Why I cant wait to retire......

[Rough Edge racing]

I'm also 72, and have also just been diagnosed with cancer. I went for an ECG on Tuesday, and have been told I need a heart bypass before they'll operate on the cancer. It's all free and would have been whatever age I was.
Yes, I've paid taxes to have the protection of the NHS, and my taxes go to provide cover for those less fortunate in life than me. I'm happy with this. Not everyone is able to get and hold onto a well paying job.
And for most of my working life I was an employer. I didn't need to bother about providing health cover for my employees.
The NHS is playing a major role in the electioneering here at present. Personally, I'd go to the barricades to defend it.

  Well, in the USA those with little means can apply for Medicaid  to pay for health costs...Doctors and hospitals can not turn you away for lack of ability to pay...My medical costs now are paid for by Medicare for those over 65 who have paid into this system as a tax while they worked and still pay into it to a lessor extent after retirement...I also have the option to be treated at any medical center that accepts my Medicare policy...

[bobrebos]

I just renewed my healthcare insurance for four of our employees (I own my own small business).  The cost is approximately $7000 per year per employee.  I pay 70% of the cost so it cost me about $4900 per employee per year, and they pay $2100 per year.  That is through the Affordable Care Act, or the SHOP program.  Could not find any cheaper insurance for them out there.

Then the deductibles are sky high, and what the insurance covers isn't much in my honest opinion.

The whole thing is a racket that will probably be the main reason i shut the business down after Ive been in it for last 21 years.  Sad situation and I haven't seen any junky looking health insurance company buildings lately!  Its a scam!!!!!!!

[LowRyter]

I just renewed my healthcare insurance for four of our employees (I own my own small business).  The cost is approximately $7000 per year per employee.  I pay 70% of the cost so it cost me about $4900 per employee per year, and they pay $2100 per year.  That is through the Affordable Care Act, or the SHOP program.  Could not find any cheaper insurance for them out there.

Then the deductibles are sky high, and what the insurance covers isn't much in my honest opinion.

The whole thing is a racket that will probably be the main reason i shut the business down after Ive been in it for last 21 years.  Sad situation and I haven't seen any junky looking health insurance company buildings lately!  Its a scam!!!!!!!

It's a shame that health insurance costs aren't just hurting the insured but also small businesses.  I remember when Walmart said they were going to go self insured and bypass the insurance companies, haven't heard much about for sometime.

If your business goes under what do you plan to do for health insurance?

[bobrebos]

It's a shame that health insurance costs aren't just hurting the insured but also small businesses.  I remember when Walmart said they were going to go self insured and bypass the insurance companies, haven't heard much about for sometime.

If your business goes under what do you plan to do for health insurance?

Im ok, as Im retired Air Force so I have health insurance (along with my wife) until we croak.  Its my employees that I feel sorry for.

[Mr Pootle]

Re cultural differences, absolutely.  How would the average American react to the following?

You would like to establish a PSA check as part of your regular physical exams and the associated lab panel.  It won’t be funded by the system because the government has determined that because most men won’t in their estimation get regular checks like you, the PSA test is “not effective” in detecting prostate cancer.   You know your uncle died of undetected prostate cancer (never had a PSA check...  it was never suggested by his doctor because it isn’t sanctioned) but your father in the US had prostate cancer detected by PSA in his 70s, it was successfully treated and he is now in his 90s.  You go to a different doctor who operates outside of the system and pay cash.

Or...

You are finding your commute to work too long and want to move a bit closer to work.  This proves challenging because your family likes their doctors but they will not be able to see you in the future if you move the short distance intended, their allowed service area is too small and the government uses geographic restrictions to control the numbers of patients assigned to each doctor.  It’s a very similar system to school districts.  You don’t move.

I didn’t make these situations up, or get them from the ‘net 

And both, in my experience, are rare.
PSA tests aren't given routinely, because the medical profession here regards them as inaccurate. In fact, a GP is a main player in blocking a group we're both members of from offering them to all members, because of this disapproval, which has been echoed by a consultant urologist I tried to enlist. "PSA stands for Promotes stress and anxiety". But I have one annually, because I ask for one. It's never been refused, simply not offered, save to those who are considered at risk for specific reasons.
And I've never had, or heard of anyone of my acquaintance having problems in moving from one GP to another.
I suspect your or your relatives' problems are peculiar to a particular area, or happened some time ago.
In 72 years my family and I have never had anything but timely and good treatment from the NHS.

[elvisboy77]

Lannis, you assumed that I was crying about my employer not "caring" about me. "Ass-U-Me".

I work for a large corporation which is the customer of other large corporations.  "People Suck, Corporations Don't Care" was really about my dealing with the shitty customer service and repeated fv<k ups I have to resolve on a daily basis from those people and corporations, and how great it will be to have the bullshit off my plate, when I retire.

But do go on with your narrative.  You're oh so entertaining.

 

LMAO.

[Bill]

It's a good discussion and has stayed friendly so no need so far for moderation. Very interesting reading different situations and view points. All should watch what candidates propose as solutions to the med care issues. For me the med care system has worked perfectly.  When I joined the Army I was guaranteed free med care for life if I spent a career in the service. Well the Government failed to deliver on that promise and the Supreme Court allowed the Gov to do that by saying it was never written into Government code .  But they developed a reasonable replacement called Tricare that is a supplement to Medicare. It's not free, we have a deduction from social security for the coverage. BUT it's a reasonable fee so far. Hope the current system for military retirees remains as is. But you can bet the deductions from social security will probably go up... So far so good.
Bill