Trump eyeballing NHS

Ugg.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/02/us-wants-access-to-nhs-in-post-brexit-deal-ambassador-to-uk-says

The NHS can barely support the British people in some critical areas....and I've seen so many comments online from Americans criticising our health care system here in the UK so it would just be funny in an ironic way if suddenly they were all about it because Trump wants a piece of the action.

Also, had a chuckle at the last bit about him calling Meghan Markle nasty and how he "didn't do it and it's fake news! but there clearly seems to be a recording to show otherwise. He really needs to start keeping track of the things he's said/done (or have one of his staff do it) so he can at least TRY not to look like an absolute muppet.

The NHS can barely support the British people in some critical areas....and I've seen so many comments online from Americans criticising our health care system here in the UK so it would just be funny in an ironic way if suddenly they were all about it because Trump wants a piece of the action.

One of the things I wish Americans understood about the UK's health care system is how freeing it is to not have to think about the cost of health care when making decisions. Maybe I'm more attuned to it because I'm self-employed, but I didn't realize how much easier planning your life is when you don't have to even consider medical costs in your decision making.

Also, had a chuckle at the last bit about him calling Meghan Markle nasty and how he "didn't do it and it's fake news! but there clearly seems to be a recording to show otherwise. He really needs to start keeping track of the things he's said/done (or have one of his staff do it) so he can at least TRY not to look like an absolute muppet.

I don't think he's part of the reality-based community.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality-based_community

One of the things I wish Americans understood about the UK's health care system is how freeing it is to not have to think about the cost of health care when making decisions. Maybe I'm more attuned to it because I'm self-employed, but I didn't realize how much easier planning your life is when you don't have to even consider medical costs in your decision making.

I don't think he's part of the reality-based community.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality-based_community

100% !! There is nothing that makes me feel more safe/secure than not having to make a decision between life or death if something - touch wood it doesn't - happens. It won't be a decision of "do I get that cancer treatment and put my family in debt or do I try to get better and fight?". My husband said my MIL literally had only ever paid for certain prescriptions (which were CHEAP - like less than £20 cheap) throughout her entire battle with cancer and it was an absolute blessing as it was one less thing for the family to worry about.

I think he is part of the reality based community in that he thinks he's on some type of reality tv show 24/7 :p

One of the things I wish Americans understood about the UK's health care system is how freeing it is to not have to think about the cost of health care when making decisions. Maybe I'm more attuned to it because I'm self-employed, but I didn't realize how much easier planning your life is when you don't have to even consider medical costs in your decision making.

Having lived here now, we are very, very aware what a blessing it is. 

When back in the States earlier this year I was having a conversation with my acupuncturist who said something to the effect that she didn't understand why people were so freaked about healthcare - in an emergency you'd get taken care of in the States. I had to bite my tongue.  The Daughter used to work in admin in many medical offices. Where she had to biopsy people's wallets before making appointments. Periodically she'd have to phone people to tell them that their chemo (or other necessary treatment) was not available because they were on medicaid or uninsured. (If they'd have had a good private insurance, it would have been a priority appointment.) So, basically, if you can't pay for good insurance, you can die. Yes, if you are brought into an Emergency Room in critical condition they will stabilize you. But that's all they are required to do. Those stories about people being dumped on skid row in their hospital gowns? They're not fiction. Going without insulin or other medications because they're obscenely expensive? Not fiction.  But a lot of people in the States have blinders on, really. Until it happens to them.

Here if one is out of work for a time, or has to take a lower-paying job, or is a stay-at-home parent,  or is elderly, healthcare cost is not the overriding factor in what you do.  At one point in the States the Daughter was working to save money for school. The job had no insurance.  She was able to cobra her insurance from a prior job for a year, at the cost (back then) of about $800 a month. She was earning $950. It was a horrible, nasty job, but she had to keep it because if she didn't, she'd be uninsured. We couldn't even get appointments with specialists during her uninsured periods - they simply wouldn't book them, regardless of how often the same doctors had told us that monitoring was key....

So, yeah, thank goodness for the NHS!

I like the way Trump is talking up the great trade agreement that we could have if only we will Brexit with no deal.  Meanwhile, the ambassador is making it clear that agreement will specifically include chlorinated chicken and US companies profiting from the NHS. At least they are open about screwing us.

You guys don't have to worry, me and my buddies are meeting at Trafalgar Square tomorrow to make sure Trump knows we are not that stupid.

Poor guy, came all the way over here for a state visit and can't even show his face in London.

I like the way Trump is talking up the great trade agreement that we could have if only we will Brexit with no deal.  Meanwhile, the ambassador is making it clear that agreement will specifically include chlorinated chicken and US companies profiting from the NHS. At least they are open about screwing us.

You guys don't have to worry, me and my buddies are meeting at Trafalgar Square tomorrow to make sure Trump knows we are not that stupid.

Poor guy, came all the way over here for a state visit and can't even show his face in London.

I wish I could join you!  Me and the other 3 Muricans at my office are with you in spirit!!  We are all DYING at the radio coverage today....  UGH.

I like the way Trump is talking up the great trade agreement that we could have if only we will Brexit with no deal.  Meanwhile, the ambassador is making it clear that agreement will specifically include chlorinated chicken and US companies profiting from the NHS. At least they are open about screwing us.

You guys don't have to worry, me and my buddies are meeting at Trafalgar Square tomorrow to make sure Trump knows we are not that stupid.

Poor guy, came all the way over here for a state visit and can't even show his face in London.

I really do hope we're smarter than that and we don't find ourselves getting into bed with this dude.

Also wishing I could be there with you! Take lots of pictures of the blimp for me. I can't not laugh at it every damn time.

When back in the States earlier this year I was having a conversation with my acupuncturist who said something to the effect that she didn't understand why people were so freaked about healthcare - in an emergency you'd get taken care of in the States. I had to bite my tongue. 

My first thought was "Why did you bite your tongue, you don't do that here?". Then I realised that you were probably lying down with acupuncture pins sticking out everywhere, so in your situation I certainly wouldn't want to distract or annoy the person in control of those pins!!

I do agree with your sentiments, we used to sit with a group of retired folks most weekdays having coffee after exercising in the YMCA back in Texas, and they really have no idea what it is like to be without decent insurance in the USA.  The amazing thing is that they were very much against healthcare for all managed by the government, but Medicare for them works well and shouldn't be messed with.

Yeah, when in a compromised position and there's someone behind ya with sharp implements, it's best to be non-committal.

Oh, and I ~do~ heavily censor myself here!    In case "they" ask for any social media account information when we go up for any future immigration steps. The USA has just done that - they are now asking for it all, and phone numbers back five years, I believe. Or, I think I read that. It could have been a nightmare, though.

I have to say, its a very hard thing to watch people physically deteriorate when there are medications and treatments available, but they and you know that they can't get access to them because they are too poor. Healthcare is a commodity in the USA. I sincerely hope it never gets to that point here. Yes, there may be treatments the NHS won't fund due to cost, but they fund a lot of treatments that to which everyone has access. I'd rather my taxes were going to that than paying for tax breaks for corporate America....

I had a neighbor, once, who became too ill to work. After all the savings were gone, and the house was repossessed by the bank, and they were living in their car (while ill), they relied on going to the county hospital where they could get some care as a "charity" patient. You wait all day in a large room and they see you when they can. Until the clinic closes - and if you haven't been seen, you go away and try the next day. If you're well enough to get there. If you're lucky they can give you some samples of medicine they have. Otherwise you take the prescription to a private pharmacy and hope it doesn't cost more than you have. Assuming you can get there.... I lost track of the neighbor, over time. I hope she caught a break. After two years of life like that, if she was still alive, she should have been eligible for Social Security disability. Assuming she could get the paperwork, which also requires doctor's records. From doctors who won't see you if you can't pay. SSDI won't give you enough to pay the rent, but at least you'll get some medical care then. And you can pay for the medication out of it. Hopefully.

The system is just an abomination.

(Yep, the above is the censored version.)

Oh, and I ~do~ heavily censor myself here!    In case "they" ask for any social media account information when we go up for any future immigration steps. The USA has just done that - they are now asking for it all, and phone numbers back five years, I believe. Or, I think I read that. It could have been a nightmare, though.

Don't know about the phone number thing but (at the moment) the social media thing is completely optional I'm not saying that they won't make it mandatory at some point in the future, but at the moment you can just choose not to disclose that information (my husband didn't when he did his last ESTA and there were no consequences to that choice).



