<<
Britain spends half the amount per person America does on healthcare. And we live longer.

Now apologise for asking such an offensive question. >>

Well flanner, you started it:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...red-lungs.html

http://nhshorrorstories.blogspot.com/

http://pjmedia.com/blog/considering-...orror-stories/

http://nationalreview.com/articles/3...ames-john-fund

This is fish+barrel+shotgun.

The reason the UK spends 50% of US investment is that US pharmaceutical and medical device companies spend tremendous quantities of money to obtain FDA approval of their products and cannot recoup those expenditures from anyplace other than the US precisely because other countries have socialist pricing controls (it's a ridiculous set up but the trade-off is a far lower rate of pharmaceutical and medical technological advancement). There is no British pharma or medical device industry.

The "we live longer" argument is dependent upon two facts: (1) US infant mortality rates are higher than any other first world nation precisely because (a) the US endeavors to save infants who have no chance of survival anywhere else including preemies with less than 6 months' gestation (after all, public control of health care resource allocation means limiting use of resources if they will not reach a positive result) and (b) the US counts every baby born alive as a live birth but other OECD countries require the baby to "live" for 24 hours, a week or a month depending upon the country - this means a baby born in the US who dies an hour later counts against both infant mortality and life span statistics.

(2) Disparities between ethnic groups. The US is a more diverse melting pot, but too many of its inner cities still resemble The Wire (Detroit, Oakland, Memphis, St. Louis, every "city" in New Jersey, Chicago) - the six-year difference in life expectancy between black and white in the US speaks volumes.

Of course, flanner has no actual knowledge of how the US works and resorts to stereotypes and rhetorical molotovs, therefore this information would have been ignored by fUK.

"There is no British pharma ... industry. "

GlaxoSmithKline. "headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company measured by 2009 prescription drug sales" (wiki)

The second largest, Novartis, is Swiss. The third (maybe now the fourth), Sanofi, is French.

Just a note on Kay's comment, because this confused me the first time I heard it - the "surgery" she mentions in the UK refers to a physician's practice, not an operation as it does in the US.

Can you call the company's relocation agent directly, without relying on your husband to be the go-between? Seems like that could be a common occurrence.

For legal specifics, don't rely on any website forum; travel, expat or otherwise. Get those driectly from your husband's relo expert or the govt websites.


Communication: VOIP -- costs very little, use your telephone as normal and you can call anyone on any device.

Health insurance: my husband has private and I'm NHS (for ideological reasons). We have received the exact same level of care for any illness and emergency needs. I recently hurt my back and the NHS care hasn't been stellar but I understand that it can't be perfect.

Cats: it will probably cost about $1k to ship each cat, each way (when we looked into it). I'd find foster homes.

Yelp and groupon on international. Wowcher is a UK specific deal site.

Cheap fun: www.ianvisits.com It's a quirky little blog that keeps a calandar of usually free, interesting and off the beaten path events in London.

One more website www.mumsnet.com. Obviously, it's a site for mums, which fingers crossed, you will be soon! But the forums can also provide any answer you have about living and working in the UK.

One cheeky word of warning: be careful or you may fall in love and never leave. London is the center of the universe! We intended to stay in the UK for 2 years and then move on to other adventures. Six years later, we're permanent residents on the path to citizenship! We love it here and I hope you will too.

<i>1) I'm mainly concerned with upside-down car loans and student loans.</i>

You should just continue to pay the student loans. Moving does nothing to those.

With regards to the car loans, ask your husband's employer - it is common practice for them to arrange for reimbursement for a loss on sale of the car.

<i>Aside from clothes and toiletries, what else should we bring with us?</i>

You should buy any electronics (e.g. computers, iPhones, etc.) while still in the US as they will be much cheaper.

<i>I will want to get a job when we move there. Will I need to apply for some kind of work visa or something?</i>

The relocation agent provided by your husband's company should be able to help with this question.

<i>What is the best means of communication with friends and family that will still be in Chicago while we're overseas?</i>

Skype is a good option. I would think that the problems you had with your husband were due to a lousy hotel internet. If you have a decent internet connection, then you should be able to use it reliably.

<i>How does health insurance work out there? </i>

Ask your husband's employer if they provide expatriate health insurance. This is pretty common and usually excellent coverage that would allow you to use private hospitals and providers in the UK.

<i>if they have their baby in England, does that baby automatically become an English citizen?</i>

No, not in your case.

<i>What are the hospitals like?</i>

Flanner's obnoxious haranguing to the contrary, they will be "worse" than the better US hospitals in terms of amenities and non-critical care will see longer waits, but the standard of care is high for acute issues.

<i> << With regards to the car loans, ask your husband's employer - it is common practice for them to arrange for reimbursement for a loss on sale of the car. >> </i>

Don't know about this -- my large company would not cover this.

<I>For legal specifics, don't rely on any website forum; travel, expat or otherwise. Get those directly from your husband's relo expert or the govt websites.</I>

They aren't necessary the best and most reliable sources. I have seen enough incompetent and ill-informed 'experts' (well paid!). Government website is fine, but it requires a fair amount of navigating and thorough familiarity with immigration system and terminology to find the exact answer to your questions.

I suggest expat forums that are well moderated and with high traffic - any erroneous advice will soon be shot down!

<i>Government website is fine, but it requires a fair amount of navigating and thorough familiarity with immigration system and terminology to find the exact answer to your questions. </i>

That's no exaggeration! When I saw the UKBA form, I hired an immigration lawyer to help me with my application for leave to remain. The guidance seems to change about every six months or so, making things even more difficult.

Not to beat a dea horse but the public healthcare system in the UK is very differnt than in the US. (I'm not saying better or worse - just different).

All of the employees of the parent company I work for are provided private health insurance when they are transferred outside the US - so they have the option of all facilities and all practitioners - without any waiting times. (In the UK system emergent problems do not have waiting times but other, chronic problems may - and that may differ by region.)

London has some truly excellent hospitals and a lot of great MDs. But the system does work differently (for example I don't believe that double rooms are standard in all hospitals, nor all the amenities one expects in the US - private phone and TV, access to fridges for snacks or drinks etc).

In any case, private insurance is the standard when sent abroad by an employer.

Also, there are a variety of different housing options - from purchase of the current residence at market value, to a cost of living housing allowance on top of the regular cost of living increase, to housing provided (which I would NOT want).

As for private loans (car, school, etc) - I have never heard of that being part of any relocation package - and I would assume you just need to keep paying (or preferably pay off before you leave).

I am not an ex-pat living here on generous terms from an employer, but a retired local who relies on the NHS but who might consider private healthcare in particular circumstances. I know plenty of people who do use private healthcare, and know of their experience.

I think it is worth stressing that private healthcare provision in the U.K. is comlementary to that provided by the NHS. There are no alternative private accident and emergency (what you call emergency room) facilities for example and the NHS has a virtual monopoly of such provision. Many parts of the country have no local private hospitals, and local general practitioners are even rarer. It is quite common for people to mix and match NHS and private provision, and many doctors and surgeons at private hospitals still do the bulk of their work for the NHS. It is seldom the case that the best doctors work in the private sector, and some of the best people work only in the NHS as a matter of principal.

Where the private sector has an advantage is in the quality of the hotel facilities - rooms and food - and in the more personal care it can provide. The big burden on the NHS is care of the elderly, but few people could afford long-term care in a private hospital, and the better-off are more likely to be able to arrange and afford the alternatives.

The NHS now uses private sector hospitals for many operations. An elderly neighbour of ours recently had her cataract operations paid for by NHS but taking place in one of the local private hospitals. Some private facilities spend virtually all their time on NHS work.

I would stress that I live in a large provincial city, and that the situation may be different in London, where more private provision is probably available.

<i>As for private loans (car, school, etc) - I have never heard of that being part of any relocation package</i>

It is standard practice at my company to pay off any underwater portion of a car loan or lease breakage costs. We also pay breakage costs for an apartment lease.

Granted, we are relatively generous, but not that generous.

>>>>>Just as in the USA (for fairly obvious reasons) you can't just turn up and try to find work.

You obviously don't live in Los Angeles..

It is standard practice at my company to pay off any underwater portion of a car loan or lease breakage costs. >>

this car is upside down AND under water?

Kendall - I suggest you bring an english -american dictionary.

oh, and a sense of humour.

And nylons and gum.

For tipping :-P

I can understand making up the difference on the sale of a single car - but not necessarily two. Since I'm in NY this usually isn't a problem (many people don;thve cars at all - and they are ususally kept fr a long time - so no loans).

I still don;t think any company is going to take over personal loans.

And the issue of one versus two incomes - esp in the beginning needs to be considered. Also, assuming the OP is eligible to get a job - looking at salaries on the local economy might be important. I know in my field salaries in the UK are a lot less than in NY - not sure how they would compare to Chicago.

I would strongly look at the expat package. London is quite expensive and your money will not go as far. It might be prudent to look into housing in the outer Tube zones.

Also, a good website is www.uk-Yankee.com. It has a forum that deals with Amerucans moving to the UK and it would probably be more accurate than a travel forum. Best of luck.

As someone who lives in Chicago,flies internationally for a US airline and has two kids in the UK (one just moved out of London) I would recommend buying a SKYPE number for around $69 a year and have a direct "847" area code number to use.
Everything is way more expensive in London and if you are trying to get an apartment, you need to start looking for them ASAP as they go quickly especially in the good areas with students/workers from other countries that have large amounts of cash on hand.Know that most apartments/flats have the washer/dryer in the kitchen but most people dry their clothes on dryer racks as it takes forever to dry and the electricity is expensive.
My daughter prefers the USA clothes from Carsons,Macy's, Kohls,etc. rather than what is over in London at H and M,Selfridges,Marks and Spencer,Topshop,etc.as they seem to fit her her better and are less expensive.They have TJ MAXX over there but it is called TK MAXX so you can find some clothing and household items at a better price along with IKEA.
There is alot of humidity in London(as opposed to Chicago's seasons) so even though it is winter over there you will be fine either layering with a sweater under a lighter weight coat or with a lighter all weather winter coat.Everyone always wears a scarf so buy some before you leave here. I would also recommend shoes and boots that are able to dry out quickly in the rain.
Where do you live in Chicago and how old are you guys?

My daughter lived in the UK for several years. She didn't have any problem working.. She worked for several Ddentist while she was there. Her husband was in the air force and stationed at lakenheath. That may have been why she was cleared to work without problems.