What will you do if you get seriously sick?

[Day Dreamer]

I hope things work out OK for you Mr Noodly. Take care of yourself.

The health thing is one of my biggest fears about starting a nomadic lifestyle. I think I need some sort of contingency plan now that I think about it. If something major happens you could go from "camping" to "homeless" in a flash. It's a fine line. Health insurance costs are my biggest hurdle but I guess I am basing that on buying my own currently with no subsidies due to household income. I had a major health issue almost a year ago that I'm still recovering from both health and financially. After insurance my cost was about $5k.

I'm trying to lead a healthy a lifestyle as possible (not easy when super busy working, etc.). I'm at an ideal weight, try to eat well (lowish carbs, low red meat, low sugar, etc.) moderate alcohol consumption (usually), stay active, reduce stress, etc. I'm hoping taking care of my body will give me less health issues as I age. Hopefully I haven't done too much damage already LOL.

 

[Ticklebellly]

Health insurance will take care of me. My Roadside Assist and Auto Club will take care of the vehicle. Kind of ironic that the vehicle care will cost me more, after the event, than the health care.

Becoming seriously unwell is unpredictable, to a large extent. Legal documents like an Advanced Care Directive might take care of the person but I suggest having a talk within your network is one way of getting your vehicle taken care of if the bad stuff happens.

 

[Dingfelder]

Best to you MrNoodly moving foreword.

With a few exceptions, I don't a medical emergency is anymore forgiving from a house to the road. In both cases you can lose everything.

I no longer drive and found myself in the emergency room this pass week. Thankfully my wife could drive me. But if not; I don't don't emergency response would do very well of finding me without an address. So living on BLM land or stealth camping is not for me.

My biggest concern would be our pets, would they be found and well cared for if we became unresponsive.

I'm on Medicare so my worst fear is I would windup in a state run nursing home. I have no faith in any of these facilities but have wondered what state would provide the best care and regulations.

I don't know why I've gotten flack for mentioning this in similar discussions, but I am a guardian/conservator for the elderly.  At any rate, it has exposed me to a lot of homes and the way they work.  And I think you should put your mind at rest.  It's not the 50's anymore.  They can't drug you and they don't beat or starve you.  Conditions are not bad.  They are often better than many of the clients have experienced for years.

What happens unless you are determined to be in real physical danger with a limited time to live is that you do not go into a nursing home, but a foster home.  There you might have to share a room or might not.  But don't worry, nobody will be blasting your ears off with loud music; for the most part people are quiet.  That part might actually bother you the most: conditions are sedate.  People are older and tend to be quiet.  Many keep to themselves voluntarily.  Some simply don't have much energy.  Some are fully happy and aware and social.  Just depends on the mix.  The hard part is that people do die, so friends you make may not be there tomorrow.  But you may well make friends.

I'm only taking care of one lady, officially, now.  The foster home she used to live in was modest and in a beautiful location.  She had a roommate who was a very sweet person and whom she got along with very well.  She ate well and was cared for by the daughter in a family who had run foster care homes for decades.  Really nice lady.  Good food, quiet times, complete safety out in beautiful clean woodland area.  Regular medical check-ups, care for her hair and nails too.  Threat to her?  Zero.  Maybe bears?  

Then she moved to a gorgeous house in a beautiful neighborhood when that house closed down.  No problems, just the business was hard and the parents running it retired.   New house was sparkling clean.  The owner of that house built a mansion in an even better place and my client moved there next.  Wow, spectacular, great views.  Good food, super nice staff I've talked to many times, she loves it and the people in it.

None of these times did the state, plus her minimal social security, not cover her.  America really does not throw people into dungeons or horror-show asylums anymore.  I am very confident that when my time comes, I will be well cared for.

And I'm not kidding, even the most industrial-seeming foster homes were of a better level, cleaner and brighter, with more and better meal service and medical care, than many elderly and/or disabled have been used to have for years before the government stepped in and took over.  

Those old ideas from the 50s of going into a sort of Bedlam and being ignored, savaged, or drugged into a drooling living death are very outdated these days.  The elderly are the best cared-for people in all of America today.  It's everybody else who has to worry.

 

[Neal]

I'm rooting for you Mr. Noodly. Stay strong I'm sending you good vibes and mojo!