How do you live as a student?

[sumstorm]

the international schools are more expensive in some respects (certainly compared to going IS, but not necessarily OOS), but at least you don't have to pay for health insurance! And you're not paying taxes there either, just mooching off of everyone else's!

Is that true for all international vet schools? I know while I was doing research as a fellow, I had to cover costs when my knee went out (of course, on Anzac Day.) Now, realisticly, if I had to pay for the same services in the US, I would have been in real trouble. At the time, it was just inconvenient and put a small dip in the wallet.

I know some countries don't grant medical care if you aren't a resident.

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[hopefulvet21]

I don't know about every single one, but in the UK you don't have to pay. I think the only thing you have to pay is a flat rate of 7 pounds for any prescription (hardly much). I'm pretty sure Dublin would be the same. In Australia you pay an annual fee of about 380 Australian dollars which (right now) is about $250 through OSHC (overseas student health care) and they cover everything. That still seems pretty cheap to me!

 

[WildlifeSaver]

Yea...and this is what rubs me the wrong way. Technically I can "afford" it, after all I am paying my premium every month, but we're only barely getting by at times. I really resent the idea that I should have to pay more for something I'm struggling to provide for myself. I might as well just cancel my policy and jump on the socialistic plan and let someone else pay for me too (which is what will happen for folks on the income line...and it also likely going to happen in the housing market the more folks the government bails out...but that's another story). I agree that in a perfect world everyone would have health insurance, but maybe we could address the system too. Afterall, why does medical care go up and up and up and up, further and further out of the reach of even some middle class folks? Why is the only solution increasing taxes and making others pay for someone else...and continuing to allow the spiral? I mean, that's a band-aid but it doesn't address the initial cost issue that got us there. Either way, there's a major overhaul that needs to happen both in the medical and insurance fields and it's not likely to happen. Just increasing taxes is easier and so I realize that's what will happen. But I don't have to like it.

The health system has issues and how to solve it is still a crisis. I hear you though.

 

[laurafinn]

You do pay health insurance for Massey (required), although its less than $300 a year. You pay New Zealand income tax too.

 

[Shanomong]

luxury: live in NYC

Ahhhhh, that's such a luxury. I miss it there so much

 

[Shanomong]

The thing is if you had MS or diabetes you would have one hell of a time obtaining health insurance.

Once something becomes a pre-existing condition you are screwed.

Exactly what I was going to say....

And I read through the rest of the posts. All I can say is that I believe the current administrations plan was to rework government spending so that "universal" (but still optional) healthcare could be obtained without raising taxes. Of course the reality of this very divided 2 party system is that nothing ever gets to go as planned... especially in these increasingly difficult economic times.... but I still have hope

 

[cwazy cat lady]

A friend of mine just told me he has no health insurance but he's sitting on a motorcycle that he's trying to sell.

I realize times are tough (I do know!!!), but in his case I would settle for less money on the bike and at least pay for some catastrophic coverage. For about $100 a month you can get a high deductible and it comes with annual visit and some prescription discounts, etc.. Not fabulous, but prevents you from being totally ruined if you are unlucky...

An old friend of mine was off her parents' plan shortly after graduating from college. During the few months that she had no insurance, she walked outside her house one cold morning, slipped and fell and shattered the bones in her wrist and hand so badly she had to have multiple surgeries and physical therapy. Her hand is not quite the same, which sucks... but even worse was that she spent years paying down the bills.

 

[IvyLynx]

I'm sorry you had to go thru all that sunstorm. I see what you mean now. I wasn't approaching it that way. I particularly agree with:

I just disagree that the inability to obtain/afford something makes it less of a necessity.

