PalenQ, when my mother entered the nursing home in Paris, I applied for financial aid. Full financial disclosure was required from myself but also my brother and his wife in the United States and also from his adult children (because grandchildren are also responsible, not just children). Since we were all in good shape financially, we only received the minimum amount of financial aid for Paris, which comes to about 950 euros a month. This is deducted from the nursing home bill. However, anybody who cannot pay gets full aid and there is no charge at all. Some of the residents in my mother's place are former homeless people who are now living better than at any time in the past 50 years and paying absolutely nothing.

Naturally, there are also private nursing homes where everybody pays through the nose.

<i>But Michael what if it were an only child and one not wealthy?</i>

It is still according to what the &quot;child&quot; can pay--the rest is covered by the state.

Reading this thread makes me want to scream at the morons here in the US that don't want government sponsored health care.

While I use the VA for most stuff, my private doctor charges me $100 just to say hi.

We pay the highest percentage cost of GDP (about 13%) in the world and the quality we receive is around 15th, below several &quot;3rd world countries&quot;.

Mom, I'm glad your daughter is safe, be thankful you weren't in the US, it would have cost you at least a $1,000 for the ER visit.

dave

Speaking of healthcare, in general,-I've found healthcare less expensive abroad for more than three decades.

I used to live in Copenhagen, annually, during the summer months ( usually 10-11 weeks) from the 70s to the 90s, mostly.
I remember, more than once, having to go to the emergency room, for asthma-lung-related illness. I never paid a dime for the emergency room. I also didn't pay a dime to go to the lung clinic and have x-rays done. Plus, the x-rays were read, on the spot, shortly after they had been taken.
I remember arriving to the emergency room, filling out a form, and then waiting 10 minutes before the doctor saw me. I had an exam and then was referred to a private doctor where I paid the equivalent of US$15.00 for the appointment since I wasn't covered under any Danish system.

A couple of years ago, I twisted my knee, very badly, here at home. Less than a week later, I was to leave for Bangkok, where I usually spend, 3 weeks, in Dec/Jan at the serviced apartment that I rent. I've been going there for a decade.

My mom came to pick me up, to drive me to LAX, and noticed that I was limping. She thought that I should cancel my trip and get to the doctor. I told her that I'd go to the hospital in Bangkok.

The #1 International hospital, in the world, Bumrungrad, is a 5-minute, US$2.00 , taxi ride from my apartment building. The CEO is American and is working on opening another hospital in the Philippines, I've been told.
Bumrungrad has been around for 20-plus years, I believe. The place looks like the UN with so many people, from around the world, flying there for treatment. There are other excellent hospitals in Bangkok,too.

When I arrived into Bangkok, Thai Air sent a hydrolic lift to get me out of the plane, as I couldn't walk down all of those stairs. The knee was a bit stiff after a 17.5-hour, non-stop flight from L.A.

While at the apartment, I called Bumrungrad and got an appointment.

I was set up with an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. No need to go to a GP, like at home, and then be referred.

About, twenty minutes after arriving to the hospital, by taxi, the nurse was taking my vitals. Then about 15 minutes later, the doctor was ready to see me which was 20-25 minutes before my scheduled appointment. I was finished with my entire appointment by the time that my scheduled appointment was to start.

I was told to go to the cashier. At the cashier station they also handle prescriptions...no need to limp to a pharmacy. I sat and waited for about 15 minutes. There was free bottled water and internet service in the waiting area. My number popped up and I went to the cashier to pay my bill with my Thai, bank-issued debit/check card. They issued my medication at that time and told me how much and how often to take it.

The total of the entire cost, medical exam, taking of the vitals, 2 medications, from New Zealand, was the equivalent of US$40.00. I didn't even file with my insurance company back here in the States.

So, within an hour after arriving, I had seen a doctor, had an extensive exam, paid, and gotten my medication. I then went to the delicious Italian restaurant, within the hospital complex, and ordered lunch and while I was waiting for it, took my first dose of medication.

After lunch, I took the free shuttle-service back to the skytrain station, about 3 minutes away, and got on the skytrain for the less than 5-minute ride back to my serviced apartment building. My apartment building is connected to the mall that's connected to the skytrain station. It couldn't have been easier.

There were lots of Americans that had flown to Bangkok, to Bumrungrad, for medical treatment. I had dinner with two of them. There's an interview, on Youtube, with a man from Louisiana, who flew there for a triple, heart bypass surgery. A few years back, 60-Minutes did an interview with him. Just type in &quot;Bumrungrad&quot; on Youtube, if you're interested.

Some years ago, I had gone into Bumrungrad, to have a patient ID card issued just in case I needed to use their services. It came in handy, because when I called to make the appointment, I just gave them my patient ID number over the phone.

But, one doesn't need to have a pre-issued one. I know someone who took very sick in another S.E. Asian country and was on her way to Bangkok, for that part of the vacation, so waited to get to Bumrungrad. She didn't have a pre-issued number, but her admission into the hospital was no problem. Happy Travels!

Gee, that sounds like the ER my wife went to in Clearwater, Florida.

She had something that was causing her knee to swell. We went to the ER. We only had to wait about 6 hours. When the ER doctor finally saw her, he NEVER PHYSICALLY touched her. He gazed at the knee and told her, not kidding here, to go home and take a couple of Aleve's. The bill was $1,200.

I told them to shove the bill where the sun doesn't shine and if they ever complained about it we would sue for malpractice.

dave

Just wanted to update - dd is feeling much better. She will be okay to fly home tomorrow. I am glad she is better - but sad that so much of her time in Paris was spent sick. Thankfully there were enough of us to trade off staying with her so I did get to go out still a bit. She joined us for dinner last night and tonight.

Tomorrow we fly home. Sigh. I am so sad... I have truly fallen in love with Paris. Dh and I joked that we would put the &quot;kids&quot; (11, 15, and 18) on the plane and stay for the weekend ourselves.

We have decided our next time across the pond will be just the two of us.

Thank you all again so very much.

Warmly,
Dawn

Please return soon.

Glad she's better! Happy Travels!

What excellent information! I'm really happy I came across this thread as I was not aware of the emergency number 15.

I needed medical care last June but thankfully I was able to resolve my problem with the help of a wonderful pharmacienne across the street from the Op&eacute;ra Garnier. Even though I speak French, it was nice that she spoke English so that I understood exactly what she advised me to do.