I know NHS isnt perfect, but...

I don't understand... are you saying that between you and your wife, one of you has the option of having health insurance that WILL pay for pre-existing conditions after 12 months has passed? If so, why would you not choose this? Surely waiting one year is better than having to wait 2 years to take a gamble on the NHS?

this is a good point.  Please consider this again.

Is there anybody on this board who has experience with being treated for diabetes on the NHS? If you say you are borderline diabetic, does that mean you can be treated through controlling your diet and your weight.

Based on my experience with the NHS in general, and in being treated for asthma, if it' something you can manage on your own through your  lifestyle, you won't get much in the way of professional care. You will be expected to take care of yourself and manage your own treatment.

But I don't have diabetes myself so maybe someone else can respond.

My FIL has been diabetic for 17 years.  He is on injectibles.

He does A LOT of self-management.  It's saved his life.  

He has just now seen a consultant about his circulation problems.

After an 8 month wait and they wouldn't see you if you were too overweight until you lost the weight.

If your diabetes is just 'borderline' they don't want to know - the NHS, that is.  They honestly couldn't care less.  They'll give you leaflets about losing weight and stress management, if they even bother to test you.

My MIL is also an insulin-diabetic.  It took well over a year for them to diagnose her.  Two GP surgeries kept fobbing her off until she collapsed in House of Frasers in town centre Edinburgh and was taken by ambulance to A&E.

You keep saying there is a better way and it's the NHS.

Then when people tell you it may well be otherwise (many people on here have paid privately for treatments that most US insurances will cover but the NHS won't or the wait list is years long), you say they're attacking you.

TBH, to me, a healthcare tourist is just that.

And as a taxpayer, you're damn straight:  I don't want them here any more than the next person.  Couldn't care less if they're green, red, orange, Martian, tall, short or whatever.

Right, boardline might be a non point, but if youre in the stages where you could actively prevent full blown diabetes through diet, why wouldn't you? that's one less future pre existing condition to deal with.

I would ask your wife about her leg.  You say you wouldnt want her disabled but isnt she already?  Can you walk, can you live with a staff infection eating your leg?  Wouldnt life be better even if you had to live without one leg?

Also, it will take you years to get over to ireland, you may as well start the process of paying into the insurance for a year and then taking that up, rather than planning a move that will be hard, expensive, and years away.

We cant afford the surgery and she can walk. Its just not getting better.

As far as teh insurance goes, we cant afford to pay into a system AND pay our own way. One or the other. Its costing us the same, or less at this point depending on the care we need each month.

Is there anybody on this board who has experience with being treated for diabetes on the NHS? If you say you are borderline diabetic, does that mean you can be treated through controlling your diet and your weight.

But I don't have diabetes myself so maybe someone else can respond.

Hey- guess what? It depends on your PCT! Its the post code lottery!  
Most Type 2's initially go onto diet and exercise first then increase into metformin and sulfonylureas. Its usually treated through the GP's and not through the diabetes clinics.  However, no one gets any of the proper counciling, lifestyle management and depression treatments that people with type 2 diabetes desperatley need.  Luckily, local Diabetes UK support groups are aiming to fix that.  The group I volunteer with is fighting hard to offer these programmes (off our own fundraising) and then fighting with our PCT.  But it takes time!!!!!!!  

 

We cant afford the surgery and she can walk. Its just not getting better.

As far as teh insurance goes, we cant afford to pay into a system AND pay our own way. One or the other. Its costing us the same, or less at this point depending on the care we need each month.

Why cant you look for work with a healthcare plan in place? most office jobs support this, and most call centres fall into that category.  I know American Express hires all the time, and has good benefits... not to mention offices all over the US.

I just don't get it. If this is a life threatening infection, surely she wouldn't have years to wait around?

And if you have the option of moving in with family to save money for a trip to the UK, why can't you move in with family to save money for medical treatment? Personally, if it were my husband who's life was in danger, I'd do everything in the world to get him better first, before I even considered taking a gamble on something that would take years and may or may not actually work in the end.    Surely you can temporarily find ways to save up and get her treated and THEN start the process of moving to the UK? I would think that should be a first priority  

We cant afford the surgery and she can walk. Its just not getting better.

As far as teh insurance goes, we cant afford to pay into a system AND pay our own way. One or the other. Its costing us the same, or less at this point depending on the care we need each month.

yet you said it will be at least 2 years until you can even visit here.

then you'll have to pay to move and all your immigration costs - it's not free.

then you'll have to get on the list if you need any surgery, that is if the type of surgery she might need is available on the NHS at all in your trust.

what do you plan to do if she falls ill and needs the treatment sooner than that?

I just don't get it. If this is a life threatening infection, surely she wouldn't have years to wait around?

