[Ruilnasr]

I'm curious to see how it stacks up against our NHS (at best, an over-stretched service).

Looking at my wage slips I currently pay £363 a month in compulsory contributions to the National Health Service which would cover all hospital expenses and gets me subsidised medication if required.

So, what does £363 (about USD$600) get you a month over there?

I should mention that in the UK, if you want to have private dental and private health you have to pay for these on top of the compulsory contributions.

[MatueHarton]

What's these compulsory contributions you're talking about, if it's not private care?

[gennnniiikk]

You might of heard about it, it is called NIC

National Insurance Contributions.

[MatueHarton]

Oh right this other tax we pay that goes into the same pot as income tax. I see. It's just gone up also. I can't remember what I pay.

[Ruilnasr]

What's these compulsory contributions you're talking about, if it's not private care?

LOL....seriously? [rofl]

You know that ****ing massive chunk of your wage that goes to the National Insurance Contributions? Well that pays for the National Health Service (and technically gets you a pension that will be worth very little when I retire).

[MatueHarton]

Well excuse me but I thought it wasn't about the NHS. More about state pension and unemployemnt due to sickness, pregnancey or bone-idleness.

[joanbertis]

$600 would get a single person very good health and dental coverage. It wouldn't be the ritz, but quality dental and health care with minimum if any waiting.

[Ruilnasr]

Well excuse me but I thought it wasn't about the NHS. More about state pension and unemployemnt due to sickness, pregnancey or bone-idleness.

Technically it is, but as I am an employed male in a stable industry with a private pension I like to consider it the health service cost.

Which, to be honest, is technically paid through our income tax, but the NIC is a nice comparison for me,

[gennnniiikk]

Well excuse me but I thought it wasn't about the NHS. More about state pension and unemployemnt due to sickness, pregnancey or bone-idleness.

Strictly speaking it isn't specifically for the NHS, but government spending in general but I'm just assuming national insurance is what he was referring to.

[buchmausar]

My god. I could have sweet coverage for that kind of money. And I'm 40 frickin years old.

[JOR4qxYH]

$600 a month will get you a pretty good single bedroom apartment in these parts.

[Ruilnasr]

My god. I could have sweet coverage for that kind of money. And I'm 40 frickin years old.

It's not a scientific experiment though, it was just the nearest thing I have to give as a comparison.

[dubballey]

I'm curious to see how it stacks up against our NHS (at best, an over-stretched service).

Looking at my wage slips I currently pay £363 a month in compulsory contributions to the National Health Service which would cover all hospital expenses and gets me subsidised medication if required.

So, what does £363 (about USD$600) get you a month over there?

I should mention that in the UK, if you want to have private dental and private health you have to pay for these on top of the compulsory contributions.

600 dollars will get you a very nice private policy in the US, which will cover pretty much everything... My guess is that it will involve less hassle and waiting than the NHS. However, it would not include a dental policy. For young people, I tend to recommend to pay dentists out of pocket anyway, as good dental is about 3000dollars per year, and the best dentists don't take insurance anyway. Let's just say this. My policy costs $10000 per year and covers my fsmily regardless of the number of people. And I can get an MRI in under 24 hours when needed, but without an emergency...

[wentscat]

Well, I pay $45 every two weeks for health and dental coverage though the company I work for. It's a regional health system, so I only pay co pays for things. Regular doctors visits $15, specialists $25, and ER $75... everything beyond that is covered 100% as long as I stay within the list of providers (mostly within the system). I don't think I've ever paid more than $1 for prescription meds as well. I'm not sure what the overall value is, but I pay roughly $90 a month vs. $600.

[seooptiman]

288$/mo gets me AND my wife: Aetna Health Insurance Provider

Medical- Choice PPO- I can pick my doctors and pay 50$ copay for doctors visits and such, with a $200 emergency room fee. Other than than most situations are covered, there are obviously some exceptions.

Dental- Have a set "dental network"- Kind of locked into one network of dentists, but my dentist work is covered 100% as long as I stay with that dental network. No copays, procudures like perodontal/crowns etc are covered.

Vision- Pays 100% for yearly vision exam and up to 100$ for glasses/lenses, anything over that is out of pocket( not sure about contacts/lasik etc, I wear glasses.)

FSA- Have a debit card that has $2000 on it for the whole year(paid monthly, but get full amount available on card at begining of year,) to pay for copays, perscriptions etc.

Perscriptions- Get discounted perscriptions as long as I got to CVS Pharmarcy, If i go to another Rx then I pay full price.

Not bad IMO, for two people we are pretty much covered for whatever might happen and anything spent out of pocket goes on the FSA Debit card so no "medical surprises" on the financial front. All for $144/person a month. For me and my wife the medical system is working perfectly and have no complaints at all I know not everyone gets this good of medical care, but out of the 4 companies Ive worked for this is the most expensive Ive ever had it and its still that good so....

[rvadipoldkov]

$600 a month will get you a pretty good single bedroom apartment in these parts.

That's my mortgage payment right there, lol. 2br, attached garage, & a nice size yard.

[AnetTeilor]

$600 would get a single person very good health and dental coverage. It wouldn't be the ritz, but quality dental and health care with minimum if any waiting.

Also would depend if you got it through your employer or not as well.
Some employers have awesome coverage, others...not so much.

[MARMELADINA]

My mom had her payments at around $550 a month, but she was over 55 and had already been diagnosed with terminal cancer at the time.

[eduptultyt]

That's my mortgage payment right there, lol. 2br, attached garage, & a nice size yard.

$600 a month will get you a pretty good single bedroom apartment in these parts.

Are you serious?? I can not even rent a room in an apartment for that.

[koebforfrn]

Are you serious?? I can not even rent a room in an apartment for that.

Where do you live?