Are there many Europeans on this forum ?

[suzyvermoesen]

Originally Posted by carrie721

thats ok, you can come see me instead

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by suzyvermoesen

thats ok, you can come see me instead

okay!

[suzyvermoesen]

Originally Posted by David

If you want health insurance & can't afford it on your own, find an employer that pays a part of it for you. I've never in my life NOT worked for an employer that didn't put me on the group health insurance plan. Nor would I ever consider working for an employer that didn't -- unless I was making half a million & opted to buy my own insurance coverage. Just to satisfy my curiosity, I skimmed through the want ads in a few of the major newspapers down here (Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, San Diego Union-Tribune), & the majority of hiring employers still offer insurance.

Ofcourse i cannot compare the situation in the US with Europe, but appearances can deceive. If you look in the job section of our local newspapers, you will find an abundance of all sorts of jobs , but getting them is a whole other thing.We are being told by the media that the companies cannot get their vacancies filled and it's getting harder and harder to find staff. On the other hand, the year that my husband was unemployed , he firstly applied for jobs that were similar to the one he had lost (working for a shipping line agency). When that did not succeed, mainly because he was considered too old (51 at the time) , he started applying for other jobs and worked as a gardener for a few hours a week and also in a warehouse on temp basis. All because he just wanted to feel usefull again. What i'm trying to say David, is that sometimes you cannot choose the job you would like. In the end, my husband started working for a call center. It's not a bad job, he likes doing it (has been doing it for 3 years now) but it's not his preferred occupation and the pay is a lot less than what he was used to. But, it's still twice the amount of the unemployment benefit, so we count ourselves lucky.
A friend of mine who's 48 years old has lost her job 3 months ago. She was a sales person and earned a good living as we say, with the benefits of a company car, laptop and cellphone. So far she has not yet found a new job because she is holding out for a similar job with similar benefits. She could have been working again by now if she had not set her standards so high, so i hope for her sake she finds the job she wants. Otherwise she will have to make do with what she can get.
All i'm trying to say basically is : never say never

[rubytuesday]

Originally Posted by David

If you want health insurance & can't afford it on your own, find an employer that pays a part of it for you. I've never in my life NOT worked for an employer that didn't put me on the group health insurance plan. Nor would I ever consider working for an employer that didn't -- unless I was making half a million & opted to buy my own insurance coverage. Just to satisfy my curiosity, I skimmed through the want ads in a few of the major newspapers down here (Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, San Diego Union-Tribune), & the majority of hiring employers still offer insurance.

I was wondering what happens with those people who don't work or can't work. Do they get any kind of insurance?

[skcin]

Originally Posted by rubytuesday

I was wondering what happens with those people who don't work or can't work. Do they get any kind of insurance?

In the U.S.? Disabled people can get social security & some qualify for Medicare, which is paid by taxpayers. The poor can get Medicaid, which is also paid for by taxpayers. The problem is that often, working poor make just a little bit too much to qualify, so they suffer without health insurance. People who can't (or, unfortunately, just don't) work usually do qualify. Therefore, it's actually a better deal for many people to stay unemployed & live off the welfare & the Medicaid system, rather than get an entry-level job that offers no benefits. Sad but true.

[Gailh]

Originally Posted by Gypsy-Rhiannon

We may be few but we are special!

Yes we are the "special ones" to quote Mr Mourinho

Gail

[David]

Originally Posted by suzyvermoesen

What i'm trying to say David, is that sometimes you cannot choose the job you would like.

I agree completely. Those "rainy days" we refer to & try to save for can happen to anyone, at any time. People might be laid off owing to a bad economy or offshoring or dozens of other reasons, & would be forced to pay hundreds of dollars per month on COBRA health insurance coverage, until they can find another job with coverage kicking in. (COBRA is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which provides temporary coverage for a payment to many of those who are laid off. It's completely voluntary & unfortunately many workers find it too expensive, especially if they've been laid off & don't have an income.)

