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I broke my knee this spring but didn't go to a hospital on my families request because the last time I broke a bone I reset it myself and the hospital still cha

by zanny 13y ago

I broke my knee this spring but didn't go to a hospital on my families request because the last time I broke a bone I reset it myself and the hospital still charged $8k. I still have blood in the joint, but I can't get it drained because no doctor will stick a needle in without an x-ray, but those are expensive. So I'm waiting till I move out and get a full time position in a bigger city to get health care to have it fixed. Probably going to have arthritis at 40....

ars 13y ago
I don't know where you live, but here there is urgent care that will do everything regarding a single injury for a flat fee of $150, including x-rays and follow ups up to one week. Look for something like that where you live. They treat uncomplicated broken bones too for the same flat fee.
lostlogin 13y ago
If there is anyway you can get in to see someone with a pre-arranged plan of payment please do. A debt that takes some years to pay off is just that. But a messed up joint may be causing permanent damage (as you well know judging by your comment). I'd be saying that you need an MRI too btw. It may be worth ringing around and seeing what you can get it for. If you ask to speak to the practice manager you might get lucky. Source: I'm a radiographer, our practice manager would check with the managing director would would almost certainly cut you a break - he is a soft touch. I'm not in the US I'm sorry to say.
sentenza 13y ago
If you know that arthritis is coming, adjust now and move to Germany (or another similar place). Waiting times for specialists might be a little longer, but you (=everybody) will be treated for treatable diseases and injuries. What you have to do, of course, is to move here legally (work visum?).
- malandrew 13y ago
  How easy is it to move to Germany as an experienced software developer and get a job there? I know Berlin has a large startup community, but is it large enough to absorb as many software developers that show up there like it is in Silicon Valley? Do you already have to know German or can you get by with learning the language after making the move?
  - sentenza 13y ago
    Although Berlin has more of a reputation, I'd recommend to also consider other places within Germany. Berlin, while having a lot of startups, is not the center of the "real" software industry. I recommend taking a serious look at companies in the Rhein-Main-Neckar region. This region has a cluster of big software firms, such as SAP, SoftwareAG and the companies working on software for the financial industry (Frankfurt), as well as Technical Universities (these are the ones that produce CS graduates). Be warned, however, that you won't find anything comparable to SV in Germany. And I have to admit that there is also a problem regarding startups: The largest cluster of startups is in Berlin, but most of the money in the software biz is in West Germany. Btw, please don't get scammed by the Samwers. Experience is definitely a plus, but probably more with the more "traditional" software companies than with the startups. Many German startups live off fresh degrees and high hopes (in the sense that they are founded by people out of the University), with all the positive and negative side-effects that this brings. With regards to language, I'd say English and a willingness to learn German should suffice. Most of the software people already know enough English to work with them, and some corporations that operate internationally even mandate some degree of English usage. A few more rules of thumb: If the company is big or works in an innovative field, English should be all you need. If, on the other hand, it is located in a rural place or in East Germany, there might be problems. These are of course generalizations. In any case, learning German will be helpful, even if it is only to facilitate the interactions with your surroundings outside work.

by zanny 13y ago

ars 13y ago

I don't know where you live, but here there is urgent care that will do everything regarding a single injury for a flat fee of $150, including x-rays and follow ups up to one week. Look for something like that where you live. They treat uncomplicated broken bones too for the same flat fee.

lostlogin 13y ago

If there is anyway you can get in to see someone with a pre-arranged plan of payment please do. A debt that takes some years to pay off is just that. But a messed up joint may be causing permanent damage (as you well know judging by your comment). I'd be saying that you need an MRI too btw. It may be worth ringing around and seeing what you can get it for. If you ask to speak to the practice manager you might get lucky. Source: I'm a radiographer, our practice manager would check with the managing director would would almost certainly cut you a break - he is a soft touch. I'm not in the US I'm sorry to say.

sentenza 13y ago

If you know that arthritis is coming, adjust now and move to Germany (or another similar place). Waiting times for specialists might be a little longer, but you (=everybody) will be treated for treatable diseases and injuries. What you have to do, of course, is to move here legally (work visum?).

malandrew 13y ago
How easy is it to move to Germany as an experienced software developer and get a job there? I know Berlin has a large startup community, but is it large enough to absorb as many software developers that show up there like it is in Silicon Valley? Do you already have to know German or can you get by with learning the language after making the move?
- sentenza 13y ago
  Although Berlin has more of a reputation, I'd recommend to also consider other places within Germany. Berlin, while having a lot of startups, is not the center of the "real" software industry. I recommend taking a serious look at companies in the Rhein-Main-Neckar region. This region has a cluster of big software firms, such as SAP, SoftwareAG and the companies working on software for the financial industry (Frankfurt), as well as Technical Universities (these are the ones that produce CS graduates). Be warned, however, that you won't find anything comparable to SV in Germany. And I have to admit that there is also a problem regarding startups: The largest cluster of startups is in Berlin, but most of the money in the software biz is in West Germany. Btw, please don't get scammed by the Samwers. Experience is definitely a plus, but probably more with the more "traditional" software companies than with the startups. Many German startups live off fresh degrees and high hopes (in the sense that they are founded by people out of the University), with all the positive and negative side-effects that this brings. With regards to language, I'd say English and a willingness to learn German should suffice. Most of the software people already know enough English to work with them, and some corporations that operate internationally even mandate some degree of English usage. A few more rules of thumb: If the company is big or works in an innovative field, English should be all you need. If, on the other hand, it is located in a rural place or in East Germany, there might be problems. These are of course generalizations. In any case, learning German will be helpful, even if it is only to facilitate the interactions with your surroundings outside work.