Yardies, at home and a farrin' (Part 5)

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

Now please don't get me wrong, I do really like America, I think it does have MANY advantages over the UK.

But one thing I DON'T get is the heath care system. In the UK, NO children have to pay for medication.

For everyone who can afford it, there's like a $10 charge for ANY medication.

Here in the US it seems to me that if you earn a decent amount, or you earn NOTHING you're ok.

But there seems to be am invisible barrier trying to force people who are just scraping by into poverty.

My son's paediatrician prescribed him some Prevacid.

When we went to get it at the pharmacy, it was free for us but the amount the insurance paid was $150!!!!!!!

Now HOW THE %#%$%&$ could someone with no health insurance afford that????

What broke my heart was imagining someone's baby spitting up and in pain and the parents having to make hard choices about which to buy, food or medicine.

What was the final straw is that, the medicine DIDN'T even WORK!

What I did was take the unused portion back to the paediatrician to give to anyone who needed it and would have had to pay otherwise.

Then we had a looong conversation about that, she was just shaking her head, sometimes it breaks her heart to see the struggles her patients go through..

I finally found a civil surgeon who says they'll do it for $50......Some other VJers said he charged them $25, so will try at bargaining when I get there lol!!

Driving over to see him today, fingers crossed lol

JaEngy,

I hear you!! It is a dyam disgrace that we can not come up with a National Health Plan for all in this great country!! When my parents finally decided to become U.S. citizens my father insisted that we all keep our British Citizenship...he pays into the UK's tax health system every year...just in case he should ever need to he can go back to the UK and have his surgery and not have to worry about the cost.

Whenever my pediatrician writes out a prescription I feel ashamed asking him is it brand or generic!?!?! It shouldn't matter!! If a CHILD is sick...parents shouldn't have to worry about the cost!!

What you said about the middle class was DEAD ON!!! Unfortunately, the 'middle class' is becoming a dying breed! The rich are good cause they have their D.C. cronies and lobbyists to ensure that they KEEP their money! The poor have certain services available to them...but those of us that get up everyday BUST OUR RASS just fi keep food pon deh table and a roof over our heads get SCREWED!!! Even dis likkle $600 hand-out they want to give us...seriously do they think that is REALLY gonna solve the HUGE problem with our economy!?!?!

Don't let no one fool ya ...WE ARE IN A RECESSION AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME!!!

The middle class is living paycheck to paycheck just to make it through another day and NO ONE in D.C. seems to GET IT!!!

So, JG...to answer your question YES, I believe that Barack has a REAL shot at getting the nomination!!! I HAVE TOO!!! Because he is the first politican in a LONG time that I have heard addreessing the REAL issues!!! Trust me I am so over him being black...tell you the truth...up until a few weeks ago I was voting for Hilary! But when I actually heard Barack speak...I changed my mind! I think that sometimes we are afraid to believe that anything is possible...can you blame us? We have been sold a bill of goods over and over again by politicans and we get nothing but pushed deeper in the hole!

Barack has dared me to dream and believe that their are still politicans who are good people out there that actual give a dyam about the American people!

* Gill, is now getting down from the soapbox (Jengy thanks for letting me borrow it! )* Sorry for the rant...but what JAEngy said touched a nerve and I had to get it out!

Let me guh look fuh mi chuckle fi post!

Love ya'll,

Gill

I just shake my head......I guess it's really sad to think that one of the wealthiest countries in the world can be this way towards its own people.....Are you sure that paying national insurance contributions will entitle your father to treatment??? I would advise him to make SURE this works!!!

I have not informed the UK I've left, trust me if need be, I'll be back on the first plane lol.....

I hear you on Obama.

My personal feeling about him is that he seems to HONESTLY want to help America. He seems to be about making it a better place rather than just wanting the power that comes with the presidency.

My husband is going to vote for him, always been for him.

I hope with all my heart he wins, because I feel Hilary wants the power and the glory of being the first woman president more than she wants it for the good of the people. I also think she wants this to prove to herself she's better than Bill, not a bad sentiment, but not one that benefits the interests of the American people.

[*JG* 2]

Oh, I agree with you both on the healthcare industry. I don't know if any of you have worked in healthcare in the US or know of someone that has; but the way the pharmaceutical companies wine and dine the doctors and staff to use their products......and then to know how much those products actually cost the consumer.....well, it's sickening. What you mentioned JAE, the cost for the uninsured, ironically, it would most likely be less then those who have insurance. The price scale is all over the place depending on who and how they are charging. Again, sickening. While I think you did a wonderful thing by returning the meds, JAE, I doubt they did anything but throw them away. If the patient they gave them to would come down with any kind of reaction or whatnot, the insurance liability to the doctor would be incredible. I doubt any doctor would take that chance. Those lawsuit happy people in our pasts have ruined even a freebie!

