Inconvenient Annoyances

Is the shower tiled? Or a unit? It just seems that if it is under the shower, then it's probably the shower's fault.

It's tiled -- all very recent so grout looks OK.  DH has done a DIY re-plastering job in the hall to see if anything further develops.  Didn't want to call in the professional plasterer only to have it leak further.  We'll see ...

It's tiled -- all very recent so grout looks OK.  DH has done a DIY re-plastering job in the hall to see if anything further develops.  Didn't want to call in the professional plasterer only to have it leak further.  We'll see ...

You know....

Why don't they make little hatches and stuff so you can peer in behind things?

Plumbing....

You know....

Why don't they make little hatches and stuff so you can peer in behind things?

Plumbing....

Why indeed.

Stuff breaking around the house is annoying, and domestic appliances do seem to conspire to fail simultaneously.

However I'm currently dealing with a dishonest and incompetent health insurance company here in the US, and frankly I cannot wait to leave the US and be done with US healthcare with its exorbitant, gouging hospital prices and insurers attempting to evade payment wherever possible.  I'm just amazed that Americans put up with it.

...frankly I cannot wait to leave the US and be done with US healthcare with its exorbitant, gouging hospital prices and insurers attempting to evade payment wherever possible.  I'm just amazed that Americans put up with it.

I have no idea either, and I'm American!  It is a system so cobbled together with medical decisions made by non-medical people.  Personally, I think many Americans live in great fear the entire mess. 

Oh yeah, what is it about those appliances breaking at the same time?  Are they holding meetings at night and coordinating their demise? 

Stuff breaking around the house is annoying, and domestic appliances do seem to conspire to fail simultaneously.

However I'm currently dealing with a dishonest and incompetent health insurance company here in the US, and frankly I cannot wait to leave the US and be done with US healthcare with its exorbitant, gouging hospital prices and insurers attempting to evade payment wherever possible.  I'm just amazed that Americans put up with it.

We gripe. A LOT. I desperately miss the NHS. To get our healthcare in a price range we can cope with, hubby and I have a $5000 per year deductible each. EACH. Neither of us are sick $5000 worth together a year.

A friend and her husband, neither are smokers, very casual (think wedding receptions and New Year's Eve) drinkers, come from healthy families, etc.... have two healthy teens. They were paying $512 a month insurance. Now, to be in line with the "Affordable Healthcare Act" they had to change their policy slightly and are now paying $1000 a month. For four very healthy people who rarely go to a doctor other than checkups.

US healthcare costs are disgusting. Then there are those who fall through the cracks.. not enough insurance to have some procedures done, although they have insurance, My sister was one of the sad stories. She had healthcare, but it didn't cover the heart surgery she needed, and passed away in July after having a heart attack the surgery would have prevented. But without the surgery, she was limited on how much she could work, and therefore couldn't afford better insurance. If she'd had the surgery, she could have worked more hours.... Endless circles. It happens far too often.

I have a sinus infection, but even with insurance I'd be looking at a couple hundred by the time I go for a doctor's visit and medication. Minor compared to what so many are facing, but it is pathetic to have to pay for insurance AND pay for medical care.

Between me and my company we pay around $17000 a year for family insurance but that didn't stop the b*st*rds from denying claims recently resulting in another $5k out of pocket.   I'm totally done with it.   I'm mainly moving to the UK to be close to elderly relatives, but I honestly don't think I'll ever return to the US unless he health system gets fixed.

US healthcare is more than an inconvenient annoyance.  I'm concerned about how the doctors under these new schemes can refuse to take patients with Medicare and other less inclusive carriers.  So you are left having to go to a doctor miles away from your home, if you can find one to accept you.  Probably not much better than having to go to an ER.

Tamamoo - so sorry about your sister.   Sorry I was fuming over another multi-thousand bill yesterday and another call to the insurer and didn't read closely enough.
Every Brit who ever gripes about the NHS should have to deal with the US system for a few years just to get a sense of perspective.

On the subject of domestic appliances failing in unison, just wait until they're all internet connected appliances.   Then they'll be able to check your bank account before they all coordinate to die together.

US healthcare costs are disgusting. Then there are those who fall through the cracks.. not enough insurance to have some procedures done, although they have insurance, My sister was one of the sad stories. She had healthcare, but it didn't cover the heart surgery she needed, and passed away in July after having a heart attack the surgery would have prevented. But without the surgery, she was limited on how much she could work, and therefore couldn't afford better insurance. If she'd had the surgery, she could have worked more hours.... Endless circles. It happens far too often.

I'm so sorry that your sister was a victim of a healthcare system that has lost it's heart.  A very sad story indeed and one that should not have happened. 

There are endless stories, hopefully not too many that have such dire outcomes.  A wonderful woman I know who has had many issues resulting from MS and heart problems had to get off pain medication that was working for her and onto something less effective, simply because that is what her insurance would pay for.  On top of that she had to go through weeks of difficulty withdrawing from said medication.  At her age (in her 70's) she should not have had to deal with that stress to her body - IMHO anyway. 

On the subject of domestic appliances failing in unison, just wait until they're all internet connected appliances.   Then they'll be able to check your bank account before they all coordinate to die together.

That is a scary thought for sure! 

Thanks, sdt99 and Becca. She was only 36. It happens far too often, too many doctors saying "I wish there was something I could do, but without insurance covering it...'

Tamamoo - so sorry about your sister.   Sorry I was fuming over another multi-thousand bill yesterday and another call to the insurer and didn't read closely enough.
Every Brit who ever gripes about the NHS should have to deal with the US system for a few years just to get a sense of perspective.

Fume away. You and your company pay far more than enough in a year that everything should be covered, no matter how big or small, and not have to still pay thousands more on top of that for care.

And no one, especially in more advanced years, should be booted off medication that works and forced to suffer with lesser.

Hubs ordered 8 bottles of Fuller's Vintage Ales from various years, including a couple years that are nearly impossible to find now, from a collector in Texas. They were set to arrive tomorrow, via FedEx. He has been watching the tracking, each day, each hub it has gone though, Today there was a warning message about damage. I called, and six of the eight bottles have been cracked and are being sent back to the shipper. He is  quite annoyed because not only does he not have them for his collection, he may not find a couple of them again, and now has to work toward getting his money back, and also file a damage claim with FedEx for the loss. He paid via PayPal, so with a bit of luck that will make it easier to get the money back.

It is just frustrating, and that was one of his two "big" Christmas gifts. Grrr...

My sister was one of the sad stories. She had healthcare, but it didn't cover the heart surgery she needed, and passed away in July after having a heart attack the surgery would have prevented.

Ugh, that's just sickening!    Stories like this just make me angry!

That really sucks about the bottles of ale, very disappointing for them to crack on the final leg of the journey! I hope finding more bottles and getting a refund goes smoothly.

Ugh, that's just sickening!    Stories like this just make me angry!

That really sucks about the bottles of ale, very disappointing for them to crack on the final leg of the journey! I hope finding more bottles and getting a refund goes smoothly.

Very sickening. It is sad the country has gotten to the point where it comes down to money and not the desire to save lives that made them want to be doctors in the first place.

He's been searching for the bottles elsewhere and hasn't found the rarest two again, so far. PayPal put a freeze on the money in the guy's account and if he doesn't return it within 10 days of the phone call, they will pull it from his account and return it to hubby's. So, I suppose at least the refund should be a bit painless. It was $145 including shipping for 8 bottles. He needs a cheaper hobby. I've suggested knitting but he wasn't interested.