 

[sumstorm]

I'm sorry you had to go thru all that sunstorm. I see what you mean now. I wasn't approaching it that way. I particularly agree with:

IvyLynx, I really do believe life is an adventure that is meant to be lived to the fullest. I don't mean recklessly, just embracing whatever is the current situation, looking to where one wants to be, then moving there with every fiber of ones being. I don't know if I would really appreciate the great things in my life if I didn't know exactly how hard it could be. I do have a great life...and the thing about tragedies and disasters is that when one gets enough time past them, generally one can look back on them and find at least a few amusing stories to share.... and find that the experience has added a new dimension to who I am. Now, hopefully the next chapter will include complaints about long hours of studying rather than lack of food or shelter!

 

[chyactnate]

Alright I shall join... I am an undergrad..I use to live with my parents until they moved to South Carolina (I am in Mass) but now I live with my "other" family. I meet them at a barn 10 years ago and are like a second family.

luxuries: NOT living in a dorm (i hated dorm life), live in my 2nd family's house but I have my own room with bathroom, and living room, my horse in my backyard (for years I had to drive at least 20 min to see them), great cell phone(unlimited internet and texting) , 2 cars paid off (van and a chevelle) 5 min. drive to school, comfy bed, contacts(yes, they get to be expensive), health insurance (have to I am in Mass), ipod, laptop, internet, laundry, flying everyother month to SC, NO annoying roommates...good food, split tuition and books with parents, game systems, dvd player and 100's of dvds, I LOVE movies!!!

non-luxuries: not living with my family and dog and my 2 other horses, nice clothes, no job right now, winter in new england sucks...but I love everything else... parking at school,

 

[sumstorm]

That reminded me of a major luxury Ihave. My eyes were lasered. No more glasses or contacts!!!

 

[nyanko]

That reminded me of a major luxury Ihave. My eyes were lasered. No more glasses or contacts!!!

I wish I could have laser vision correction surgery so badly. I have an eye condition that prevents it (keratoconus).

 

[HopefulAg]

Ditto on the Lasik bit. I went and got a free exam done to see what my chances are and I'm too far sighted. They said they might be able to fix it all but likely they'd only be able to fix 90% of it. I'd still need glasses/contacts.

 

[nyanko]

Yeah, because keratoconus is thinning of the cornea, they won't even attempt it with mine since it's manipulation of said cornea. Also to be able to see at all I have to wear rigid contact lenses which are just about the least comfortable things on the face of the Earth. The best that my vision can now be corrected with glasses is 20/70. The RGP contacts allow me to see 20/20 though.

Vision insurance isn't much of a luxury for me, I guess. Those RGP suckers are expensive~!

 

[dyachei]

I wish I could have laser vision correction surgery so badly. I have an eye condition that prevents it (keratoconus).

That condition runs in my family. They are finally starting to come out with newer treatments for it. I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with it, but hopefully the more experimental procedures will become more mainstream soon.

 

[sumstorm]

You really do need to bein your mid to late 20's for the corrections, though. Vision changes are still happening.

However, every day I am grateful to be able to see without the hassle of glasses or contacts. I have so many 'isn't that amazing?' experiences, or moments like getting the call that a friend is stranded on the road and I don't have to take the extra time to switch from glasses to contacts, etc. I tend to work very physically demanding jobs (going out to see for NOAA is virtually continuous physical demand in very dirty conditions) and the risk of losing contacts/glasses....or not getting in an immersion suit when needed were very real. I was, I sincerly believe, fiddling with death by not being able to see adequatly while onboard. I also had mine done near the time of all those horrendous infections that were blinding people due to saline contamination. Worth every cent. If you do have it done, be sure to get a really good doctor. Don't scrimp, the eye is such a vulnerable area.

 

[HopefulAg]

However, every day I am grateful to be able to see without the hassle of glasses or contacts.

One of my 'dreams' in life is to wake up one day and not have to put on glasses nor stumble to the bathroom to put in contacts. I'm jealous. Look, green with envy --->

 

[nyanko]

You really do need to bein your mid to late 20's for the corrections, though. Vision changes are still happening.

My best friend got hers done like 3 years ago, I think. (at 25 or so...) Her eyes weren't that awful to begin with, though.

I look forward to when I need a corneal transplant myself....