Politicians have sometimes implied NI is a hypothecated tax, although in reality it isnt.
It is true though that premiums are linked to income and certainly raising NI would, I think, be a good way to help fund social and healthcare.
After Germany we pay most in to the Eu
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Politicians have sometimes implied NI is a hypothecated tax, although in reality it isnt.
It is true though that premiums are linked to income and certainly raising NI would, I think, be a good way to help fund social and healthcare.
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Not going all 'Corbyn' on us are you notchy?
Britain's public finances worse than Gambia, Uganda and Kenya, because of privatisation
"Britain’s underlying public finances are among the worst in the world, behind the Gambia, Uganda and Kenya, a new study has concluded...
The IMF said the cost of bailing out banks had been a significant factor dragging the UK down the rankings. The UK also has one of the largest pension liabilities of any nation in the study but is towards the bottom of the pile when it comes to public assets...
The IMF’s report takes particular aim at the privatisation of public assets, the benefits of which it says are often merely an “illusion”
I think you and jonbey have missed the sarcasm in my post.
Private insurance companies cannot run a health service (in the way insurance companies work) because the poor have to subsidise the wealthy or go without.
The wealthy do not need insurance as they can pay for treatment but obviously take advantage and opt, if they want, for the insurace to save money.
The poor have to scrimp to pay the premiums and if they cannot afford them, go without - which saves the insurance company money.
Private insurance companies cannot run a health service (in the way insurance companies work) because the poor have to subsidise the wealthy or go without.
The wealthy do not need insurance as they can pay for treatment but obviously take advantage and opt, if they want, for the insurace to save money.
The poor have to scrimp to pay the premiums and if they cannot afford them, go without - which saves the insurance company money.
Not unless the whole system of taxation is changed...
(since NI is just a tax by another name)
A recent example:
The wealthy businessman who paid just £35.20 in tax
If it wasn't obvious before that there was no will to change the system, then Brexit will make sure it will never happen!
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Just for you, I have.
Does anyone else in the (developed?) world have something close to the NHS model?
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New Zealand is a good example.
And Scandinavian countries too. And France, which is considered one of the best in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France
"The public healthcare system in New Zealand gives residents access to free or heavily-subsidised hospital care, as well as emergency treatment. In order to access public healthcare, expats need to have New Zealand residency status. Other free medical services include standard medical tests, children’s immunisations, and prescription medication for children under six years old. Visits to a General Practitioner (GP), the purchase of prescription drugs and ambulance services are subsidised.
In order to access healthcare in New Zealand, expats will have to register with a GP. There is no restriction on which doctor an expat has to register with; however, some doctors may specialise in certain areas of medicine and it might be best for new arrivals to research the practices in their area to find the GP who best suits their individual needs. The biggest downside to state healthcare is the long waiting periods for non-emergency procedures; however, waiting times vary between hospitals, so it helps to find the most time-efficient option."
http://www.expatarrivals.com/asia-pacific/new-zealand/healthcare-new-zealand
And Scandinavian countries too. And France, which is considered one of the best in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France
"The public healthcare system in New Zealand gives residents access to free or heavily-subsidised hospital care, as well as emergency treatment. In order to access public healthcare, expats need to have New Zealand residency status. Other free medical services include standard medical tests, children’s immunisations, and prescription medication for children under six years old. Visits to a General Practitioner (GP), the purchase of prescription drugs and ambulance services are subsidised.
In order to access healthcare in New Zealand, expats will have to register with a GP. There is no restriction on which doctor an expat has to register with; however, some doctors may specialise in certain areas of medicine and it might be best for new arrivals to research the practices in their area to find the GP who best suits their individual needs. The biggest downside to state healthcare is the long waiting periods for non-emergency procedures; however, waiting times vary between hospitals, so it helps to find the most time-efficient option."
http://www.expatarrivals.com/asia-pacific/new-zealand/healthcare-new-zealand
We may complain about the NHS because of long waiting times etc but healthcare provision is a problem in all countries simply because people live longer yet have less healthy lifestyles so costs are ever increasing.
Just one example is the huge cost of diabetes in the UK which costs 10% of its budget or £25,000 every minute.
the countries with the best healthcare provision spend more per GDP, mostly arent free at the point of service and costs are ever rising.
Just one example is the huge cost of diabetes in the UK which costs 10% of its budget or £25,000 every minute.
the countries with the best healthcare provision spend more per GDP, mostly arent free at the point of service and costs are ever rising.
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Yep - if you have diabetes in America and are on the standard private health plan that most people are on, you'll be paying at least $500 a month for your meds, maybe more depending on your needs.
That's around $6000 a year. Same for cancer drugs, heart, etc. etc. This is why the whole natural medicine, snake oil market is so huge in America - people make money out of telling people they don't need to spend money on drugs (oh, the irony!).
Suddenly an extra penny in tax sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?
That's around $6000 a year. Same for cancer drugs, heart, etc. etc. This is why the whole natural medicine, snake oil market is so huge in America - people make money out of telling people they don't need to spend money on drugs (oh, the irony!).
Suddenly an extra penny in tax sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?
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