already.

ivyleaf

My brother lives in Germany atm. He pays a small amount monthly for healthcare, but I think he also pays a small amount when he needs to see a GP, and a larger amount for seeing a specialist - it's much less than people have to pay here though. I can't remember the amounts, but will ask him if people are interested.

One thing that wasn't so good was that when he had knee replacement surgery (for which he had to pay, but again rather cheaper than here), physiotherapy was available in his own village but he couldn't go there. He had to spend three weeks in a rehab centre in the middle of nowhere, both times, because his surgeon had a contract with the rehab centre.

Other than that he's very impressed and feels it's very good value for money. It can be awkward when they want to see the GP but he/she has gone on holiday, and where they live there isn't always a locum, so they just have to wait until the GP comes back!

short_bird

A quck delivery of bats and newts for the cauldron. They were lining up to jump in as they're not happy on the relaxation of planning regs.
My two pennorth before inflation strikes. Being one of those people who is on daily meds for chronic illness and being well over 50 in body, if not in mind, I dread any mention of private insurance for health issues. Because they'd sinply say pre existing condition, away with you or give us 300% of your yearly income to be insured.

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

I think that the problem is that the turkeys voted for Christmas yet they did not think that they were the turkeys. <snip>

What's the alternative to cutting public spending?

Keep spending and borrowing, like the previous administration, until we can no longer pay our national debts, and end up bankrupt, like Greece?

[Deleted User]

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

- mustn't forget that they do need a TV (so they can watch other people living the lifestyle they know is "theirs" too - and get all the more frustrated at not having it themselves)

Nobody NEEDS a TV.

It's a luxury.