Re: Back from South America

Dear me, Richard,

You really cannot resist leading with your chin, can you. ;-)

on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:18:21 -0500, you said:-

Oddly enough, I WAS aware which century it was, but most of the world more or less metricated in the 20th century Hence my comment. The metrically challenged (in whatever country they live) clearly still reside in the 19th.

Happy Christmas.

Off Topic question:

Last night I watch a Michael Moore Movie called "Sicko". It is about the medical system in USA which in my opinion is Backwards nowadays considering the amount that are not insured.

During the movie they showed Americans that were sick going to Cuba and getting health care at a Havana Hospital.

"Emery Davis" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@loki.domain.org...

Wow, do you actually hear the frost where you are? I need some 15C below zero (or 5F above, i.e 12R below... ;-) to hear the sounds, but then I live way up north... Normandie is deep south to me :-) Anders

"Richard Neidich" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

Quite well actually. I had an eye problem in Lyon and it cost $20 to see a ophthalmogist and have it treated. My mother had a week in a German hospital and three pins set in her elbow for $1500 including doctor and surgery. Excellent care both times.

"Anders Tørneskog" wrote in news:476eb7ff$0$13725$ snipped-for-privacy@nn1-read.tele.net:

The one thing I miss at about living in a warm slime is the sound of snow creaking underfoot at that temp and below.

Can I assume no insurance was used?

"Richard Neidich" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

That is correct. all payments were personal. the German hospital even refused my quickly offered credit card, saying, "pay when you get home."

Having been quite ill and needing hospital care in France in 2006 I was admitted to The Morvan Regional Hospital in Salieu. I recieved very good care and upon discharge I was billed about $250 USD which they were happy to put on my hotel bill for a two day stay which included x-rays, ultrasound, pain medication (I had a gallbladder attack) IV's, etc.

Call me a Luddite, but I rather miss the 18th century, personally.

If you can remember the 18th century, I'll call you superannuated instead.

If you get sick in France you are treated. Period. Insurance is a secondary concern. This is official policy. You will receive a bill but because treatment costs (and prescription costs) are regulated it won't usually be too bad.

If you have no insurance or can't afford it you will be treated anyway. Even Richard!

-E

wow, I should be treated. I spend more money a year on French wine than most French would.

I should have an honorary citizenship there. :-)

Yes, after a few winters you can actually tell what the temperature is plus or minus a few degrees based on that sound alone.

Hi Ronin the Luddite,

on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:50:14 -0800, you said:-

Well... apart from antibiotics, anaesthetics, underpants, and the French Laundry so do I!! at least I could admit to having tasted 1791 and 1786 Constantia without being thought a hopeless poser.

Hi Richard,

on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:33:18 -0500, you said:-

Well, despite the appallingly petulant behaviour of your senior politicians towards France, I imagine that you would be treated as any other non resident. You would receive the same level of care that any resident would. as to whether and what you pay, that would depend upon any reciprocal arrangement your country had made with France. As a citizen of a European country, resident in France, my own personal health cover is subject to bilateral agreementsw between the UK and France. in my case, because I'm retired, I no longer contribute towards the cost. Normally, before retirement age, I could either join the state scheme, costing around €1600 a year, and take out private "top up" insurance, in my case (for the level I chose) it costs around €300 a year), or take out private insurance.

As you'll have seen from other replies, foreigners are treated exactly like residents. They get seen as quickly and treated as thoroughly (language permitting - try speaking nothing but french to a doctor in Walla Walla) and for the same price as any one else. however, a French resident will have a system of re-imbursement whereas a foereigner won't - unless they have arranged special travel insurance.

As Emery said, if your treatment is so costly that you can't reasonably be expected to pay, then it is carried out free of charge. I remember an English couple who moved out here, and she went down with brain cancer. In typically lunatic fashion, (he was a right royal twit) he had omitted to go through the stages that would have given him free medical cover for two years, or take out any long term medical insurance, so they had no cover. She was more than a little relieved to find out that all her treatment would be carried out free.

France has always taken the view that it would be unthinkable for someone to suffer and die unnecessarily simply because they didn't have a lot of money. They don't always succeed in putting that admirable principle 100% into practice, but they're better than most.

I do know that the level of care I get at home in France is WAY better than that which my fellow British get in the UK. I'm not talking about dramatic cases of heart failure etc, but the day-to-day stuff. I get a prescription for a blood test (in 3 months time) when I have a visit to my GP. When it's due, I choose a day when I don't have a dinner party the previous night, so that I can fast for 12 hours. At 8am I go to the laboratory, by 8.15 I'm driving home and the results are ready for me by 5pm. So the next morning I can see my doctor to discuss the results and collect my prescriptions. While that may not seem out of the ordinary to you, Dick, ask any of the UK residents whether they can get that level of service for regular trivial visits.

As for costs. A visit to the Kiné (physio) costs us €20 and a visit to the GP costs €22.

And with that.... I think we should probably change the subject.

Ian Hoare wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Did I mention that my Ophthamologist also spoke English? I was fully prepared for a dictionary diagnosis, but . . .

One thing that is reassuring here in France is that when you show up at hospital, whether it be an emergency or other, the money issue is the LAST item dealt with. The attitude is "let's fix things first". While I also respect the Canadian system (having lived there for 17 years), I was appalled when, in an emergency about 30 years ago, I was asked to sign papers and deal with paperwork before anyone would take a look at my bloody problem.

That is what it is like here in USA today. You have to sign the financial responsibility forms to be seen.

To me it is sickening. I happen to be fortunate to have been successful....thus have expensive insurance....but health care does not belong to the elites only.. In my opinion it is a right, not a privledge.

See it is a right to drink wine, it is a privledge to drink 1989, 1990, 1995 and 2000 Chateau Margaux. :-)

Sadly, 15 years from now, I will possibly retire outside the USA if they d>> Hi Richard, on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:33:18 -0500, you said:-