A big shout out to the NHS (page 3)

Pete Zahut

Glad to hear you made it through all of that scary stuff OK and that you're happy to have NHS. It's times like that when one is grateful to all those awful worldly people, nurses doctors lab techs scientists etc who worked and studied hard to make saving lives like yours and millions of others, possible.

AlwaysBusy

Wow!!! You've really been through it! I am so glad you are on the mend. And I'm thrilled you have such good medical care!

Biahi

I wish the US had national health care.

cantleave

Glad you are OK. I am so lucky I live in the UK and not the US just because of our wonderful "socialised" NHS.

titch

Good to see that you are doing well, with the NHS-provided healthcare coverage that you have over there. You know, here in the U.S. there are so many people who have had what I call the "bootstraps mentality", the "bootstraps mindset." That is, the thought is that everyone should be able to just "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps." So, with regards to health-care coverage, the mindset has been that coverage should be a privilege, not a right. Health-care coverage should be ONLY for those persons who are able to afford to pay for it outright, or afford to pay for a health insurance policy. And, if you can't afford either one of those situations, then you're just SOL. And, I'm sure you know what "SOL" means. But, that's the United States for ya. (Or, SOME people in the United States) Oh, well. Best Regards, everyone.

Titch

compound complex

I'm grateful you survived the ordeal, moley, and are doing better now. Smiddy, et al., too!

Here in the US, being poor doesn't prevent good care. Similarly, when I had severe angina and subsequent myocardial infarction -- is that what they call the heart attack? -- I had two ambulance ferries to two different hospitals. In ER alone, I counted some 12-plus medical personnel who attended to me one way or another. I remembered their names and sent them a thank you letter. They were caring and efficient.

When the bills came, Medicare paid the lion's share (they paid 80%, yet it was only some 20% of what the hospital charged, I recall). Since I don't have supplemental, I had a 20% copay. Was I worried? Sure, at first, but I was allowed to make interest-free monthly payments to the hospital; some companies who performed services asked what I could pay; some forgave the balance after several good-faith payments, etc.

I'm sure there are horror stories out there. In my case, however, it was compassion and caring and cooperation vis-a-vis my financial circumstances. Can you imagine my joy when I made the last $40 installment (the highest monthly payment)?

Best wishes toward a speedy recovery.

CoCo

A big shout out to the NHS