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

[Fluffy]

I don't know. Maybe the conversion calculator I used was off. $66,000 is still just barely enough to support a family in a lot of areas. For many of my friends it was their starting salary out of college...it is a high starting salary though.

That is indeed a high starting salary. What the hell are you going to do with $66000 when you are a single postgraduate? Just to give a quick comparison, our family makes £27000 and that is supporting a family of 4. You would literally be rolling in it to have that income with no-one to support.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

That is indeed a high starting salary. What the hell are you going to do with $66000 when you are a single postgraduate? Just to give a quick comparison, our family makes £27000 and that is supporting a family of 4. You would literally be rolling in it to have that income with no-one to support.

In areas in California and New York you would just be able to get by with $66,000. Buying a house would be out of the question. The average undergrad graduating from my business school started at about 40,000 to 45,000. The average for grad students was about $75,000. I'll be comfortable when I'm making about $100,000.

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by michel

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

What's the average income over there?

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by jgallandt

I don't understand it myself! LOL! that's why I pay an accountant to do my taxes! All I know is that it would cost me more then insurance. I'd be paying for my family and someone else's that does not work, if that makes sense.

Gotta watch dem accountants. Trust me, my dad's one

[Quoth The Raven]

Our Medicare levy at it's highest is 2.5% of gross income, and you don't get any better care from having private insurance, though you do save 1% on your medicare levy. If you need a hip replacement here, you may get to choose your hospital, but it's elective surgery and it doesn't get done yesterday just because you have private insurance.You wait in line like the next bloke.
Medicare covers 85% of your medical expenses - visits to the doctor and such, or if the doc bulk bills then 100%. There's a safety net now, so if you have over $306 per year (for fammilies) in out of pocket medical expenses then Medicare covers 80% of any subsequent out of pocket expenses.
If you have a concession card you'll get medication for $4.60 per item. There's also a safety net for that, where if you're a concession card holder, all prescriptions over $253 in any given year are free.Those not on concession cards get everything over $960 at the concession charge.