Recomendation: Come check out Vienna Austria first.
I am a "U.S. Citizen", "born in the USA", whose parents were also "born in the USA". I moved my family to Vienna, Austria 8 years ago. I have for 4 years, owned and operated my own business, a GmbH here.
Vienna. The #1 city in the world 2 years in a row.
First U.S. City, HONOLULU is at #31 with San Francisco at #32.
Insurance: US versus Austria
Three years ago, my daughter, at the age of 14, was diagnosed with morbid Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, a life threatening condition. She spent 4 weeks in a hospital, with the total out of pocket cost of 280 euro for her meals. 100 % of the hospital costs and medical procedures was covered by insurance which costs my family 2400 euros per year.
In the U.S., in 2003, we paid $15,000 per year for insurance, with a $5500 per person deductible. My wife had her Gaul Bladder removed, and it cost us $11,000 deductible + all of the customary procedures which the insurance companies routinely refuse to pay until you take them to court.
My daughters hospital stay, and continuing medical treatments in the U.S. would certainly have led to a filing for bankruptcy (70 percent of all bankruptcy filings are due to medical bills). Instead, the annual costs of treatments in Austria is 240 euros per year, continuing hospital visits, and Methotrexate Injections.
FYI: Higher education is 100% taxpayer funded in Austria.
As long as a large majority of the U.S. voting public continue to believe that taxes are "theft" rather than paying their "fair share" of the "high financial costs of personal freedom and safety", and continue to refuse to admit that affordable healthcare is a basic human right, staying in Europe is a much better option in my opinion.
My wife and I found the health care in Austria to be excellent too.
Here in Italy, it's good, but a bit 'drab' - the doctors know what they're doing, but sometimes the settings are not so nice, if that makes sense. Whereas in the US, you might get a room to yourself, or with one other person, you might have to share with more people here, and perhaps have fewer amenities.
However, like others have said, there's a huge peace of mind factor. I don't have to worry about insurance at all here. Job, no job, whatever, you get health care, end of story.
It's one thing that makes me quite nervous about going back to the US.
I fully expect the Republicans to come into the majority in the November elections, and for McCain and Mitch McConnell to keep their shrill promise to gut the Obama healthcare law of its protections. And oh yes, I am a conservative republican.
I am a "U.S. Citizen", "born in the USA", whose parents were also "born in the USA". I moved my family to Vienna, Austria 8 years ago. I have for 4 years, owned and operated my own business, a GmbH here.
Vienna. The #1 city in the world 2 years in a row.
http://www.mercer.com/qualityoflivingpr#City_Ranking_Tables
First U.S. City, HONOLULU is at #31 with San Francisco at #32.
Insurance: US versus Austria
Three years ago, my daughter, at the age of 14, was diagnosed with morbid Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, a life threatening condition. She spent 4 weeks in a hospital, with the total out of pocket cost of 280 euro for her meals. 100 % of the hospital costs and medical procedures was covered by insurance which costs my family 2400 euros per year.
In the U.S., in 2003, we paid $15,000 per year for insurance, with a $5500 per person deductible. My wife had her Gaul Bladder removed, and it cost us $11,000 deductible + all of the customary procedures which the insurance companies routinely refuse to pay until you take them to court.
My daughters hospital stay, and continuing medical treatments in the U.S. would certainly have led to a filing for bankruptcy (70 percent of all bankruptcy filings are due to medical bills). Instead, the annual costs of treatments in Austria is 240 euros per year, continuing hospital visits, and Methotrexate Injections.
FYI: Higher education is 100% taxpayer funded in Austria.
As long as a large majority of the U.S. voting public continue to believe that taxes are "theft" rather than paying their "fair share" of the "high financial costs of personal freedom and safety", and continue to refuse to admit that affordable healthcare is a basic human right, staying in Europe is a much better option in my opinion.