If they aren't going to use the NHS as much, couldn't they get a reduction in the amount of tax they pay? Wouldn't this stimulate competitive pricing?
2006-08-19 09:13:22 · 9 answers · asked by Oracle Of Delphi 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
I'm not saying they should pay nothing towards the NHS, but just get a reduction, or maybe their insurers could pay the NHS for any treatment it provides.
2006-08-19 09:39:10 · update #1
Yes, it's all a bit silly really. If you pay for private health care, you still have to pay the same taxes towards the NHS. If you work, you already pay tax, some of which goes to the NHS but you have to pay for prescriptions. However, if you don't pay tax, you don't pay for prescriptions. I mean, I don't begrudge anyone having free prescriptions. I do at the minute. Saying that, I rarely have prescripton drugs or even visit a doctor. Still, I don't think it is fair that people, in effect, end up paying twice for health care, whether it's from paying tax and paying a prescripton fee or from paying for private health care and still having to pay the tax towards "free" health care. The problem then though is that, if people with private health care don;t pay towards the NHS, other people will decide it's not fair for them to pay taxes for whatever other reason such as, if a person sends their children to a private school, they might say that they shouldn't have to pay so much tax because some of it goes towards education. Then, it could spiral and cause even more of the "rich getting richer and poor getting poorer"
But I do agree with some of the people above. Those paying into a private company are just as likely to require emergency treatment, etc. which would be done through the NHS.
2006-08-19 09:25:42 · answer #1 · answered by Evil J.Twin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my view these people are over-insuring themselves as they already pay for healthcare through National Insurance contributions. It is entirely up to the individual if they want better care that they should opt-out but until the private sector provides an ambulance service, a 24-hour health support line, on-call doctors and it's own prescription services rather than 'cherry picking' the areas it can do easily and make most money on (as it does at the moment), then no.
Even with private health insurance you still rely on the NHS as a first point of contact when you become ill and you should be obliged to contribute to that.
Entirely my own opinion though.
2006-08-19 09:36:03 · answer #2 · answered by scottish_stuart 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If these people have a heart attaxck on their private hospital beds, its the NHS which picks up the pieces.
Its my taxes which pay for the private doctors training,
It will be the NHS which will still treat you after the insurance companies consider you too high a risk.
I think people who have private medical insurance should consider emigration to a place where it is essential. Then they wouldn't have to pay NI contributions at all.
2006-08-19 09:23:48 · answer #3 · answered by dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that sounds great in theory, but unfortunatley the NHS are losing their doctors & nurses to the private hospitals, which puts a strain on the NHS resources.
2006-08-19 09:23:37 · answer #4 · answered by poppies say grrr! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could never pay enough health insurance to cover you for all your life the insurance companies don't cover you forever if you get seriously ill !!!
2006-08-19 09:28:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, I have it through work and it means I pay slightly more tax as it is classed as a benefit, go figure.
2006-08-19 09:20:30 · answer #6 · answered by fletcheyc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope, the government has decided that you're money is still needed to improve hospitals
2006-08-19 09:19:37 · answer #7 · answered by jemma b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately not
2006-08-19 09:22:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO , THEY WILL STILL USE HOSPITAL'S ETC
2006-08-19 09:20:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