Health insurance coverage is extremely important to me, & I never deliberately seek out employment without it. Naturally, I hope I am never forced to take employment with group plan coverage, but it might happen someday. Hope not. I sock aside what money I can (in addition to retirement) just in case I need to buy my own medical coverage some day.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by David

I agree completely. Those "rainy days" we refer to & try to save for can happen to anyone, at any time. People might be laid off owing to a bad economy or offshoring or dozens of other reasons, & would be forced to pay hundreds of dollars per month on COBRA health insurance coverage, until they can find another job with coverage kicking in. (COBRA is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which provides temporary coverage for a payment to many of those who are laid off. It's completely voluntary & unfortunately many workers find it too expensive, especially if they've been laid off & don't have an income.)

Health insurance coverage is extremely important to me, & I never deliberately seek out employment without it. Naturally, I hope I am never forced to take employment with group plan coverage, but it might happen someday. Hope not. I sock aside what money I can (in addition to retirement) just in case I need to buy my own medical coverage some day.

It sounds like a Kafkian short story. How Americans don't ask for a public healthcare is a mystery to me...

Romy

[David]

Originally Posted by Serrart

It sounds like a Kafkian short story. How Americans don't ask for a public healthcare is a mystery to me...

Romy

Well, many of us, me included, aren't terribly sure we want one; but a system fully administered by the state is probably on its way in the coming years.

Also, I made a typo in my previous post. I said: I hope I am never forced to take employment with group plan coverage;

but what I meant was: I hope I am never forced to take employment withOUT group plan coverage

I definitely depend on employer-sponsored coverage. If & when the state cuts my taxes enough for me to easily afford excellent private coverage, I'll rethink.

[The Catdancer]

Originally Posted by suzyvermoesen

Ofcourse i cannot compare the situation in the US with Europe, but appearances can deceive. If you look in the job section of our local newspapers, you will find an abundance of all sorts of jobs , but getting them is a whole other thing.We are being told by the media that the companies cannot get their vacancies filled and it's getting harder and harder to find staff. On the other hand, the year that my husband was unemployed , he firstly applied for jobs that were similar to the one he had lost (working for a shipping line agency). When that did not succeed, mainly because he was considered too old (51 at the time) , he started applying for other jobs and worked as a gardener for a few hours a week and also in a warehouse on temp basis. All because he just wanted to feel usefull again. What i'm trying to say David, is that sometimes you cannot choose the job you would like. In the end, my husband started working for a call center. It's not a bad job, he likes doing it (has been doing it for 3 years now) but it's not his preferred occupation and the pay is a lot less than what he was used to. But, it's still twice the amount of the unemployment benefit, so we count ourselves lucky.
A friend of mine who's 48 years old has lost her job 3 months ago. She was a sales person and earned a good living as we say, with the benefits of a company car, laptop and cellphone. So far she has not yet found a new job because she is holding out for a similar job with similar benefits. She could have been working again by now if she had not set her standards so high, so i hope for her sake she finds the job she wants. Otherwise she will have to make do with what she can get.
All i'm trying to say basically is : never say never

And that's what I'm trying to tell you. You might think Belgium is the pitts but you're better off there. I'm not putting the USA down, I'm merely trying to tell you what the differences are.
Your friend has been laid off, no more company car, no more cell phone, no more laptop etc. but... she gets money from the government to tie her over, right???

[suzyvermoesen]

Originally Posted by The Catdancer

And that's what I'm trying to tell you. You might think Belgium is the pitts but you're better off there. I'm not putting the USA down, I'm merely trying to tell you what the differences are.
Your friend has been laid off, no more company car, no more cell phone, no more laptop etc. but... she gets money from the government to tie her over, right???

Yes she does, fortunately.
And i don't think Belgium is the pitts, i love living here (Antwerp). I'm a "Sinjoor" through and through and we are known for our chauvinism (and stubborness )