Doctors and medication U.S.A/U.K (choices, choice)

[Fluffy]

If they introduced National health over here, I would no longer be able to afford my house payments and would lose it. Something has and should be done, but not what you have in England.

I think that our culture including things like wages etc. are based around the idea of other economic things in our culture. We are able to afford both because they pay us knowing we have to pay for both. Houses are more expensive over here don't forget.

[jeffrey]

According to my wife, I make alot more then the average person in England. (about$50,000) The government takes about 25%. That would go up to at least 50% with national health. The house we bought was about $67,000 on a lot 260x62. It would be extremely hard to make payments if my wages where cut by that much.

[jeffrey]

If my employer was forced to pay me more, he would have to raise his prices, which you then make everything else go up... rampant inflation.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

I agree and I will readily support any system that means I don't have massive medical bills by the age of 19 yet provides a better standard of healthcare. I am yet to see such a system, however, and would prefer the type of healthcare we have in the UK to having massive medical bills by the age of 19.

Your friend's situation is not common. Most of my friends were on their parent's insurance until they were around 24 or stopped attending school. I guess if you bite the hand that feeds you, you might have to go hungry...

[jonny]

Originally Posted by jgallandt

According to my wife, I make alot more then the average person in England. (about$50,000) The government takes about 25%. That would go up to at least 50% with national health. The house we bought was about $67,000 on a lot 260x62. It would be extremely hard to make payments if my wages where cut by that much.

A house for $67,000?!?

Maybe I should move to the south. I'm looking at a condo in Provo and they start at $170,000...

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by jonny

A house for $67,000?!?

Maybe I should move to the south. I'm looking at a condo in Provo and they start at $170,000...

Mate you think that's expensive:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3508590a13,00.html

$315,089 average (3 bdrm)

$315089 NZ Dollars = 209723.24 US dollars
$315089 NZ Dollars = 120458.52 pounds sterling

To give some comparison, The average income here is around $35K NZDollars.

[Fluffy]

According to my wife, I make alot more then the average person in England. (about$50,000) The government takes about 25%. That would go up to at least 50% with national health. The house we bought was about $67,000 on a lot 260x62. It would be extremely hard to make payments if my wages where cut by that much.

As far as I'm aware, 50000 is about equal to the amount the average person over here earns. We earn £27000 and qualify for tons of different benefits and so forth. I'm not sure how much we bought our house for because it was 18 years ago but we could probably sell it now for £180,000 and it is a nothing fancy 2 bedroom type box.

Under the english system you would pay 22% in tax unless you earnt more than £40000 in which case you would be paying 40%. For that you would recieve free healthcare.

I guess if you bite the hand that feeds you, you might have to go hungry...

I can assure you that having a large debt and not being dependent any longer on her self-serving screwed up parents is infinitely preferable to the alternative. Not that she had any choice but oh well.

[michel]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Mate you think that's expensive:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3508590a13,00.html

$315,089 average (3 bdrm)

$315089 NZ Dollars = 209723.24 US dollars
$315089 NZ Dollars = 120458.52 pounds sterling

To give some comparison, The average income here is around $35K NZDollars.

It is so difficult to compare;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/h...tml/houses.stm
Average Cost: £194,589 (US$337,144)
Detached: £301,771
Semi-detached: £177,087
Terraced: £151,826
Flat: £174,886

[jeffrey]

How can someone in the U.K. or N.Z. afford a house? Right now, I'm paying a very high interest rate, but in a year, I'll refinance and drop my monthly by $150-$200. It's a 3 bedroom, 1200 square feet home. And home prices in Kentucky are lower then like New York or California or Florida.