Leaving The US -- Has Anybody Moved Or Are You Considering?

[Ceka Cianci]

18 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

It could have caused a fracture even!  Crazy that they are taking so long to address it...

They didn't find anything in the x-rays, That's why I need to M.R.I.. If it ever happens.. hehehe

I didn't mean to take up so much of the thread with this..  It's just been a couple of hectic last few days trying to make sure this thing happens and it didn't..

I seen people talking about health care in here and something snapped in me..

As I said, I'm torn with it.. I think no matter what, overcrowding is a problem.. That is because of a whole ton more problems going on  in the U.S. and the world as well.. U.S. more than anything though.

I can't say it enough, Good diet and exercise is so important to hold off so many things that are making people unhealthy later in life in so many ways..

Edited May 20, 2022 by Ceka Cianci

[Luna Bliss]

8 minutes ago, Ceka Cianci said:

They didn't find anything in the x-rays, That's why I need to M.R.I.. If it ever happens.. hehehe

I didn't mean to take up so much of the thread with this..  It's just been a couple of hectic last few days trying to make sure this thing happens and it didn't..

I seen people talking about health care in here and something snapped in me..

As I said, I'm torn with it.. I think no matter what, overcrowding is a problem.. That is because of a whole ton more problems going on  in the U.S. and the world as well.. U.S. more than anything though.

I can't say it enough, Good diet and exercise is so important to hold off so many things that are making people unhealthy later in life in so many ways..

Well it's not a problem for me if you talk about yourself.

And actually it's a good example to put forth here regarding health care in the US -- we or our employers pay a lot, and for private care usually, but this does not provide the excellent service some imagine.

[Prokofy Neva]

On 5/19/2022 at 5:14 PM, Scylla Rhiadra said:

A short word on this. I hesitate to post this, for reasons that will soon be obvious, but I feel some nuance and detail is required.

My father battled cancer for 7 years. He was initially given only 2 years to live. The quality of his life for all but the last few months of his life was very high. He finally succumbed last weekend.

Dad survived 7 years, and survived well, because of the care our heath care system provided. During that time he was recipient of surgical interventions, chemotherapy, radiation, physical therapy, and, a few months ago, heart surgery to fix a valve.

All of it, with the sole exception of a few prescription medications, which were vastly cheaper than would have been the case in the US, was free. All of it was timely, and all of it was undertaken by highly qualified and caring individuals who, essentially, work for our health care system.

In the last month of his life, Dad need palliative care: the cancer had advanced too far to stop, although continued radiation treatment slowed down the growth and made him more comfortable. We decided to bring him home. We obtained -- free, through the health care system -- a proper mechanized hospital bed. (The bed is free for only a month: thereafter, it is something like $250 a month.) A care worker dropped by each day for a half hour or so to assist my mum with what needed to be done, and a nurse once every two days -- more often, on occasion, as needed. About twice a week, a palliative care doctor came by to check out my Dad, and fill us in on his condition, as well as making suggestions about how to keep him comfortable. For his last week, he was on a morphine pump that allowed Mum to adjust his dosage as needed. When my Dad finally let go, he was asleep and in relative comfort, lying in his own house.

ALL of this, again with the exception of a few prescription drugs, was covered for free by our "not so great" health care system.

There's not much doubt in my mind that my Dad would not have survived 7 mostly good years had it not been for our socialized medical system. My parents live on a fixed income -- they could not have afforded to keep him alive that long, and Mum would not now be financially secure as she is, but undoubtedly very deeply in debt, without government-run health care.

There are lots of problems with Canadian medicare. It's chronically underfunded, and accessibility in some smaller population centres is an ongoing problem. There are longer wait times for elective surgeries and procedures: assuming that one has the cash to throw at it, or really good insurance, you doubtless can get things like hip replacements done more quickly in the US. If you can afford it.

But I have never been more thankful for our "not so great" system than I am right now. It give me an extra few years with my Dad.

I'm sorry for your loss, and glad your Dad got as much time with your family as possible.

