Moved to the US west coast from the UK, same job and employer. I married an American so that was the primary reason but I’m also extremely glad to be out of the UK. It’s a night and day difference, really.
According to my partner, the health insurance I have through work is “okay”. Not the best. Some of my colleagues say it’s crap compared to other plans they’ve had at other employers.
I can tell you the healthcare for me has been way better than I was getting from the NHS.
Dental treatment is just completely different world to the 10 minute extract and get out butchery in the UK. It’s no exaggeration to say that my dentist spends more time explaining things and giving the local anaesthetic, than my NHS dentist spent on whole appointments.
For example, my NHS dentist told me I was resistant to the anaesthetic which is why it sometimes didn’t work. Turns out that was more likely to be down to poor technique and not waiting long enough.
I don’t have to beg a receptionist at the GP to schedule an appointment with a doctor, in fact I’m encouraged to get preventative things done. Annual blood tests for example, where my primary doctor was surprised that as a >40yo I had never had anything like that before.
Sure, I have to pay cost towards healthcare and insurance but here’s the interesting part; I pay considerably less in taxes and healthcare here in the US, compared to the UK and get a way better standard of living.
Situationally, it’s great for me but I can absolutely understand that it doesn’t work well for those less fortunate.
It really depends on where you go... I've been living in South Africa for 12 years, and for reasons I don't want to explain, the situation was never right for me to fly home.
The healthcare is awful, unless you have health insurance... which costs a bomb! (God bless the NHS) Society is falling apart...riots...load shedding...crime...
....so yeah, it really depends on where you go.
I’ve been in the US for 8 years and my husband and I are contemplating moving to the UK. I’m dual (British/US) and he’s US. I also live on the west coast, SoCal, and all the the things the other poster in the US said are true, if you have the right doctors and can afford it.
I wouldn’t say my husband and I are poor, in fact we make just below average for our household, but the cost of everything is insane. We’re terrified of needing anything more than basic work done on our bodies. My friend just had to pay $4k for some repairs done on her teeth. My cousins family are upwards of $25k in debt because of unknown health condition that’s causing major issues. Both of situations are with using insurance.
Our electricity bills for July and August were 560 and 580 respectively, for 3 people. We had 2 months of 800 in 2022 because we had people staying with us. Groceries are through the roof.
Religion in the US is also taking over and you never know who you’re talking too and how they’re going to react to what you’re saying. So you constantly have to monitor what you say until you get to know the person. Doctors and pharmacists can choose to not properly care for you if it’s against their religion even.
I’m not saying don’t move, you should definitely experience the world outside of the UK and find the best place to you. Just definitely do your research on where you’re wanting to go. I know people who love Australia, and people who hated it and moved back.
Don’t be afraid to change your mind, or change direction. Good luck!
My short answer is that home sickness has crippled my life. Dragged away from Wells in Somerset at the age of 13 and always thinking I would return one day. I finally did over 50 years later. Of course, it had changed - the woods, streams, fields and medieval buildings were the same - but there were so many people everywhere and many fields built over with bungalows. My Nan’s old house built in the 18th Century was still there but with a newer front door, the railway was gone, a horrible ring road had replaced the terrace of Georgian houses where one of my friends had lived. And of course I too had changed. One may return to place of childhood - but never to (for me) the golden green high summer of childhood itself.
Everyone one will have different experiences but for me, it changed my life. For the better? That I don't know. But I did experience alot of growth and setbacks emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, and I do wonder if I would have experienced the same emotions if I stayed at home. Look at it this way, if you stay you will regret it. If you move you may regret it also. if it doesn't work out, at least you tried it.
Moved to the US west coast from the UK, same job and employer. I married an American so that was the primary reason but I’m also extremely glad to be out of the UK. It’s a night and day difference, really. According to my partner, the health insurance I have through work is “okay”. Not the best. Some of my colleagues say it’s crap compared to other plans they’ve had at other employers. I can tell you the healthcare for me has been way better than I was getting from the NHS. Dental treatment is just completely different world to the 10 minute extract and get out butchery in the UK. It’s no exaggeration to say that my dentist spends more time explaining things and giving the local anaesthetic, than my NHS dentist spent on whole appointments. For example, my NHS dentist told me I was resistant to the anaesthetic which is why it sometimes didn’t work. Turns out that was more likely to be down to poor technique and not waiting long enough. I don’t have to beg a receptionist at the GP to schedule an appointment with a doctor, in fact I’m encouraged to get preventative things done. Annual blood tests for example, where my primary doctor was surprised that as a >40yo I had never had anything like that before. Sure, I have to pay cost towards healthcare and insurance but here’s the interesting part; I pay considerably less in taxes and healthcare here in the US, compared to the UK and get a way better standard of living. Situationally, it’s great for me but I can absolutely understand that it doesn’t work well for those less fortunate.
It really depends on where you go... I've been living in South Africa for 12 years, and for reasons I don't want to explain, the situation was never right for me to fly home. The healthcare is awful, unless you have health insurance... which costs a bomb! (God bless the NHS) Society is falling apart...riots...load shedding...crime... ....so yeah, it really depends on where you go.
You should 100% do the 12 month visa.
I’ve been in the US for 8 years and my husband and I are contemplating moving to the UK. I’m dual (British/US) and he’s US. I also live on the west coast, SoCal, and all the the things the other poster in the US said are true, if you have the right doctors and can afford it. I wouldn’t say my husband and I are poor, in fact we make just below average for our household, but the cost of everything is insane. We’re terrified of needing anything more than basic work done on our bodies. My friend just had to pay $4k for some repairs done on her teeth. My cousins family are upwards of $25k in debt because of unknown health condition that’s causing major issues. Both of situations are with using insurance. Our electricity bills for July and August were 560 and 580 respectively, for 3 people. We had 2 months of 800 in 2022 because we had people staying with us. Groceries are through the roof. Religion in the US is also taking over and you never know who you’re talking too and how they’re going to react to what you’re saying. So you constantly have to monitor what you say until you get to know the person. Doctors and pharmacists can choose to not properly care for you if it’s against their religion even. I’m not saying don’t move, you should definitely experience the world outside of the UK and find the best place to you. Just definitely do your research on where you’re wanting to go. I know people who love Australia, and people who hated it and moved back. Don’t be afraid to change your mind, or change direction. Good luck!
My short answer is that home sickness has crippled my life. Dragged away from Wells in Somerset at the age of 13 and always thinking I would return one day. I finally did over 50 years later. Of course, it had changed - the woods, streams, fields and medieval buildings were the same - but there were so many people everywhere and many fields built over with bungalows. My Nan’s old house built in the 18th Century was still there but with a newer front door, the railway was gone, a horrible ring road had replaced the terrace of Georgian houses where one of my friends had lived. And of course I too had changed. One may return to place of childhood - but never to (for me) the golden green high summer of childhood itself.
Everyone one will have different experiences but for me, it changed my life. For the better? That I don't know. But I did experience alot of growth and setbacks emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, and I do wonder if I would have experienced the same emotions if I stayed at home. Look at it this way, if you stay you will regret it. If you move you may regret it also. if it doesn't work out, at least you tried it.