Healthcare within the EU.

[Jim Brady]

Be very glad you are where you are. Over here nothing is free for the over 65's - not even subsidised .

John,I believe your pension is far greater than ours tho.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[robpage]

My understanding of the Dutch system is Assuming they have full entitlement to the state old-age pension, on 1 January 2009 the gross pension rates for singles is 70 percent of the statutory minimum wage per month (EUR 1001), while both partners in a couple (either married or living together officially) are each entitled to a pension benefit amounting to 50 percent of the statutory minimum wage (EUR 686 x 2 ). Where here we have the basic of £107.45 per week or 538 Euros a month , The difference is the single Dutchman gets another 463 Euros , I don't think my prescription although free because I am over 60 comes to that , I have 7 items at £7.65 for 2 months equals £26.77 or 31 Euros , leaving 432 Euros extra a month , given that choice , I will pay the prescription charge and keep the extra £100 a week

[Keith Tindell]

I can see your argument there Rob, but it depends what your medication consists of, prescription charge has nothing to do with the true costs of said medication. It could run into many hundreds of pounds, i think i would stick with our system re prescriptions , just my thought KT

[robpage]

When my late wife was terminally ill with cancer , we had a full medical package with my job , I had to pay tax on it , which is bizarre as the money we saved the Health Service made the tax pale into insignificance , Her medical bill for the two years from diagnosis , was £110,000 , all paid for by my insurer , so to pay £7.50 for the Chemotherapy would have had a £34,000 deficit in the case of a Taxol derivative .


I have a 2010 November copy of Chemist and Druggist , which is the trade magazine for prices so have some random examples here


Simvistatin £ 1.00 for 28 tablets Prescribed at £7.65
Atenalol £ 1.10 for 28 tablets Prescribed at £7.65
Warfarin £ 0.35 for 28 tablets Prescribed at £7.65
Methadone £12.50 a dose Prescribed at £7.65
Metformin £ 2.88 for 84 tablets Prescribed at £7.65
Taxotere £534 a dose Prescribed at £ 7.65


So i guess it really is a lot of swings pay towards a few roundabouts

[John Cassels]

Rob and Jim ; the pension may be greater but all in all , you in the UK have are not so bad off -

No national insurance contributions for pensioners
free bus travel over 60
free subscriptions
etc., etc ., etc.

So it's not just in pounds shillings and pence.

[robpage]

That all still leaves me £80 a week short , all taken into consideration John , still it's only money

[John Cassels]

Yeah , you're right Rob , things could be a lot worse for both of us.

[leratty]

Hey Brian, did you per chance get that private message I sent last week re your gallbladder etc experience? Know there was some problem with messages going astrayon the site recently, other than that not a problem if you did & saw no reason to respond.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Richard , I answered the mail with a full description of the events. did you not get it??
I will check it out later , just off to the Doctors.
Cheers
Brian

[Jim Brady]

TV docu Benidorm ER tonight Channel 5 8pm.
Regards.
Jim.B.