I don't know the answer. National healthcare also has it's pros and cons. And, in the end, even free healthcare, free prescriptions for anyone, including children, are not really free. Someone somewhere pays for it all. And, like Gill said, it's definately not the rich, nor is it the poor. So, again, it's all on our shoulders. I'm kindof getting a hunchback by now!

Gill, I was liking Hilary as well. I still think she has her good and bad points. Wish we could morp all the good stuff together from all of them and make a perfect president who reall did do some good things. (Sigh)

[Forever Young 1]

Oh, I agree with you both on the healthcare industry. I don't know if any of you have worked in healthcare in the US or know of someone that has; but the way the pharmaceutical companies wine and dine the doctors and staff to use their products......and then to know how much those products actually cost the consumer.....well, it's sickening. What you mentioned JAE, the cost for the uninsured, ironically, it would most likely be less then those who have insurance. The price scale is all over the place depending on who and how they are charging. Again, sickening. While I think you did a wonderful thing by returning the meds, JAE, I doubt they did anything but throw them away. If the patient they gave them to would come down with any kind of reaction or whatnot, the insurance liability to the doctor would be incredible. I doubt any doctor would take that chance. Those lawsuit happy people in our pasts have ruined even a freebie!

I don't know the answer. National healthcare also has it's pros and cons. And, in the end, even free healthcare, free prescriptions for anyone, including children, are not really free. Someone somewhere pays for it all. And, like Gill said, it's definately not the rich, nor is it the poor. So, again, it's all on our shoulders. I'm kindof getting a hunchback by now!

Gill, I was liking Hilary as well. I still think she has her good and bad points. Wish we could morp all the good stuff together from all of them and make a perfect president who reall did do some good things. (Sigh)

Gurl,

I was just thinking the same thing! I love Edwards passion about the Health care thing...Like Hil's experience (Although Bill is on my BAD list right now ) and I love Obama's desire to seriously make a change in Washington! Can't we have 3 president's PLEASE!!!!!

LOL

Gill

[nannygirl82 0]

don't even get me started on the healthcare......i'm scrambling and wracking my brain trying to figure out how i am going to pay for all this...my lovely insurance pushed my monthly rate to over 700 a month because i moved and because there are not docs in the area that except them so at the end of this month i will have no health insurance....i can't just get a new plan because i would be denied because of my "condition".....trying to maybe get public assistance is a joke....at this point i have just thrown my hands up because there is not point in worring or crying about it.....but it sucks...sorry for that but it just doesn't seem fair....

[Forever Young 1]

Now please don't get me wrong, I do really like America, I think it does have MANY advantages over the UK.

But one thing I DON'T get is the heath care system. In the UK, NO children have to pay for medication.

For everyone who can afford it, there's like a $10 charge for ANY medication.

Here in the US it seems to me that if you earn a decent amount, or you earn NOTHING you're ok.

But there seems to be am invisible barrier trying to force people who are just scraping by into poverty.

My son's paediatrician prescribed him some Prevacid.

When we went to get it at the pharmacy, it was free for us but the amount the insurance paid was $150!!!!!!!

Now HOW THE %#%$%&$ could someone with no health insurance afford that????

What broke my heart was imagining someone's baby spitting up and in pain and the parents having to make hard choices about which to buy, food or medicine.

What was the final straw is that, the medicine DIDN'T even WORK!

What I did was take the unused portion back to the paediatrician to give to anyone who needed it and would have had to pay otherwise.

Then we had a looong conversation about that, she was just shaking her head, sometimes it breaks her heart to see the struggles her patients go through..

I finally found a civil surgeon who says they'll do it for $50......Some other VJers said he charged them $25, so will try at bargaining when I get there lol!!

Driving over to see him today, fingers crossed lol

JaEngy,

I hear you!! It is a dyam disgrace that we can not come up with a National Health Plan for all in this great country!! When my parents finally decided to become U.S. citizens my father insisted that we all keep our British Citizenship...he pays into the UK's tax health system every year...just in case he should ever need to he can go back to the UK and have his surgery and not have to worry about the cost.

Whenever my pediatrician writes out a prescription I feel ashamed asking him is it brand or generic!?!?! It shouldn't matter!! If a CHILD is sick...parents shouldn't have to worry about the cost!!

