Yet another helpful and informative video. Yes, I saw the doctor on the Tuesday at the hospital in VT and had the surgery on the Thursday. None of that waiting about doe months that you get in the UK. I am going to be applying for my S1 next month. The chicken soup looks absolutely yummy!
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime They keep your notes in the computer system but they just print a copy for you too. I didn't know in UK they don't give you the notes. How you keep track of your health?
Hello! They won’t even let you read your notes in the UK! They keep it all a big secret they treat us like small children where is in Bulgaria we are treated like adults😊 very often you are just told what to do and you encourage not to ask questions and you are never ever offered alternative medicines like they offer here. I’ve been very impressed with the fact that in Bulgaria the first course of action is usually some herbal remedy.💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Yeah, in Bulgaria they don't give you antibiotics just for a minor cold as they do in UK. Antibiotics are strong and is not good for your body to be used often, that's why they try with something else first. As for the papers they give them to you if you want to go to another doctor in another hospital as well. And in Bulgaria you can ask questions. I was very surprised in Australia the appointment is 15 mins and they rush you to go after that time which is crazy to me cause sometimes you may need longer check in the doctor's office or more explanation.
Wonderful couple, great channel keep it up, I have been in the heart and brain hospital in Pleven, short story, I had 3 new disc fitted in my neck and some work on my spine, 8500 lev , I was really disappointed in the NHS response, I also had hip problem and was told after a X ray it needs replacing, but after having a MRI and CT scan, I was told rehabilitation and painkillers, I couldn't believe it after six weeks I could walk up hills again, if you're shopping around Jeff, ask for a MRI or CT scan, good luck 🤞
You have a gift for seeing beauty. Your village is very beautiful, or your film material makes it look that way. Or both. It was very "Bulgarian". There was a mood and a real delight in the timelessness against the background of the snow. The accompanying music is also very pleasant, but it is most likely from Latin America. In the winter of the year and in the winter of life, we need the warmth of a fire, a delicious dinner, and someone who knows how much sugar to put in your tea.
What a beautiful comment! Thank you very much! And yes - I would love to get some Bulgarian folk music bottom unfortunately it isn’t available on any of the sites I use - UA-cam are very specific about what music you can use and even if I use some that I copy then I get slashed with copyright - the robots on UA-cam pick up on it but I would love to use some authentic Bulgarian music but none of the sites you can sign up to seem to have Any💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Thank you. I wish you both good health and good luck in the new year 2025. I wish you many wonderful sunsets, many delicious dinners and many interesting movies in your Bulgarian home.
Interesting visit to the Dr, hope you get it all sorted satisfactorily Jeff. The GP we were registered with when we lived there before was contactable by email. We could contact him about results and to book an appointment. Also had an operation in Sofia which was amazing and all done under the health system - no parts required though. Aww the pups are beautiful, hope you manage to find homes for them.
Thank you! And hello again! Yes - Jeff has had a couple of operations here and it’s been great but we’ve never had a “part“ needed before!😃 and I’m desperately looking for homes for these puppies. There’s just so many stray dogs here no one seems to want them😊💜
We’ve been coming over for 10 years before we moved here 10 years ago so that’s 20 years now and it actually has improved since then - you never saw anyone out with the dog on a lead back then and we’ve even seen Bulgarians rescuing animals from the street I’ve been injured and paying for the veterinary care recently so I think things are improving but they’ve still a long way to go. But then again, we have the RSPCA - but they put down animals after a few weeks so I suppose we are no better.💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime That's good to know. We saw people in the towns/cities enjoying the company of small dogs, but no so much in the village.
Beautiful dogs. All of them. But honestly, put the food out on the floor for them. They will learn very quickly how to take it from the bowl. They will copy Mom 😂
my Bulgarian teacher says I am halfway there but I think she’s being very kind! I can make myself understood in simple situations it is extremely difficult because it’s so unrelatable . If you are English then you will understand - we have been invaded in the past by the Romans, Vikings, Normans Saxons - so we have traces of all of these languages (Italian German, French etc) so when we hear words in those languages we can relate Bulgarian is absolutely alien! I think that’s what makes it so difficult, but you will get there if you keep trying💜
Great to see such a wonderful couple on BG soil! But you need to be careful - though there may be many good doctors in that shiny hospital, the Heart and Brain chain was created as a profit-driven enterprise. It’s interesting there is so little discussion of the inherent conflict of interests accompanying the transformation of healthcare into another business. I would advise you to seek a second opinion - and lower prices on those joints…
When you say the NHS has a reciprocal agreement with Bulgaria to pay for healthcare, is that via an EHIC card or something similar? Does that apply even if you're classed as a resident in Bulgaria? Best wishes for your hip and hope all is sorted out soon.
