NHS why don't we......... ?

Question

How much does the NHS cost per year ?

How much would it cost to get the entire population covered by medical insurance for a year ?

Why not use national insurance contrabutions to buy health insurance for every child born from this day forth ?

Answer 1

My goodness, you've opened up a BIG cause and effects question here really. In my opinion (in every business) there are too many people caring too little about doing their jobs properly for too much pay. Regarding National Insurance contributions. The National Health Insurance Act was passed in 1911. Contributions were to cover Medical benefit (free attendance by a Doctor, treatment and medicines), sickness benefit, disablement benefit and maternity benefit. Dental treatment was also provided for about 75% of all Insured persons. The Act was unpopular at first but then 20 years later it was proved to be a financial success. The death rate, distress from sickness and disablement were considerably reduced. At the time, medical benefit arrangements were made by Insurance Companies so your idea, although not being new, is a good one. Why don't you write to your local MP and suggest it?

Answer 2

Sounds like a good idea but health insurance is based on the risk to the insurer that you will claim, just like any other insurance.

If it is already in existence, or if the symptoms are there, then no cover is given because the insurance company are guaranteed to have to pay out. Those who are or will imminently be undergoing treatment will never have the opportunity to be covered for the conditions that they now have. Where will they go to get treatment then if there was no NHS?

The more insurance is used to cover costs, the more expensive it becomes to provide. Just look at car insurance costs. This was relatively inexpensive about 10 or 15 years ago. Now because of the increase in the number of claims for personal injury, premiums have sky rocketed. The same would happen if we were to do as you suggest. Initially, it would be OK as the amount of premiums received would more than cover the cost of treatment provided but what happens when due to better care more people live longer or new drugs are created to deal with conditions that are more expensive? Costs would spiral out of control and increase to more than the premiums can provide.

I appreciate that private medical insurers do exist and operate in this way but they do not provide you cover for acute emergency treatment as this is too unpredictable and too expensive. They also do not necessarily cover you for other conditions such as mental disorders, facial reconstruction, pregnancy, addictions etc, precisely because of the costs involved in providing this care but in most cases this treatment is available free on the NHS now.

Answer 3

Think about what you are saying! There are two key arguments against what you say;
Economically – instead of a not for profit organisation (NHS) we will have to pay insurance contributions to a company that will be wanting to make a profit and make their fat cat bosses even richer. Therefore we would end up paying more.
Morally – is it not wrong for some insurance company to profit financial from people being sick?
In surveys, the people of Britain continuously say how much they value the principles of the NHS. Even Maggie the Milk Snatcher knew what an unpopular move it would be to dismantle.

Answer 4

1. It doesn't add up.
2. What do you think National insurance is for?
3. The NHS works - get over it
4. Mr Bevan would turn in his grave.
5. To be socially responsible for all is the idea so that we all look after each other (not popular I know but hey ...)

Answer 5

sounds like a good idea, as long as the insurance includes..... Health, dental, death benefits, terminal illness/disability benefits, unemployment benefits, ambulance cover, and all the other things that that the nation insurance stamps cover.....

What would be a better idea..... why not reduce the national insurance cover those who do have private health, and private dental cover, and all the other things that national insuraqnce stamps cover, then you might get some progress away from the state run services!

Answer 6

Oh how I wish it were so simple. NI contibutions are a form of taxation used to fund pensions and other government spending as well as the NHS. In effect, the government is already paying premiums to the NHS for the benefit of all - or so they say! What you suggest would require privatisation of hospitals, medical practices etc. Perhaps the government is ahead of you on this?

Answer 7

Cos national insurance contributions pay towards your state pension and the amount this comes to, even if you've worked every day since you were 16, isn't enough to live on!

Why not have people look after their own elderly relatives and not leave them in hospitals causing bed blocking cos it's "inconvienient" to the modern lifestyle to have them at home?

Answer 8

cause what born at the eve of the HS contribute ever since so has my mum ,the nhs is free to everyone don't think so if you have money(small private pension through your work paid taxes on it and still paying to widow still paying tax ) own your own home(ex council home ) still pay income tax... sorry you 2nd class citizen...... options if you have never worked have your rent paid your council tax paid have income support free dental treatment eye test and free spectacle your the winner if no to any these answers your a looser you have to fight for what you have paid into the nhs sucks if you had said no to any of these ...been there still there still fighting the unfair system which penalises those who have worked paid tax and still paying going to lose my house soon bumber

Answer 9

Try posting questions of this nature in the Politics section.

But, the answer to your questions are: A lot; Too much to afford; and Too expensive.

Answer 10

i don't know the answers to your questions u seem to know the answer to mine although i don't know where u got the info from. would really like to know if u can. i don't wnat DLA reduced. good idea to use nic to buy health care for every child born