When someone invokes their own father in an argument, it's expected that you have won the argument. But I'll invoke my own father who died of cancer related to his blood disease.  When he was diagnosed in fact he was given only six weeks to live and lived only five. He had all the things your father had, and without leaving any huge bills for our mother. Because his employer paid for insurance for years and then gave him a good pension; he also had Medicare. It's not as if all health care has to be paid for in the US; I myself live on socialism with nearly free health care because of my rare disease and its expensive medicines. 

Many Canadians come down to the US for medical care so that they don't have to wait in line for years for treatments such as kidney transplants, like my Canadian friend waited for, for years. And many other kinds of treatment. There wouldn't be the buses from Canada for the care if it was "all that great".

It was not "all that great" for me when doctors failed to find a ruptured appendix that made me gravely ill -- this is the type of thing that happens due to long waits, lack of staffing, lack of diagnostic equipment, whatever. No doubt things have improved since the 1970s when I was in university and this happened. But the impression that foreigners have of the US medical care system is highly skewed because they don't sufficiently understand the role of insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. But enough people around the world understand enough, as they flock here for cancer treatment, especially if wealthy. Yes, I can tell you many terrible tales of the health care system and its costs. But both me and my son are alive today and functioning due to  tertiary medical care right in our neighbourhood. 

There's also another key thing to understand: few people pay those huge bills. They get cut in half, or less, or get forgiven and written off. And that's one of the things that drives up the cost of health care.

Then there's this: malpractice insurance and its huge expenses for doctors due to malpractice suits, real and frivolous. Efforts to cap the amounts of the compensations paid out are always thwarted by Trial Attorneys of America, one of the key lobbying groups that helped Obama come to power.

Edited May 20, 2022 by Prokofy Neva

[Sammy Huntsman]

1 minute ago, Prokofy Neva said:

When someone invokes their own father in an argument, it's expected that you have won the argument. But I'll invoke my own father who died of cancer related to his blood disease. He had all the things your father had, and without leaving any huge bills for our mother. Because his employer paid for insurance for years and then gave him a good pension; he also had Medicare. It's not as if all health care has to be paid for in the US; I myself live on socialism with nearly free health care because of my rare disease and its expensive medicines. 

Many Canadians come down to the US for medical care so that they don't have to wait in line for years for treatments such as kidney transplants, like my Canadian friend waited for, for years. And many other kinds of treatment. There wouldn't be the buses from Canada for the care if it was "all that great".

It was not "all that great" for me when doctors failed to find a ruptured appendix that made me gravely ill -- this is the type of thing that happens due to long waits, lack of staffing, lack of diagnostic equipment, whatever. No doubt things have improved since the 1970s when I was in university and this happened. But the impression that foreigners have of the US medical care system is highly skewed because they don't sufficiently understand the role of insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. But enough people around the world understand enough, as they flock here for cancer treatment, especially if wealthy. Yes, I can tell you many terrible tales of the health care system and its costs. But both me and my son are alive today and functioning due to  tertiary medical care right in our neighbourhood. 

There's also another key thing to understand: few people pay those huge bills. They get cut in half, or less, or get forgiven and written off. And that's one of the things that drives up the cost of health care.

Then there's this: malpractice insurance and its huge expenses for doctors due to malpractice suits, real and frivolous. Efforts to cap the amounts of the compensations paid out are always thwarted by Trial Attorneys of America, one of the key lobbying groups that helped Obama come to power.

NGL I would rather see an American Doctor when it comes to specialized healthcare. Especially for Facial Feminization, Top surgery and my scoliosis surgery. I feel like I would get better care overall in the US than in Canada. 

[Prokofy Neva]

Just now, Sammy Huntsman said:

NGL I would rather see an American Doctor when it comes to specialized healthcare. Especially for Facial Feminization, Top surgery and my scoliosis surgery. I feel like I would get better care overall in the US than in Canada. 

I have had three friends and neighbours with scoliosis, who knows why the demographics worked this way. One was our baby sitter decades ago who wore a brace all the time and finally had the surgery. The others were more recent and had the surgery earlier in life. I can't imagine them doing this anywhere but the US.

As for sex reassignment, aren't there better places in Europe? I don't know why I have that impression.

[Sammy Huntsman]

1 minute ago, Prokofy Neva said:

I have had three friends and neighbours with scoliosis, who knows why the demographics worked this way. One was our baby sitter decades ago who wore a brace all the time and finally had the surgery. The others were more recent and had the surgery earlier in life. I can't imagine them doing this anywhere but the US.

As for sex reassignment, aren't there better places in Europe? I don't know why I have that impression.

I live in Canada. Lol. The place where wait times are horrendous and for a specialist even worse. Lol 

[Misty Rookstown]

Odd topic I would move out of California if I could. Cost of housing is insanely out of control, taxes are crazy high. Don't see moving out of the country but definitely to a different state. 

[Arielle Popstar]

Sounds like healthcare in the US isn't as dire as some make it out to be. Good to know.

[Ayashe Ninetails]

You should try asking someone without any insurance before you come to that conclusion. 😂

[Persephone Emerald]

1 hour ago, Prokofy Neva said:

When someone invokes their own father in an argument, it's expected that you have won the argument. But I'll invoke my own father who died of cancer related to his blood disease. 

Sometimes winning the argument is less important than showing compassion by letting it drop.

[Luna Bliss]

12 hours ago, Prokofy Neva said:

Then there's this: malpractice insurance and its huge expenses for doctors due to malpractice suits, real and frivolous. Efforts to cap the amounts of the compensations paid out are always thwarted by Trial Attorneys of America, one of the key lobbying groups that helped Obama come to power.

29 states place a cap on malpractice damages:
https://www.millerandzois.com/malpractice-damage-caps.html

[Luna Bliss]

12 hours ago, Prokofy Neva said:

But the impression that foreigners have of the US medical care system is highly skewed because they don't sufficiently understand the role of insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. But enough people around the world understand enough, as they flock here for cancer treatment, especially if wealthy. Yes, I can tell you many terrible tales of the health care system and its costs. But both me and my son are alive today and functioning due to  tertiary medical care right in our neighbourhood. 

But you're white, live in a blue state, and can take advantage of dual care (Medicare and Medicaid at the same time) due to your age.
Others are not so fortunate.

Many red states are still denying Medicaid to those who need it (the working poor...those who are too poor to be eligible for Obamacare as you must earn a certain amount to qualify, yet earn too much to qualify for Medicaid). In other words, there are major holes in coverage, and somehow it's disproportionately the people of color who end up in the hole. I can't feel good about our racist medical system.

[Luna Bliss]

12 hours ago, Prokofy Neva said:

**Lots of info praising the US medical system and justifying its high cost**

I do appreciate your bringing to light some details in our medical care here in the US, but I just can't get behind praising it as you much as you do.

It's a bit like praising a person who has a bad habit of murdering people. Yeah, sure, they have their good side, but they are causing thousands of people to die each year unnecessarily, and so I'm having trouble feeling okay about pointing out the fact that they, for example, have these laudable behaviors like donating to a charity or loving their dog because, well...murders.

Our system in the US allows people to die without health insurance and/or medical care. Other wealthy countries, and many poorer ones, cover everyone.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Luna Bliss

[Lindal Kidd]

17 hours ago, Ceka Cianci said:

This is like the third time I've been hit by a part flying out of the dumpster

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."

Someone there is Out To Get You. Change jobs immediately.

[Persephone Emerald]

4 hours ago, Lindal Kidd said:

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."

Someone there is Out To Get You. Change jobs immediately.

3 times is either a work environment with bad safety protocols, bad enforcement of safety protocols, or the Universe telling you to look for a better job.

[Ceka Cianci]

4 hours ago, Lindal Kidd said:

"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."

Someone there is Out To Get You. Change jobs immediately.

When you get hurt and say, NOT AGAIN!! Really loud.. It's too many times.. hehehehe

That was over a 12 year span..

As far as looking for another job.. That's something that we are talking about, because I'm not doing this again.. hehehe

[Ceka Cianci]

5 minutes ago, Persephone Emerald said:

3 times is either a work environment with bad safety protocols, bad enforcement of safety protocols, or the Universe telling you to look for a better job.