Because we were here before Brexit, Britain agreed to pay for our healthcare and they pay for the healthcare of any Bulgarians who were resident there prior to Brexit. We’ve been here for more than 10 years now. We have permanent residence permits. I believe if this isn’t the case, then you need to sign up to their insurance scheme , which is what we were doing before we retired and got this S1 form. You only get the S form one when you are retired.💜
No, I did not! Thank you so much for that! That’s really useful to know. We’ve got a friend who has just gone abroad and broken her hip! She’s having a real problem with her insurance company. I bet she doesn’t know about that either, but it’ll be too late now - thank you!💜
I certainly hope not! I have no idea to be honest. I do have friends who are very expensive medicine for other conditions and they have managed to get around this. I don’t know how they did it. She’s on holiday at the moment so I can’t speak to her But will keep you posted! I think what it means is that you have to have the medicine recommended by the Bulgarian government not the English government we have to be treated the same as the Bulgarians are treated. So for example with regard to Jeff - the Bulgarians all of a plastic hip joint whereas he was recommended a titanium one which are very expensive, so they won’t pay for that because it’s not how the Bulgarians are treated so I imagine the same will be true of the cancer or whatever - so long as it’s the same drug the Bulgarians are prescribed you should be alright.❤️
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Thank you very much for the answer. The topic is very interesting and very important one when decide a retirement destination. So I would love to get a follow up on any health topic in Bulgaria. And good luck with the hip replacement. 😊
If you have paid your health insurance, which is 30 BGN/month, you don't pay for any cancer treatment. But if you need hip replacement - prices vary from hospital to hospital. In Sofia, it is around BGN 5000. That is if you are health insured. If you are not, you'll have to pay for the doctors job.
@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Not exactly. Bulgarians are also given the choice, they even show you a list of options and prices. But....since Bulgarians are poor they choose the cheaper option of a hip joint. If they will give you a titanium for 6000 BGN, I think it is a deal. In Sofia will be more expensive. As far as I know, they recommend that these joints are replaced after 10 years. I don't know about titanium ones. So, they have not lied to you - parts like joints, lens for the eyes, are paid by the patient. And I have heard only good things about that hospital.❤❤❤ As regards cancer treatment: here in Bulgaria the oncologist decides what is best for the patient according to protocol. They never ask the patient. A committee of docs decides. This a very informative decision which the patient cannot make for himself - what it should be, how much, or when. The patient has the right to say no and refuse treatment.
surprised that it took you 10 years to find out that the NHIF is not free. We pay a lv to see the doctor, yes some referrals are free but not all. 2 years ago I had a hydrocell removed and the cost was 550 lv. Prescriptions are also not free, I am on a few but the blood thinning one is 140lv a month, as I am S1 I get it for 40lv, NHIF members also get discounted prescriptions
Well, I guess we just haven’t been sick! Jeff had an operation for a hernia a few years ago and it just cost 60 lev which we were quite happy to pay for😊
We had a bit of a surprise going to the hospital this week. I was wondering if anyone else watching this as had a similar situation?😊
God bless you sir, I am quite glad someone in this country has been shown the according treatment and care.
Amazing. How it used to be and how it should be. People to people. ❤❤❤
Yes! Exactly😊💜
Thank you for sharing!! Seems to be a great country to live in!!!
Thank you for your comment and for subscribing - and yes it is! I can highly recommend it😃🥰
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime lovely channel!! I'm just checking all your videos! Again, thank you so much for sharing😄🥰
Oh bless you! That is very kind of you 😊💜
Thank you for showing us your life in Bulgaria. You are a lovely couple ❤
Oh bless you, that is very very kind of you!💜
I too love the snow. Looks beautiful there.
Yes, it is😃
Yet another helpful and informative video. Yes, I saw the doctor on the Tuesday at the hospital in VT and had the surgery on the Thursday. None of that waiting about doe months that you get in the UK. I am going to be applying for my S1 next month. The chicken soup looks absolutely yummy!
Thank you as always for your support, Simon! You are so good to me!😃💜
You get to keep your notes. Brilliant!
