HI everyone,
A friend of my oldest daughter, whom is like a daughter to me since she lived with me in her teens, asked me about my decission to move back to USA. She was waiting for a definate YES !
Suzi was wondering why I was so confused about staying in Egypt.
I told her I wasn't confused I was scared to walk a differnt path, since I know what I have to face again from 2004.
I am not fearful of to many things, my God, if I was I would never at the age of 52 give up my business and my apt. and fly off into the unknown now, would I ?
I explained to her that in USA I don't have medical coverage of any kind. I do have medical problems that flare up from time and time and requires me to have medications and in USA they are very expensive.
ONE prescription was $110.00 alone. I couldn't buy it, the pharmacy had to recall the Dr and ask for a generic or lower priced drug. That too was to much since I wasn't working it was $18.00 but better than $110.00 NOt to mention the cost of going to the DR just to get the paper to get the medications.
Now here in Cairo, Egypt the same medication that was $110.00 in USA is only $4.00.. WHY IS THIS???? It's made by the same drug company.
Most of the drug companies that are located in USA are also located here. Plus Egypt has their own government run medical company.
You don't have to go to a doctor and spend $50.00 for a piece of paper stating what meds to take, you just go to the pharmacy and buy it. Right over the counter no script needed.
This is my fear and was part of my decission when I moved here the medical is more available for those who are poor, in Cairo that is not in USA
When I returned to USA last year in April of 2004, I was there for my divoce which I had to do myself and pay for it as well.
I rec'd medicaid for a short time. I worked all my life and paid taxes so I am not against getting help from the government. However, as soon as I found work they threw me off.
The stated I made to much money ! TOO MUCH MONEY???? HOw is that?
I worked 2 jobs 7 days a week, paid rent and food and gas for a car, I had to buy clothes since it's been years I had new clothes. I was also trying to save for my own apartment.
They considered my gross income of $300.00 a week to be TO MUCH MONEY . They didn't consider the NET that I took home around $250.00.
Where I live in Connecticut there isn't any local transportation so a car is a must and also working close to home is a must if you can find the job.
Just to cut it short. This is my fear and what keeps me flying back and forth.
Without good health you have no life. The US government wants the Americans to be productive however, they take away the life line that allows US to be productive.
Just asking WHY ?????
Eve
Eve,
What you discussed is so true for way too many Americans! We have jobs, sometimes two jobs, and we struggle and strive, and still, with a full time job, odd jobs on the side, I cannot afford to go to the doctor. Here is the sad part. I HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE. My job provides medical insurance, but it is not enough. One office visit to my regular doctor costs $90. For what? For her to tell me to keep doing what I’m doing? I pay $35 instead of $90, but if my insurance runs out because I have changed jobs or I can’t work for some reason, then I am stuck having to pay $90… plus lab fees and medications.
That is why, at 48 years old, I decided to get a college degree. Otherwise, I face a very uncertain future. Retirement? That is a joke! At this rate, I will never be able to retire from working.
At 51, I should be have FUN and not working like a 20 year old.
There MUST be reform in this country. Something has got to happen.
When one medication I take costs $179 a month, before insurance (I only pay $60) and I read that the drug company that makes the medication made 16 BILLION in PROFITS last year, alone, I wonder why the charge so much. I know they have a responsibility to their stake holders, but this is over the top. This is just one more reason why medical costs are so high in this country.
This is a MAJOR irritation for me and there doesn’t seem to be anything one person can do. Even a large group of people doesn’t seem to have much say-so.
I could go on for days! But, instead, I will concentrate on getting my degree so I can make enough money to… whatever.
K4
HI Kay,
Just think you have options, you have insurance no matter how little it covers. I and millions have NONE.
I feel it’s going to be up the the JOE SMOE of the US to insist that their senators STOP THE MADNESS.
Why do I have to live in another country to get medical help.
Another case in point. I had a Gangelon cyst on my wrist and it would have been thousands of dollars to have it surgically removed.
I came to Egypt and met this wonderful Egyptian DR on ICQ and after we chatted a while and I felt very comfortable with him he referred me to his associate and his friend whom did the surgery for FREE and all I had to pay was for the use of the clinic which was around $20.00.
Even the Anethesist contributed his time and drugs to put me out for me not to pay for it. This is the true spirit of Islam to help those who can’t help themselves. This is the first time someone in this country didn’t look at me as “THE RICH AMERICAN”
It’s sick that an American has to leave her country for MEDICAL CARE !
And they are wondering why so many are paying for huge buses to go to Canada to by meds??? Now MEXICO???
Someone in the Senate has to get real about this problem and stop allowing the rich to become richer at the poors expense.
Eve
HI Ep,
No the government here in Egypt does not control anything other than money.
They care nothing about the humans that go without also and the rich here get richer as they do in USA.
The government here does have a medical facility that makes and distributes medicines lower than what you would by from Pfizer.
I just purchased some womens gyn cream we all know how much that costs in USA. over $6.00 and here I paid 10.LE which is = to $1.50 and it’s made by Pfizer. I know here the incomes are very low less than $150.00 a month. A friend of mine is a civil eng and he was making less than $200.00 a month .
I also know the pay scale in USA is high in these companies, where as here they are very low so the meds would be low also. This is one problem also ……..OUT SOURCEING…..
I worked here in Egypt for a telemarketing company that got contracts from US and Canada . They told the workers to make up American names like TONY, JOHN ETc.
They and I would call Canada and sell Cell phone time what they were paying us to do this is pennies compared to what they would have to pay Canadians and Americans. The mother company is located in New York City. Then they tell people when it’s pay day they didn’t rec’d the funds from NYC so they have to wait.
More interest on their dollars.
I can go on but I am sure I am boring you 🙁
Eve
PS
I also wish you much success in your endeavors with your degree and seeking for the job within your degree that will assist you in your life .
God bless you
The health care is supposed to be made up of the best and the brightest physicians of the world, yet only a small percentage can actually use the best due to the high cost of even something as simple as a BANDAID!
It totally enrages me when I can not afford to do something simple like having regular checkups at the dentist or the doctor without going into dept. And God forbid if something major where to go wrong. I don’t know….seems like we need some major change and I have not heard of a good idea yet.
Eve and Kay,
I completely agree with you about the healthcare. It’s sad when instead of “for people,” it becomes “for profit.” Maybe it should be government-controlled like in some countries in Europe so that everyone would have the same access and services would be given on the basis on need rather than insurance plan. Of course, the drawback is higher taxes. Just a thought… Is the healthcare government-controlled in Egypt?
For years some people in the USA Senator Kennedy from MASS has been trying to get the approval of the ” UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE” something like Canada has.
I also know in Mass, they have a good health care package for those without. I lived in NYS and I was helped by Mass since they had a contract with NYS to help NYS people .
I also know that Mass has good education for seniors who want to extend their minds and keep them active so their minds don’t go stale and maybe assist them in a part time job.
I went to Connecticut Social Service dept last year and asked if I could be enrolled in some courses to help me obtain more experience in new programs on the PC. The reply was NO you don’t have children. They only help those with dependants.
There was a time I did have children and they told me due to me having children it would cost to much for them to school me since they would have to pay for the day care, It’s called “RING AROUND THE ROSEY”
Soon most of the current population will be closeing in on the age of Social Security, now Bush wants to extend the age of retirement to 70. They have been playing with the SS money for so long they are faced now with a huge problem. how to pay all those baby boomers ………..this is why 70 is their option not ours.
It’s sad that at my age 57.5 I have no future , yes most of it is from my decissions however, I owned my own company for over 10 years and I still couldn’t afford medical insurace for me.
Eve