Yet more "Medical Research" coming up!

Ouch. Would it have made any difference if you had a private health policy as they didn’t seem too expensive but have heard they find a lot of excuses to not pay up.

Ugh. Sorry you have more hospital time ahead, after all your household has been through in recent years.

We're planning to keep as much money as we can tucked away in a "medical expenses only" fund. But it seems it's very possible to go through funds very fast.

@jeanmandredeix

I imagine that it wouldn't be covered even if I could get health insurance at my ripe old age. My knackered knees were caused by the cavalier treatment they received during many years of competitive fencing, with a bit of rugby thrown in for good measure. I had my first knee operation when I was barely 30, and four others in the ensuing years - I guess the coming ones would well and truly qualify as "existing condition"... 😁

Better to wear your bits out than have them rust away unused!

Better to wear your bits out than have them rust away unused! - @janemulberry

That's not what my housemaster used to tell me.....😎

You may he thinking of different "bits" to those I was! 😂

@JimJ

In fairness, 2.5k euros for a PRIVATE total knee replacement is actually a great deal! It's more like £14k in the UK. And there are very few countries that routinely accept an S1 for a private hospital op with partial (majority) public reimbursement. (Are there any, apart from Bulgaria? They'd certainly laugh in your face if you asked for this in Spain or Cyprus.) Complaining about this option seems very much a glass-half-empty perspective, don't you think?

If you want cheaper, then you take the free-ish public option... when they decide to fit you in. Yer pays yer money and you takes yer choice.

I view my contributions to NHIF (a mere 20 euros per month voluntary contribution for full cover) as a massive bargain. And the option to get an op at a good private hospital, whenever I want/need it, at a ludicrously small "private surcharge" is one of the big benefits of living in Bulgaria, especially for older folks. Indeed, it's one of the reasons I spend most of time in Bulgaria, rather than Cyprus or Spain where I also have my Article 50 permits.