😃 yes, I think they must just not trust us in England!😃💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime They keep your notes in the computer system but they just print a copy for you too. I didn't know in UK they don't give you the notes. How you keep track of your health?
Hello! They won’t even let you read your notes in the UK! They keep it all a big secret they treat us like small children where is in Bulgaria we are treated like adults😊 very often you are just told what to do and you encourage not to ask questions and you are never ever offered alternative medicines like they offer here. I’ve been very impressed with the fact that in Bulgaria the first course of action is usually some herbal remedy.💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Yeah, in Bulgaria they don't give you antibiotics just for a minor cold as they do in UK. Antibiotics are strong and is not good for your body to be used often, that's why they try with something else first. As for the papers they give them to you if you want to go to another doctor in another hospital as well. And in Bulgaria you can ask questions. I was very surprised in Australia the appointment is 15 mins and they rush you to go after that time which is crazy to me cause sometimes you may need longer check in the doctor's office or more explanation.
@@m.sh.5180 absolutely! And I love the herbal remedies even for blood pressure they gave me herbal remedy I was so pleased😃
Useful information especially about the Health Service. Looks beautiful in the snow. Can't wait to try the soup.
Hello Jeff - I have the most likes from you❤️
Wonderful couple, great channel keep it up, I have been in the heart and brain hospital in Pleven, short story, I had 3 new disc fitted in my neck and some work on my spine, 8500 lev , I was really disappointed in the NHS response, I also had hip problem and was told after a X ray it needs replacing, but after having a MRI and CT scan, I was told rehabilitation and painkillers, I couldn't believe it after six weeks I could walk up hills again, if you're shopping around Jeff, ask for a MRI or CT scan, good luck 🤞
Oh bless you for your lovely comments and that’s really good advice - thank you so much!xxxx
You have a gift for seeing beauty. Your village is very beautiful, or your film material makes it look that way. Or both. It was very "Bulgarian". There was a mood and a real delight in the timelessness against the background of the snow. The accompanying music is also very pleasant, but it is most likely from Latin America. In the winter of the year and in the winter of life, we need the warmth of a fire, a delicious dinner, and someone who knows how much sugar to put in your tea.
What a beautiful comment! Thank you very much! And yes - I would love to get some Bulgarian folk music bottom unfortunately it isn’t available on any of the sites I use - UA-cam are very specific about what music you can use and even if I use some that I copy then I get slashed with copyright - the robots on UA-cam pick up on it but I would love to use some authentic Bulgarian music but none of the sites you can sign up to seem to have Any💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime
Thank you. I wish you both good health and good luck in the new year 2025. I wish you many wonderful sunsets, many delicious dinners and many interesting movies in your Bulgarian home.
Bless you! Thank you so much and you also💜
Interesting visit to the Dr, hope you get it all sorted satisfactorily Jeff. The GP we were registered with when we lived there before was contactable by email. We could contact him about results and to book an appointment. Also had an operation in Sofia which was amazing and all done under the health system - no parts required though. Aww the pups are beautiful, hope you manage to find homes for them.
Thank you! And hello again! Yes - Jeff has had a couple of operations here and it’s been great but we’ve never had a “part“ needed before!😃 and I’m desperately looking for homes for these puppies. There’s just so many stray dogs here no one seems to want them😊💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Breaks your heart with so many dogs, I had hoped the situation had improved in the past nearly 7 years 🤔
We’ve been coming over for 10 years before we moved here 10 years ago so that’s 20 years now and it actually has improved since then - you never saw anyone out with the dog on a lead back then and we’ve even seen Bulgarians rescuing animals from the street I’ve been injured and paying for the veterinary care recently so I think things are improving but they’ve still a long way to go. But then again, we have the RSPCA - but they put down animals after a few weeks so I suppose we are no better.💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime That's good to know. We saw people in the towns/cities enjoying the company of small dogs, but no so much in the village.
@@NewBulgarians yes, you’re absolutely right!xx
Beautiful dogs. All of them. But honestly, put the food out on the floor for them. They will learn very quickly how to take it from the bowl. They will copy Mom 😂
Yes, thank you! We’ve discovered that😃💜
Yes I agree.
