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pamantha
Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 15
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:46 pm Post subject: hey americans...! |
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do you have health insurance?
this is the most borring topic i know
BUT i'll be in spain and can't be without it.
where you got it, how it works...anything would be great. if americans usually work under the table my guess is it doesn't come with benefits like health ins.
i know EU citizens get free reciprocal healthcare thanks to an agreement with their respective gov'ts. but...sounds like USA-ers don't qualify.
thus, my quagmire. |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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I think you mean 'quandary' pamantha...
Do you really need insurance? When was the last time you used it? Sometimes I wonder if insurance is just a great big scam, but then I guess I also live within the safety net of socialised healthcare.
I read somewhere once, that if the average person put the amount of money they spend on insurance in the bank instead of paying health insurance, they would only spend tiny amounts on their actual healthcare and the rest on lovely things like holidays, movies and chocolate..
Just a thought...
Lozwich. |
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grahamb
Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:19 am Post subject: Let's have a dig at smokers! |
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And if they banked the money they spent on cigarettes...! |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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I hesitated to put in my two cent's worth here because I don't have any direct experience with Spain. But I have dealt with health coverage for a couple of other EU member countries as an American. And so far, Pamantha's not getting much direct info!
Yeah, if you NEED health insurance, then you NEED it!
And no, you aren't going to get it working illegally in Spain. The scary thing is that even if you've got some traveler's insurance (that pricey kind) or an extension on your US coverage, it may not cover you if it can be proven that you've overstayed your tourist visa, are in the country illegally, or are injured on an illegal job. I think in your case, I'd look into all legal options for work first - even if it meant changing my destination.
Have you looked into exchange programs for Spain? Or working for US coumpanies based there? I have no idea where/how to look for such options in Spain, but if you're working legally somehow, you can solve this health insurance issue. It might be worth some research time on your part.....
Good luck |
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pamantha
Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 15
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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hey spiral 78
thanks your post was very helpful. you make a lot of good points and i'm glad you put your two cents in! i was interested in spain b/c i speak spanish and will be spending the rest of this year already in south america. (eventually i'll move on after my spanish is where i want it)
i've already been accepted into the celta in sevilla, but maybe i should get my certificate and run. it is a big world afterall...
i totally agree with you too, lozwich the healthcare system is a bunk in many ways. but unfortunately i can't be without it.
ps a quagmire is a predicament; a difficult posistion |
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lozwich
Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 10:52 pm Post subject: D'oh! |
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pamantha wrote: |
i totally agree with you too, lozwich the healthcare system is a bunk in many ways. but unfortunately i can't be without it.
ps a quagmire is a predicament; a difficult posistion |
That's a dang shame pamantha. About your health I mean.
I honestly thought a quandary was a predicament, a difficult position. So I went to the trusty Cambridge Learner's Dictionary..
Quagmire: 1. A difficult and unpleasant situation. 2. An area of wet ground that you can sink into.
Quandary: A situation in which you are trying to make a difficult choice.
How anyone is supposed to learn this silly language is beyond me! |
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CharlesTESOL
Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Barcelona, Spain
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Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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You can get health insurance from private companies in Spain. I used to have one that ran me about 40 euros a month. The price you pay depends on factors like gender, age, health and whether you smoke or not. Each doctor visit I made using this insurance was hassle free and no cost. Lab work and medicine did cost, but that is so cheap in Spain compared to my home country that it I found it quite affordable. The company I used was FIATC www.fiatc.es but you might find an even better deal somewhere else. Check the online Yellow Pages at
http://www.paginas-amarillas.es/home.html under COMPA�IAS DE SEGUROS.
I kept my private policy for a few years but eventually dropped it because I found the public system satisfactory. |
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