What you said about the middle class was DEAD ON!!! Unfortunately, the 'middle class' is becoming a dying breed! The rich are good cause they have their D.C. cronies and lobbyists to ensure that they KEEP their money! The poor have certain services available to them...but those of us that get up everyday BUST OUR RASS just fi keep food pon deh table and a roof over our heads get SCREWED!!! Even dis likkle $600 hand-out they want to give us...seriously do they think that is REALLY gonna solve the HUGE problem with our economy!?!?!

Don't let no one fool ya ...WE ARE IN A RECESSION AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME!!!

The middle class is living paycheck to paycheck just to make it through another day and NO ONE in D.C. seems to GET IT!!!

So, JG...to answer your question YES, I believe that Barack has a REAL shot at getting the nomination!!! I HAVE TOO!!! Because he is the first politican in a LONG time that I have heard addreessing the REAL issues!!! Trust me I am so over him being black...tell you the truth...up until a few weeks ago I was voting for Hilary! But when I actually heard Barack speak...I changed my mind! I think that sometimes we are afraid to believe that anything is possible...can you blame us? We have been sold a bill of goods over and over again by politicans and we get nothing but pushed deeper in the hole!

Barack has dared me to dream and believe that their are still politicans who are good people out there that actual give a dyam about the American people!

* Gill, is now getting down from the soapbox (Jengy thanks for letting me borrow it! )* Sorry for the rant...but what JAEngy said touched a nerve and I had to get it out!

Let me guh look fuh mi chuckle fi post!

Love ya'll,

Gill

I just shake my head......I guess it's really sad to think that one of the wealthiest countries in the world can be this way towards its own people.....Are you sure that paying national insurance contributions will entitle your father to treatment??? I would advise him to make SURE this works!!!

I have not informed the UK I've left, trust me if need be, I'll be back on the first plane lol.....

I hear you on Obama.

My personal feeling about him is that he seems to HONESTLY want to help America. He seems to be about making it a better place rather than just wanting the power that comes with the presidency.

My husband is going to vote for him, always been for him.

I hope with all my heart he wins, because I feel Hilary wants the power and the glory of being the first woman president more than she wants it for the good of the people. I also think she wants this to prove to herself she's better than Bill, not a bad sentiment, but not one that benefits the interests of the American people.

Gurl,

My father is RELIGIOUS about paying his UK insurance tax...I still have my dual citizenship and have applied for Britsih passports for my sons! Hey it's always good to have a back up plan!

Gill

[IrieCat 2]

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority. I am a single mom of a 5 year old with no insurance for her. My company only pays 1/2 of mine - and it is awful coverage! To get insurance for my daughter would be $400 a month and I just can't afford that and the state of Maine says I make too much money for them to help me out! The only good thing is Maine pays for vaccinations for her. When insurance covers Viagra but not Birth control there is something wrong!!

5 years ago when I had Tierra it was so much better - my company paid 100% and I basically had her for free. I wonder what I will have to pay if I decide to have another child!!??

... don't even ask about her Dad - L-O-S-E-R!

[nannygirl82 0]

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority.

i hope so too....

i will probably be boring people with this info but....just to go to the hospital i will have to pay 1,000...that is just for the hospital.....then for the group that i am going through it is like 2,300...and that is for a natural birth if i need a c-section i can add on about 500 more....that doesn't include blood work, ultrasounds or any other test that i may need....looking at all these numbers just makes me crazy....

[*JG* 2]

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority.

i hope so too....

i will probably be boring people with this info but....just to go to the hospital i will have to pay 1,000...that is just for the hospital.....then for the group that i am going through it is like 2,300...and that is for a natural birth if i need a c-section i can add on about 500 more....that doesn't include blood work, ultrasounds or any other test that i may need....looking at all these numbers just makes me crazy....

Yep. Crazy numbers. And, it only gets worse.

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority. I am a single mom of a 5 year old with no insurance for her. My company only pays 1/2 of mine - and it is awful coverage! To get insurance for my daughter would be $400 a month and I just can't afford that and the state of Maine says I make too much money for them to help me out! The only good thing is Maine pays for vaccinations for her. When insurance covers Viagra but not Birth control there is something wrong!!

5 years ago when I had Tierra it was so much better - my company paid 100% and I basically had her for free. I wonder what I will have to pay if I decide to have another child!!??

... don't even ask about her Dad - L-O-S-E-R!

The one reason I cried in October when Andre finally got his own insurance coverage through his employer.....No more nearly $600 payments a month out of my check.

[morantbaygirl 0]

Yardies I will be in Vegas Saturday trying to win us enough money to rent that huge castle in Jamaica for that party you all are trying to give . Wish me LUCK.