Helpful and informative video! Tell me, how proficient are you in Bulgarian? I'm currently learning, but the alphabet throws me for a loop.
my Bulgarian teacher says I am halfway there but I think she’s being very kind! I can make myself understood in simple situations it is extremely difficult because it’s so unrelatable . If you are English then you will understand - we have been invaded in the past by the Romans, Vikings, Normans Saxons - so we have traces of all of these languages (Italian German, French etc) so when we hear words in those languages we can relate Bulgarian is absolutely alien! I think that’s what makes it so difficult, but you will get there if you keep trying💜
Great to see such a wonderful couple on BG soil! But you need to be careful - though there may be many good doctors in that shiny hospital, the Heart and Brain chain was created as a profit-driven enterprise. It’s interesting there is so little discussion of the inherent conflict of interests accompanying the transformation of healthcare into another business. I would advise you to seek a second opinion - and lower prices on those joints…
😃 thank you! And thank you for your lovely comment😊💜
When you say the NHS has a reciprocal agreement with Bulgaria to pay for healthcare, is that via an EHIC card or something similar? Does that apply even if you're classed as a resident in Bulgaria? Best wishes for your hip and hope all is sorted out soon.
Because we were here before Brexit, Britain agreed to pay for our healthcare and they pay for the healthcare of any Bulgarians who were resident there prior to Brexit. We’ve been here for more than 10 years now. We have permanent residence permits. I believe if this isn’t the case, then you need to sign up to their insurance scheme , which is what we were doing before we retired and got this S1 form. You only get the S form one when you are retired.💜
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Did you know as an S1 holder you can apply for your UK EHIC, which will give you cover for EU travel,
No, I did not! Thank you so much for that! That’s really useful to know. We’ve got a friend who has just gone abroad and broken her hip! She’s having a real problem with her insurance company. I bet she doesn’t know about that either, but it’ll be too late now - thank you!💜
Thanks for sharing! Does it means if you get cancer you have to pay for the hormons, chemo and all that insane expensive medicine?
I certainly hope not! I have no idea to be honest. I do have friends who are very expensive medicine for other conditions and they have managed to get around this. I don’t know how they did it. She’s on holiday at the moment so I can’t speak to her But will keep you posted! I think what it means is that you have to have the medicine recommended by the Bulgarian government not the English government we have to be treated the same as the Bulgarians are treated. So for example with regard to Jeff - the Bulgarians all of a plastic hip joint whereas he was recommended a titanium one which are very expensive, so they won’t pay for that because it’s not how the Bulgarians are treated so I imagine the same will be true of the cancer or whatever - so long as it’s the same drug the Bulgarians are prescribed you should be alright.❤️
@@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Thank you very much for the answer. The topic is very interesting and very important one when decide a retirement destination. So I would love to get a follow up on any health topic in Bulgaria. And good luck with the hip replacement. 😊
@@Oggiwara1 thank you! And yes, we will definitely be doing an update!😃💜
If you have paid your health insurance, which is 30 BGN/month, you don't pay for any cancer treatment.
But if you need hip replacement - prices vary from hospital to hospital. In Sofia, it is around BGN 5000. That is if you are health insured. If you are not, you'll have to pay for the doctors job.
@Escapetoasimplerplaceandtime Not exactly. Bulgarians are also given the choice, they even show you a list of options and prices. But....since Bulgarians are poor they choose the cheaper option of a hip joint. If they will give you a titanium for 6000 BGN, I think it is a deal. In Sofia will be more expensive. As far as I know, they recommend that these joints are replaced after 10 years. I don't know about titanium ones. So, they have not lied to you - parts like joints, lens for the eyes, are paid by the patient.
And I have heard only good things about that hospital.❤❤❤
As regards cancer treatment: here in Bulgaria the oncologist decides what is best for the patient according to protocol. They never ask the patient. A committee of docs decides. This a very informative decision which the patient cannot make for himself - what it should be, how much, or when. The patient has the right to say no and refuse treatment.
surprised that it took you 10 years to find out that the NHIF is not free.
We pay a lv to see the doctor, yes some referrals are free but not all.
2 years ago I had a hydrocell removed and the cost was 550 lv.
Prescriptions are also not free, I am on a few but the blood thinning one is 140lv a month, as I am S1 I get it for 40lv, NHIF members also get discounted prescriptions
Well, I guess we just haven’t been sick! Jeff had an operation for a hernia a few years ago and it just cost 60 lev which we were quite happy to pay for😊
Sorry your second comment has disappeared. No idea what has happened there! Thank you very much for the advice.