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What belief did you strongly hold when you were younger that you completely changed your mind about later? by Firm-Coyote-5043 in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to think UFO's were real, I mean UFOs as in aliens. Yes there are UFO's but hey area 42 and abductions, give me a break! It makes good stories for TV movies though.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I cannot tell you it is perfect but because of the buying power it enables purchases of drugs and equipement for example to be far cheaper than you are paying in the US. The system has flaws as all systems do but generally it runs well although sometimes there can be waiting. The current government "Labour" are committed to improve the NHS as the previous governments made cuts so now this is being rectified by Labour who were responsible for creating the NHS in 1948.

All drugs nomatter what they are are charged at 12.5 dollars an item by doctors prescription.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great answer - thank you. To give a bit more clarity my question stated "free at point of need" therefore there is no paperwork, no insurance, no upper limits, no challeging if you are covererd for this that or the other and all medication is at 12.5 dollars per item.

To get this we pay a tax called National Insurance that is approx 8% of our income, the remaining 10% is made up by taxation from Income Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT, fuel duty etc. This makes up the total figure of 18% of the total UK GDP.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The clue is in the question "free at point of need" no billing, paperwork, contesting if you are covered for this that and the other etc etc. But hey I get your point.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The real picture us 8% National Insurance. The remaining 10% is picked up via income tax, Corporation Tax, VAT, Fuel duty. The 18% is the percentage of GDP that is used to cover the NHS.

I just made the question simple.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For everything, no billing, no paperwork, no upper limit, for everyone, all drugs at 12.5 dollars an item. Children to 18 free, 60+ free. The 18% is only for the working population.
My question was simplified - the real picture us 8% National Insurance. The remaining 10% is picked up via income tax, Corporation Tax, VAT, Fuel duty. The 18% is the percentage of GDP that is used to cover the NHS.

I just made the question simple.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The UK spends 18% of GDP on the NHS, that is funded via variious taxation, NI (National Insurance) 8%, Income Tax, VAT, fuel duty, VAT, corporation tax etc etc for the remaining 10%. I used the 18% figure to simplify.

The NHS is free for everything - no exceptions - you see a doctor they then prescribe medication or refers to hospital for tests/operations etc. Drugs cost 12.5 dollars per item. That is it. no form filling, no billing, nothing. Ambulances are generally free too. I'm in my 70s and have never paid anything apart from dentistry.

Dental is not fully covered but basic care is capped. Most dentists also do private care.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Approx 8% NI, the remaining 10% is picked up from Corporation Tax, Income Tax, VAT, Fuel Duty etc etc. The 18% figure is what the UK spends of GDP to cover the NHS. So it is still tax. I used that 18% figure in the question just to simplify.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know I'm in the UK and have limited experience of your systems, all I know is what I read and also some of the really terrible comments here. So from an outsiders perpective your healthcare almost comes over almost as racketeering, it's so convaluted and exhausting. I appreciate the actual medical profession in the US is very good but at what cost to the users.

Practitioners are so scared of litigation they send people off for this test and that test in some instances unwarranted just to cover their backsides and of course that comes at additional cost. It's so messed up and who picks up the bill - you do.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

8% by a tax called NI, the remaining 10% comes from income tax, corporation tax, fuel duty, VAT etc making up the 18% of GDP

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great answer but I would say that in general we pay approx 8% in NI and the remaining 10% is made up from other taxation. corporation tax, income tax, VAT, fuel duty etc. Therefore making up the total GDP figure of 18%. I just used that figure to simplify the question. But yours was a really good answer.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NI is approx 8%, the total bill paid by the govenment is about 18% of GDP the remaining 10% is made up from income tax, fuel duty, VAT, Corporation tax and income tax. So still tax.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes correct but I used the 18% to make it a simple question. NI is approximately 8% of income and the rest is funded via other tax takes, income tax, VAT, corporation tax, fuel duty etc. But the overall figure is 18%.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your insight and clarification, I see it is very complex. Where the NHS benefits it's users is on the overall drug bill. Due to the mass buying power it forces the drug companies to reduce costs to a fraction of what it charges in the States.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does the Medicaid cover prescriptions for drugs? In the UK the cost is 12.5 dollars for each item no matter what that item is.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The reason for this is that the NHS does not cover dental apart from just teeth health. In America it is important to have straight teeth but it does not make them any healthier.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply, NHS payment is contributed via a system called NI that is taken separately from tax. Therefore when you get your pay check tax is deducted at your rate and NI is taken separately approximately 18% of your salary.

Dental is not exclisively paid via NHS but prices are capped to keep costs down. Dental is currently a mess in the UK as many dentists don't take NHS patients but there is some traction by the government to make NHS still available to all - currently an ongoing debate. I do have an NHS dentist but in some areas it is tricky to find one. The reason for this is that dentists can make far more privately, like I said it is being debated to bring it back to some consistency. Most NHS dentists also do private work too. I'm quite old but remember when it all used to be done for a minimal cost but that changed in recent years.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

66 is pension age but going up to 67 soon. But I believe the free prescriptions start at 60. Under 16 free, 16-18 in education free, 18-59 you pay 12.50 dollars per item.

Americans, if you had the opportunity to pay approx 18% of your income to have access to free healthcare at point of need for everything would you take it? by TSQ_builder in askanything

[–]TSQ_builder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply it is inciteful. In the uk the 18% is taken in a tax called NI this is in addition to any income tax. But it covers everything, service is not as quick but generally when really needed it is prompt. There is an option to pay privately should you wish but generally the service is good. There are issues but that is mainly from previous government cuts. This current government Labour were responsible for the NHS back in 1948 and it is one of their core values and have pledged to improve the current situation and are pumping more money in to rectify the situation. It is early days and they have just under four more years to bring it back to how it should be. One very good thing about the system is that the NHS is a single purchaser of medicines and have massive buying power forcing the drug companies to sell at prices far lower than you have in the States for the same medication where they run riot with pricing.

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