[brownnskinn 0]

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority.

i hope so too....

i will probably be boring people with this info but....just to go to the hospital i will have to pay 1,000...that is just for the hospital.....then for the group that i am going through it is like 2,300...and that is for a natural birth if i need a c-section i can add on about 500 more....that doesn't include blood work, ultrasounds or any other test that i may need....looking at all these numbers just makes me crazy....

You don't have "state hospital' or a "teaching hospital" you can go to for prenatal care/ delivery? When I was just on the verge of having my baby and at the point where I made too much money for public assistance and had no health care. I went to one of these places and was put on a sliding scale for the prenatal visits and the delivery. I ended up not having to pay for any of it, as I was able to qualify for medicade in the end. I recieved excellent care, was very satisfied with the over all experience. The care is completed by students over seen by doctors, it wasn't bad at all. I sometimes saw a student, sometimes a doctor, the person overseeing was in my delivery, so it wasn't like there were a bunch of stranges...not that I care...I never saw the people again away after the birth....that's just too much money to be paying out of pocket

[nannygirl82 0]

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority.

i hope so too....

i will probably be boring people with this info but....just to go to the hospital i will have to pay 1,000...that is just for the hospital.....then for the group that i am going through it is like 2,300...and that is for a natural birth if i need a c-section i can add on about 500 more....that doesn't include blood work, ultrasounds or any other test that i may need....looking at all these numbers just makes me crazy....

You don't have "state hospital' or a "teaching hospital" you can go to for prenatal care/ delivery? When I was just on the verge of having my baby and at the point where I made too much money for public assistance and had no health care. I went to one of these places and was put on a sliding scale for the prenatal visits and the delivery. I ended up not having to pay for any of it, as I was able to qualify for medicade in the end. I recieved excellent care, was very satisfied with the over all experience. The care is completed by students over seen by doctors, it wasn't bad at all. I sometimes saw a student, sometimes a doctor, the person overseeing was in my delivery, so it wasn't like there were a bunch of stranges...not that I care...I never saw the people again away after the birth....that's just too much money to be paying out of pocket

it is a teaching hospital...my dr. is a resident...i have yet to see anyone who has been out of school....

[*JG* 2]

Good point.....and what about clinics? Do you have like a family healthcare clinic? We have those here. Same thing.....sliding scale and all that.

The thing is NG, the baby needs so many visits in that first year, too.

It's something to be working out now.

[Forever Young 1]

Yardies I will be in Vegas Saturday trying to win us enough money to rent that huge castle in Jamaica for that party you all are trying to give . Wish me LUCK.

MORANTY...mi wish yuh deh best of luck Gurl...Dat party sound NOICE!!!! I will be looking fuh mi hinvite inna deh mail...

Bless-ed travels and STRIKE IT RICH!!!!

Gill

[nannygirl82 0]

Good point.....and what about clinics? Do you have like a family healthcare clinic? We have those here. Same thing.....sliding scale and all that.

The thing is NG, the baby needs so many visits in that first year, too.

It's something to be working out now.

it is a clinic....and the dr that i see will also see the baby after she is born as well as me....

[brownnskinn 0]

I really hope no matter who becomes President that Healthcare becomes a priority.

i hope so too....

i will probably be boring people with this info but....just to go to the hospital i will have to pay 1,000...that is just for the hospital.....then for the group that i am going through it is like 2,300...and that is for a natural birth if i need a c-section i can add on about 500 more....that doesn't include blood work, ultrasounds or any other test that i may need....looking at all these numbers just makes me crazy....

You don't have "state hospital' or a "teaching hospital" you can go to for prenatal care/ delivery? When I was just on the verge of having my baby and at the point where I made too much money for public assistance and had no health care. I went to one of these places and was put on a sliding scale for the prenatal visits and the delivery. I ended up not having to pay for any of it, as I was able to qualify for medicade in the end. I recieved excellent care, was very satisfied with the over all experience. The care is completed by students over seen by doctors, it wasn't bad at all. I sometimes saw a student, sometimes a doctor, the person overseeing was in my delivery, so it wasn't like there were a bunch of stranges...not that I care...I never saw the people again away after the birth....that's just too much money to be paying out of pocket

it is a teaching hospital...my dr. is a resident...i have yet to see anyone who has been out of school....

I thought those numbers ooked pretty low still....I wouldn't stress your self too much, if I becomes too much, it's not like they can't and won't treat you. Most hospitals are good a setting up payment plans. At our hospital we take care of indengent. Everybody has medicade or medicare, nothing at at all. Not saying it's a good thing but noones turned away.

Edited January 29, 2008 by brownnskinn