And if you have the option of moving in with family to save money for a trip to the UK, why can't you move in with family to save money for medical treatment? Personally, if it were my husband who's life was in danger, I'd do everything in the world to get him better first, before I even considered taking a gamble on something that would take years and may or may not actually work in the end.    Surely you can temporarily find ways to save up and get her treated and THEN start the process of moving to the UK? I would think that should be a first priority  

Our family dosnt see it that way. No, we got her in to a doc that is treating it finally we just have to pay out the nose for it. But the doc said there isnt much they can do since it is resistant to medicine. There was actually something on the news last night about it.

Our family has the same attitude most here do: Deal with it on your own. But they would let us stay for a bit to move to a better place. Thats why they dont move to CA or the UK. Not enough money. Other wife, my whole family would go.

yet you said it will be at least 2 years until you can even visit here.

then you'll have to pay to move and all your immigration costs - it's not free.

then you'll have to get on the list if you need any surgery, that is if the type of surgery she might need is available on the NHS at all in your trust.

what do you plan to do if she falls ill and needs the treatment sooner than that?

Well, then we find how much it costs. We will deal with that bridge when it comes.

Look, this argument is clearly not going anywhere.  Why don't you just stop now, and focus your energy on your goals, whatever they may be.  There is a lot of information on this website, honest questions are usually answered very clearly (have been already in fact) , and if you take it one step at a time you might find yourself a solution you like.  All the time spent arguing could have been put towards researching your Irish heritage, and therefore getting you closer to here if that's honestly still what you think is best...

Our family dosnt see it that way. No, we got her in to a doc that is treating it finally we just have to pay out the nose for it. But the doc said there isnt much they can do since it is resistant to medicine. There was actually something on the news last night about it.

And you think the NHS is here funding drug treatments and such that are better than you can get in the US?

That is whistling in the dark.

Many PCTs won't even pay for insulin pumps for Type I diabetics, despite the long-term benefits to such patients not having to inject themselves so much and being  better able to manage their levels and able to do more types of jobs and be taxpayers.  I know two people who had to pay for them themselves in Edinburgh.

Hey- guess what? It depends on your PCT! Its the post code lottery!  
Most Type 2's initially go onto diet and exercise first then increase into metformin and sulfonylureas. Its usually treated through the GP's and not through the diabetes clinics.  However, no one gets any of the proper counciling, lifestyle management and depression treatments that people with type 2 diabetes desperatley need.  Luckily, local Diabetes UK support groups are aiming to fix that.  The group I volunteer with is fighting hard to offer these programmes (off our own fundraising) and then fighting with our PCT.  But it takes time!!!!!!!  

 

So true, phat!

My ILs found most support through diabetes charities.  

FIL educated himself and adopted two Collie-cross dogs from a shelter because he knew they need a lot of exercise and that way he'd be forced to walk a good 5 miles or more a day, essential for weight control.

Just some clarification regarding pre-existing and HIPAA...
Yes, HIPAA does state that a company can not inflict pre-existing exclusions to new employees as long as they have not had a 63 day break in creditable coverage.
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html

If there is more than a 63 day break then the most a company can exclude for pre-existing is 12 months (18 months if you enroll late).  

Now, states may have their own laws regarding pre-existing and what should/should not be covered.   However, most people in the states are covered under self funded plans.  What this means is that it is the employer's policy and money, they hire the health plan (like Cigna, Aetna, etc) to administer the policy.  In the case of self funded plans they only have to follow ERISA and HIPPA but not state mandates.  State mandates apply only to insurance plans-meaning it is the health plan's money and policy and not the employer's.  

To the OP-I don't see it as people ganging up on you, they are trying to give you both positives and negatives to the NHS.  My personal experience is that the approach to medicine is different here. Not better, or worse, but different.  You may not like it.    I would just ask you to think about what people are saying.  They are trying to help you make an informed decision.  
While healthcare is important, there are other factors to consider.  Family/friends, standard of living, material items, etc.  
I wish you the best of luck whatever path you and your wife take.  

I just don't get it. If this is a life threatening infection, surely she wouldn't have years to wait around?

And if you have the option of moving in with family to save money for a trip to the UK, why can't you move in with family to save money for medical treatment? Personally, if it were my husband who's life was in danger, I'd do everything in the world to get him better first, before I even considered taking a gamble on something that would take years and may or may not actually work in the end.    Surely you can temporarily find ways to save up and get her treated and THEN start the process of moving to the UK? I would think that should be a first priority  

This is an excellent point.  I fully agree.

This is an excellent point.  I fully agree.

No one is even reading my posts anymore.

No one is even reading my posts anymore.

 

Many would say the same about you!!!!