Advice for moving to SD (home, unemployment, buy)

[someguy10]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Good point.

And, at least for now, all U.S. citizens living in the U.S. are required to purchase health insurance or you face a tax/fine when you file your Federal taxes. Most employers subsidize part of the cost of health insurance, but when you're self-employed (i.e., working as a contractor), you have to pay the full cost out of your own pocket.

Here is a site where you can get an estimate on what you might have to pay for health insurance if you aren't working for an employer who offers a plan:

Health Care Marketplace - Official Site| Covered California?

Definitely check out that link. The whole system is a lot more complicated (and expensive) than many other countries. Here is a sample for me and my significant other as both self-employed: roughly $550/mo premium for the two of us. It is paid every month no matter what. If we get sick or need treatments/tests (think x-ray, MRI, surgery, etc.) we pay roughly the first $12,000/year of that.

So in a year when we need nothing medically, we pay around $7,000/year. If things go wrong, we have to be prepared to pay up to $20K/year. In a worst-case scenario with serious chronic illness, we could have to pay $20K/year for the rest of our lives, or at least until age 65 when Medicare kicks in.

In my opinion, for someone coming from, say, France or other similar European countries, the biggest financial/life consideration shock won't be San Diego's high cost of housing (although the cost is high) -- it's medical care and the overall cost, the unpredictable expense swings possible, and the complexity. I don't think OP you said where you're coming from, so obviously I'm making some guesses.

[DRBXGOLD]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Just be sure you understand the tax implications of contract work in the U.S. You'll be paying both California State income taxes AND U.S. Federal Income taxes with any work you do here. But, as a contractor you will also have to pay social security taxes...........

WOW thanks for all of that info! That's brilliant, I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to provide me with that!

[DRBXGOLD]

I'm moving from the UK

[DRBXGOLD]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

Were you born abroad to US born parents? May I ask where you are coming from?

I was born & raised in the UK to one American & one British parent - I have dual citizenship (full US passport)

[DRBXGOLD]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Good point.

And, at least for now, all U.S. citizens living in the U.S. are required to purchase health insurance or you face a tax/fine when you file your Federal taxes. Most employers subsidize part of the cost of health insurance, but when you're self-employed (i.e., working as a contractor), you have to pay the full cost out of your own pocket.

Here is a site where you can get an estimate on what you might have to pay for health insurance if you aren't working for an employer who offers a plan:

Health Care Marketplace - Official Site| Covered California?

That's insane... being forced to buy insurance or be fined... the last time I saw a doctor was 8 years ago...

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by DRBXGOLD

That's insane... being forced to buy insurance or be fined... the last time I saw a doctor was 8 years ago...

President Trump and Congress are trying to get several parts of the current plan changed or eliminated and the fine is one of them. The obligation to buy or be fined was a way to raise money to pay for the plan that extended coverage to many.

[DRBXGOLD]

Originally Posted by expatCA

President Trump and Congress are trying to get several parts of the current plan changed or eliminated and the fine is one of them. The obligation to buy or be fined was a way to raise money to pay for the plan that extended coverage to many.

Coming from socialist Europe, it would be better just to raise taxes and get everyone covered than criminalise people for not paying for someone else's healthcare while about 30 million still don't have coverage. At least when I pay into the NHS here I'm also covering myself.

[mauialoha]

Coming from socialist Europe, it would be better just to raise taxes and get everyone covered than criminalise people for not paying for someone else's healthcare while about 30 million still don't have coverage.

`
While I agree we should have a system that is more like the UKs, I think you miss the finer points of our "complicated" system. A person is fined for not paying for his own health care not someone else's. Everyone who buys insurance is paying into a system that spreads the risk. This persons premium may indeed go towards someone else's care, or if he gets real sick, other people's will go towards him.

And I wouldn't call it criminalized either - that sounds like something the republicans say. You are assessed a fine on your tax return. Ironically, it was the Republicans who thought up the individual mandate idea as a way of fighting off a UK style system back in president Clinton's day. They succeeded in defeating health care reform in toto back then and now say the mandate is a bad idea!

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by DRBXGOLD

That's insane... being forced to buy insurance or be fined... the last time I saw a doctor was 8 years ago...

But you (or your parents on your behalf) have been paying taxes, part of which go to fund UK health care, all along. So in effect you already have been "forced" to buy insurance, without even the option to pay the fine instead.

(And I agree that the US would do better to just go to socialized health care instead of inching in its direction with various ThisCare and ThatCare schemes.)

[DRBXGOLD]

Originally Posted by mauialoha

`
While I agree we should have a system that is more like the UKs, I think you miss the finer points of our "complicated" system. A person is fined for not paying for his own health care not someone else's. Everyone who buys insurance is paying into a system that spreads the risk. This persons premium may indeed go towards someone else's care, or if he gets real sick, other people's will go towards him.

And I wouldn't call it criminalized either - that sounds like something the republicans say. You are assessed a fine on your tax return. Ironically, it was the Republicans who thought up the individual mandate idea as a way of fighting off a UK style system back in president Clinton's day. They succeeded in defeating health care reform in toto back then and now say the mandate is a bad idea!

The idea that the government can force me to spend my own money on something I don't want is equally as ridiculous, but the reason they're making people buy healthcare is to lower premiums for other people, so you are essentially subsidising someone else's healthcare.

BTW, our healthcare system is a MESS for various reasons and is nothing to copy. We're losing doctors to the US and other countries and the ones we do have are working insane hours under pressure.