Comments on: Frugality Wars: UK vs. USA, Round One!

By: Isabelle

Isabelle — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:06:10 +0000

I have been amused by the anti NHS hype doing the rounds in the USA. I remember seeing on the BBC news a few years ago – 2 or 3? A woman who lay on the floor of an American emergency room for 12 or so hours. She was dead. People, nurses and patients walked in and out and took no notice.

I was reading an American blog yesterday and the blogger talked about friends injured in an airplane crash. They need continuing medical care including surgery. Despite insurance they have had to sell their house and are struggling. In my innocence I believed people in this situation were cared for!

I wouldn’t swap Europe for the US. I have been there and I liked it. My husband has spent many months there with work and he likes it. We both found the American people very kind and friendly. It seems simply to be a different way of looking at life.

By: Hot Link » Blog Archive » Carnival of Personal Finance #170 – Famous Last Sentences Edition

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:53:56 +0000

[...] have lived both in the UK and the USA and presents her analysis of the frugal options each offer in Frugality Wars: UK vs. USA, Round One! It’s always an eye opening experience reading about other [...]

By: LAL

LAL — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:15:36 +0000

I wish we had universal care. I rage against the people in the US who just don't get it. We're all one accident away from being bankrupt. Even with insurance and savings, frugality, etc we could be wiped out. This from someone who is in the top 5% of earners. But I married a socialist, who believes everyone has a minimum right to health. Problem with the US, is it's me, myself, and I; UNTIL I need help from the government THEN I start whining about not being able to afford care. And blame everyone else for the lack of care. LALs last blog post..4 Pillars of Investing Winner

By: L

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:50:36 +0000

I love the NHS, and I love comments like the one above when they claim that universal health care is appalling. I was ill a couple of years ago and although it took several weeks to see a consultant as soon as I did I had two outpatient tests scheduled within 3 days and was diagnosed and on treatment before I left after my second test.
Also last year my gran had to get her knee replaced, she came home after several weeks in a very comfortable hospital room and occupational health had already put handrails at her front door and bathroom, a stool to sit in in the shower, and a raised toilet seat, as well as a weekly physio dropping by her house, all with no stress to her.

By: Average Jane

Average Jane — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:44:46 +0000

I just got back (literally) from holiday in London and I was shocked. Thank goodness I had a place to stay for free but it was well outside of the city and transportation to get to and from London was astronomical. Now, that being said, it probably only seemed that way because the dollar is so weak right now. True story: I was studying in England in college and had to go to the Emergency Room. After waiting for about 30 minutes I saw a doctor, got fixed up, and was on my way. I waited for a few weeks and never got a bill. I assumed that because I was an American the NHS didn't apply to me. Perplexed, I asked my friend what to do and she laughed. Bless her. Anyway, the answer to "How to live in America on a modest budget and get healthcare?" is: Hope that your moderately paying job offers it. Average Janes last blog post..One more brief political interlude: Anti-Choice?