I just realised I'm working out of London tomorrow and I imagine it's going to be extra crowded if all the protests are happening tomorrow...While I would've loved to be in London FOR the protests, I am not looking forward to working on a protest day...

Yeah, when in a compromised position and there's someone behind ya with sharp implements, it's best to be non-committal.

Oh, and I ~do~ heavily censor myself here!    In case "they" ask for any social media account information when we go up for any future immigration steps. The USA has just done that - they are now asking for it all, and phone numbers back five years, I believe. Or, I think I read that. It could have been a nightmare, though.

I have to say, its a very hard thing to watch people physically deteriorate when there are medications and treatments available, but they and you know that they can't get access to them because they are too poor. Healthcare is a commodity in the USA. I sincerely hope it never gets to that point here. Yes, there may be treatments the NHS won't fund due to cost, but they fund a lot of treatments that to which everyone has access. I'd rather my taxes were going to that than paying for tax breaks for corporate America....

I had a neighbor, once, who became too ill to work. After all the savings were gone, and the house was repossessed by the bank, and they were living in their car (while ill), they relied on going to the county hospital where they could get some care as a "charity" patient. You wait all day in a large room and they see you when they can. Until the clinic closes - and if you haven't been seen, you go away and try the next day. If you're well enough to get there. If you're lucky they can give you some samples of medicine they have. Otherwise you take the prescription to a private pharmacy and hope it doesn't cost more than you have. Assuming you can get there.... I lost track of the neighbor, over time. I hope she caught a break. After two years of life like that, if she was still alive, she should have been eligible for Social Security disability. Assuming she could get the paperwork, which also requires doctor's records. From doctors who won't see you if you can't pay. SSDI won't give you enough to pay the rent, but at least you'll get some medical care then. And you can pay for the medication out of it. Hopefully.

The system is just an abomination.

(Yep, the above is the censored version.)

I think the new social media rules are for visa and other immigration applications so as a USC you won’t be asked to hand over your social media account names and passwords or your smart phone when entering the USA. But, who knows what the future holds so you are wise to be careful.

Back in 2005 while I was still working in Louisiana a friend’s Dad had a heart attack. He was just 50 and a share cropper so when the insurance company jacked up his rates to the point he couldn’t afford the premiums he had to go without. They were out in the sticks doing their farming and whenever he or his wife got really sick they had a 2.5 hour drive to the charity hospital in Houma where they sat around for hours waiting to be seen. He died in 2009 from another heart attack.

Don't know about the phone number thing but (at the moment) the social media thing is completely optional I'm not saying that they won't make it mandatory at some point in the future, but at the moment you can just choose not to disclose that information (my husband didn't when he did his last ESTA and there were no consequences to that choice).

Apparently as of 3 days ago, it is now mandatory for all online visa applications. I’m not sure whether or not that includes the ESTA though.

I have a B-2 visitor visa valid until late 2021... I’m hoping I can avoid applying for a new one until Trump is out of office, and fingers crossed, these measures will be dropped.



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I think the new social media rules are for visa and other immigration applications so as a USC you won’t be asked to hand over your social media account names and passwords or your smart phone when entering the USA. But, who knows what the future holds so you are wise to be careful.

Back in 2005 while I was still working in Louisiana a friend’s Dad had a heart attack. He was just 50 and a share cropper so when the insurance company jacked up his rates to the point he couldn’t afford the premiums he had to go without. They were out in the sticks doing their farming and whenever he or his wife got really sick they had a 2.5 hour drive to the charity hospital in Houma where they sat around for hours waiting to be seen. He died in 2009 from another heart attack.

So sorry to hear about your friend's father.

And yeah, I'm not worried about the USA asking for my social media. That would be a worry for non-citizens going there. I'm more worried about certain other governments.    Then again, since this and a couple of pet-focused boards are the only real presence I have on the internet, I should be fine.

Apparently as of 3 days ago, it is now mandatory for all online visa applications. I’m not sure whether or not that includes the ESTA though.

I have a B-2 visitor visa valid until late 2021... I’m hoping I can avoid applying for a new one until Trump is out of office, and fingers crossed, these measures will be dropped.



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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/us/us-visa-application-social-media.html

Rather chilling, isn't it?