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0 pointssquigz2y ago0 comments

Oops, you forgot the other 2 travel advisories the author quoted in that part:

- "Violent crime is more common in the US than in Australia"

- "Medical costs in the US are extremely high. You may need to pay up-front for medical assistance"

I think some Americans don't realize that, outside of America, many people don't ever consider the risk of gun violence in their day-to-day lives, or owing thousands of dollars for visiting a hospital.

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noirscape2y ago

That second one needs to be pointed out in particular - the US healthcare system is so expensive that if you have healthcare insurance as a foreigner, they're typically excluded from the international plan. You have to specifically go out of your way (and pay more) to make your local health insurance cover the US.

Quite a few people don't want to deal with that.

cjk22y ago

To be fair I've been to the US a few times and I've never been shot and I did end up in hospital and it was smooth as butter. Because I didn't hang around where I was likely to get shot and actually checked my insurance cover and had the cert on me.

Note I live in London and everyone tells me I'm going to get stabbed too and die from the pollution...

lambdaone2y ago

London's homicide rate is (roughly, depending on which source you use and year you take) about one-fifth of the average US homicide rate; you are safer in London than in almost anywhere in the US.

cjk22y ago

13 per million per year in London. 60 per million per year in New York.

That's an 0.006% chance of getting murdered killed in NY every year.

And that doesn't account for (a) putting yourself in a good position to get killed like being a gang member and (b) the aggregate reduction in risk by only travelling there.

rob742y ago

Actually, I specifically addressed the violent crime thing...

As for the medical costs - if you want to be on the safe side, you can (actually you should) get travel health insurance.

Semaphor2y ago

> As for the medical costs - if you want to be on the safe side, you can (actually you should) get travel health insurance.

Though you might need to get a US specific one. Mine contains a clause that specifically excludes the USA from coverage, and that’s not uncommon.

vbezhenar2y ago

I've heard horror stories about hospitals not accepting insurance. Wouldn't want to be in a situation of being ill and having to pay more than I can earn in a lifetime.

cjk22y ago

They will accept it. The cover has to be specifically for US hospitals otherwise the insurer won't pay out and they know that and won't accept it. You have to avoid insurers who only cover certain providers as well.

You have to read your insurance contract and info sheet properly rather than go for the lowest price.

hbossy2y ago

Every medical travel insurance I ever bought had a clause that it doesn't work in the US.

acheron2y ago

We don’t actually consider that in the US either, you probably shouldn’t get your views of the US from Reddit or the Guardian.

squigzOP2y ago

I know several Americans who consider both of those things.

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noirscape2y ago

Quite a few people don't want to deal with that.

cjk22y ago

Note I live in London and everyone tells me I'm going to get stabbed too and die from the pollution...

lambdaone2y ago

London's homicide rate is (roughly, depending on which source you use and year you take) about one-fifth of the average US homicide rate; you are safer in London than in almost anywhere in the US.

cjk22y ago

13 per million per year in London. 60 per million per year in New York.

That's an 0.006% chance of getting murdered killed in NY every year.

And that doesn't account for (a) putting yourself in a good position to get killed like being a gang member and (b) the aggregate reduction in risk by only travelling there.

rob742y ago

Actually, I specifically addressed the violent crime thing...

As for the medical costs - if you want to be on the safe side, you can (actually you should) get travel health insurance.

Semaphor2y ago

> As for the medical costs - if you want to be on the safe side, you can (actually you should) get travel health insurance.

Though you might need to get a US specific one. Mine contains a clause that specifically excludes the USA from coverage, and that’s not uncommon.

vbezhenar2y ago

I've heard horror stories about hospitals not accepting insurance. Wouldn't want to be in a situation of being ill and having to pay more than I can earn in a lifetime.

cjk22y ago

You have to read your insurance contract and info sheet properly rather than go for the lowest price.

hbossy2y ago

Every medical travel insurance I ever bought had a clause that it doesn't work in the US.

acheron2y ago

We don’t actually consider that in the US either, you probably shouldn’t get your views of the US from Reddit or the Guardian.

squigzOP2y ago

I know several Americans who consider both of those things.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse