(edit title) My first "But this is Sweden" moment You have to be told or else you wouldn't know ... Options

[Bender B Rodriquez]

??? You need a prescription for them in the states...what, you can by them on the street in Europe? UUUUUGH that would make my life so much more convenient! *Jealous*How ... (show full quote)

??? You need a prescription for them in the states...what, you can by them on the street in Europe? UUUUUGH that would make my life so much more convenient! *Jealous*

However...I don't see how people could obtain contacts without seeing a doctor annually to know what their prescription is. After all, getting contacts that are too strong or too weak are bad for your eyesight, no? How is it in the UK/EU? ... (hide full quote)

You need a prescription from an optometrist (not a doctor) but you can buy them freely online in any EU-country as long as you check a box saying that you visited an optometrist.

The problem in the US is that you have to have a US prescription and unless you have a SSN that is impossible, so the only way to get lenses on your European prescription is to order to a European address and have a friend send them.

[mikewhite]

Can you get paracetamol at ica yet?

Yes, but it's 39 kr. i.e. ten times the price from Sainsbury's (where it's on the open shelf, not in a locked glass box). Stock up on Strepsils while you're at JS, too.

[swozzie]

You get contacts the same as prescription glasses - thru an Optometrist who tets your eyes or just goes by your last prescription.

[mjennin2]

You need a prescription from an optometrist (not a doctor)

Äch, "optometrist" had too many letters in it

Very interesting, was unawares of the SSN bit. I always thought it was ridiculous to have to get a prescription from an opthamologist for non-prescription vanity lenses (ie, no prescription strength, just simply colored contacts to color your eyes). But then I read a story around halloween time several years ago about a kid who obtained colored lenses "illegally" and misused them, ulcerated his corneas and ended up blind

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Yes, but it's 39 kr. i.e. ten times the price from Sainsbury's (where it's on the open shelf, not in a locked glass box). Stock up on Strepsils while you're at JS, too.

You eat paracetamol for dinner? Honestly, how can 30SEK for paracetamol even be an issue?

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Äch, "optometrist" had too many letters in it . Very intersting, was unawares of the SSN bit.

Another US insanity is that prescriptions from eye-doctors is often covered by your medical insurance. If your insurance covers something you need to do every year it is NOT an insurance... and essentially you are paying more in premiums than you would pay out of pocket for your predicted and planned contact lenses, which is clearly insane.

[mjennin2]

Another US insanity is that prescriptions from eye-doctors is often covered by your medical insurance. If your insurance covers something you need to do every year it is NOT a ... (show full quote)

Another US insanity is that prescriptions from eye-doctors is often covered by your medical insurance. If your insurance covers something you need to do every year it is NOT an insurance... and essentially you are paying more in premiums than you would pay out of pocket for your predicted and planned contact lenses, which is clearly insane. ... (hide full quote)

Where did you hear that? I pay $5.75 every month out of my paycheck, pre-tax, for my eye insurance. However, my eye insurance I have at work is bad. So I pay full price for my annual exam every year because my doc (who isn't covered by my insurance) is *the best*. Usually costs around $250 for the check up, dilation, and ordering several boxes of contacts to last me a while. But if I went to an eye doc under my plan, annual exams would be covered (although the coverage is basic). When I was covered under my mom's insurance, all of my annual exams - as well as any other eye emergencies - were essentially free cuz mom's insurance covered it all. Also got 6 free boxes of contacts a year under her eye care plan, also.

I keep my eye insurance anyway, for emergencies. I have lacerated my eyes enough to know I need emergency coverage at all times. Oooh the joys of playing volleyball and getting an eye-full of sand on a good dive

[Bender B Rodriquez]

I keep my eye insurance anyway, for emergencies.

Yes, that is the definition of insurance. Anything that covers something that is predictable is not insurance.

[mjennin2]

Yes, that is the definition of insurance. Anything that covers something that is predictable is not insurance.

So it's not the concept that is insanity then; it's simply the definition of the word. Because here, (and I thought it was the same everywhere?) medical insurance covers the emergencies, and the annuals, and preventitive care. All of my regular annual exams are covered by insurance - dental, medical and vision.

And even when not using my vision insurance to cut the cost of my annual exam down, it DOES cut the cost of my contact lenses in half. I pay $69/year in premiums, and end up saving $120 on contacts each year (not to mention whatever emergencies that DO crop up), so...it's worth it.

/end thread hijack

[William Sachsen-Coburg-Go...]

Anyway, brands like Panodil, Ibumetin, etc, is a better choice since they contain ibuprofen which is less harmful than paracetamol and is anti-inflammatory (NSAID).

That depends on the individual and the reason for use. Ibuprofen painkillers can cause stomach problems, especially if used regularly. They are more harmful than paracetamol for anyone with existing digestive problems or with chronic pain.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

So it's not the concept that is insanity then; it's simply the definition of the word. Because here, (and I thought it was the same everywhere?) medical insurance cov ... (show full quote)

So it's not the concept that is insanity then; it's simply the definition of the word. Because here, (and I thought it was the same everywhere?) medical insurance covers the emergencies, and the annuals, and preventitive care. All of my regular annual exams are covered by insurance - dental, medical and vision.

And even when not using my vision insurance to cut the cost of my annual exam down, it DOES cut the cost of my contact lenses in half. I pay $69/year in premiums, and end up saving $120 on contacts each year (not to mention whatever emergencies that DO crop up), so...it's worth it.

/end thread hijack ... (hide full quote)

If you really think that insurance makes calculated costs cheaper you are living in a fantasy. The insurance company charges the statistically expected cost plus profit. If they know that you wear contacts when you sign up the expectation will increase with the same amount, and that is exactly what they charge in premium. Pure insurance mathematics. However, a big chunk of that is paid buy your employer (usually 3-10 times more than what is subtracted from your paycheck) so you think that the actual cost is only $69/year, while in fact you are paying much more. I pay about $1000/year in medical insurance, however my employer pays $10000 on top of that. Money that I never see and that is not stated on my payslip nor in my contract (I know from other sources in the company), but essentially is a part of my salary.

Having an insurance for predetermined costs is exactly like having a home insurance that covers re-painting of your house every year. It is not an insurance in that case, but simply a way of redistributing a yearly cost for paint to a monthly cost (plus extra money to the insurance company).

Conclusion: it is both the concept and the use of the word insurance for something that is not insurance that is the insanity.

[Kevtravels]

My passport got me booz at the Coop when i was 19

I have something similar and sorta funny. Like a month after I came to Sweden (years ago) I was at the gas station buying something and was shocked when I was charged for the grocery bag you know and the cashier who was like in his late 30's looks at me and just shouts "Not everything is free in this country". And I was like "sure okay I get that but seriously charging for a bag?"

[chazza]

When I first came to Sweden in the 80's i was impressed that plastic bags were charged for as a means of lessening plastic in landfill etc and as a means to encourage people to recycle their grocery bags or bring their own.
Now I notice as I stand in line at the supermarket hardly anyone brings their own or recycles the last lot but buy new every time - looks like the charging thing hasnt worked long term or do people not want to be thought of as snål by not buying a new bag every time ??

Seems weird to me when recycling is a kind of religion when it comes to household waste

[Rick Methven]

My passport got me booz at the Coop when i was 19

What you got was 2.8 or 3.5% beer which you can buy in the supermarket when you are 18.

Anything stronger and you would have had to go to systembolaget and they would not of sold to you because you where under 20

[byke]

When I first came to Sweden in the 80's i was impressed that plastic bags were charged for as a means of lessening plastic in landfill etc and as a means to encourage peop ... (show full quote)

When I first came to Sweden in the 80's i was impressed that plastic bags were charged for as a means of lessening plastic in landfill etc and as a means to encourage people to recycle their grocery bags or bring their own.
Now I notice as I stand in line at the supermarket hardly anyone brings their own or recycles the last lot but buy new every time - looks like the charging thing hasnt worked long term or do people not want to be thought of as snål by not buying a new bag every time ??

Seems weird to me when recycling is a kind of religion when it comes to household waste ... (hide full quote)

Recycling (while I believe in it) is often done for profit rather than ethical reasons.
Much of the material collected for recycling is sold to the chinese who then ship it all the way back to china and which isnt very environmentally friendly.

The bags at super markets are often purchased as they are then in turn used for the collection of rubbish.
If you were to go down to your local rubbish room and empty raw waste into one of the large rubbish sacks, I am sure you would be heavily criticized.

I read somewhere that the sales of plastic bags in sweden in food stores are often some of the best money making products in the store in terms of profit margins and shelf life (and popularity)