It's actually with 2 different companies but in the same place.. The old company never enforced any of their rules and let people slide all the time..

The new company, as soon as something happens, they lay down law.. They are more worried about their safety record than anything it seem..

The new owners put the law down on the whole throwing parts at all anymore.. They will fire someone now..

[Misty Rookstown]

20 hours ago, Ayashe Ninetails said:

You should try asking someone without any insurance before you come to that conclusion. 😂

Yup I don't have insurance because I am self employed and because affordable health care isn't affordable. They never tried in the first place ie starting with the costs. 

[Ayashe Ninetails]

11 minutes ago, Misty Rookstown said:

Yup I don't have insurance because I am self employed and because affordable health care isn't affordable. They never tried in the first place ie starting with the costs. 

Right along there with you. ❤️ I actually had a long post typed up but decided not to bother (mostly because it's just too depressing to talk about). I'll just post the tl;dr - tying insurance to employment sucks. This is one reason why people leave the US. And there are millions of us (self-employed, freelance, contractors, small business owners, gig workers, temp workers, part-time workers, some retail workers, full-time workers in small businesses, etc.).

I'm self-employed/freelance, too. I decided going without insurance entirely isn't much different than spending $400-500/month on the lowest tier ACA plan since it covers nothing anyway, lol. I'm just suuuuuuuuper careful walking up and down stairs with my clumsy butt and try not to think about it.

 

[Love Zhaoying]

56 minutes ago, Ayashe Ninetails said:

❤️ I actually had a long post typed up but decided not to bother (mostly because it's just too depressing to talk about).

/me pulls all your tails!

[Ayashe Ninetails]

Just now, Love Zhaoying said:

/me pulls all your tails!

You wascally...lion? 😄❤️

 

[Lindal Kidd]

5 hours ago, Ceka Cianci said:

The new owners put the law down on the whole throwing parts at all anymore.. They will fire someone now..

Which does you no good at all if you're the one under it...

[Luna Bliss]

15 hours ago, Ayashe Ninetails said:

I'm self-employed/freelance, too. I decided going without insurance entirely isn't much different than spending $400-500/month on the lowest tier ACA plan since it covers nothing anyway, lol. I'm just suuuuuuuuper careful walking up and down stairs with my clumsy butt and try not to think about it.

And it's only going to get worse the older you get.

Can you believe this....almost  $1,300 per month at age 64?  And I wonder if even that plan had high deductibles and co-pays.

[Katherine Heartsong]

On 5/20/2022 at 7:49 PM, Sammy Huntsman said:

I live in Canada. Lol. The place where wait times are horrendous and for a specialist even worse. Lol 

Where are wait times horrendous?

Last time I had to visit ER for concussion after being knocked out playing sports the injury happened at 6:15pm, I was in hospital by ambulance by 6:45pm, seen by the ER attending and a neurologist, X-rays, had a full head and neck MRI, stitches, and was home by midnight. Specialists can take a while sure, but again, most I've waited was about a month for an appointment with a gastroenterologist.

I guess it depends on location and what your health need is. 

PS. The ambulance attendant was someone I'd played against and I said my head didn't hurt too badly. He told me to wait until the next morning. My goodness was he right.

Edited May 23, 2022 by Katherine Heartsong

[Ayashe Ninetails]

4 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

And it's only going to get worse the older you get.

Can you believe this....almost  $1,300 per month at age 64?  And I wonder if even that plan had high deductibles and co-pays.

Oh I definitely believe it.

Oh and btw, even having insurance is no guarantee you're going to get what you need. Years ago, I was temping in an office and asked a coworker at lunch - sweet woman in her 80s (😲) - why she was still working full-time (😳) and not off retired somewhere like Hawaii. She told me alllllll about the hell her husband's insurance company was putting them through. The short version - insurance only wanted to pay for generic meds for his heart condition. His doctor said that's not good enough in his case. It was a battle until she finally decided she had to earn enough money to buy the proper meds outright. 😑

So anyway, that conversation helped spark the idea to consider relocating again at some point. I knooooow retirement won't be a thing for me either and that was a fun little glimpse into my future there. 🙃