Imagine life without the NHS?

Beautiful, the NHS is free at the point of use. I am saddened by comments such as those made by Elizabeth27, private medical insurance is all well and good if (a) you can afford it and (b) you are basically using it to queue jump/get your hip replaced/varicose veins stripped, but private medical companies only provide services which can be costed; they do not have A&E, do not have ICU, and heaven help anyone who develops a life changing condition such as MS.

I think it would be better, perhaps, to say 'imagine life without socialised healthcare' because there are other, good, non-NHS socialised systems available.

America, of course, is not one of them.

Both statements in this are wrong:

NHS is very expensive to run and we pay for it, maybe more per person than we would pay in medical insurance

We pay very little compared to private insurance (particularly where that is not a top-up to socialised healthcare); indeed, some people pay nothing if they don't pay tax; and spending on the NHS is very low (too low, which is why it's struggling now, and that's a political decision) and very cost-effective to run.

What annoys me is when people say it is free ! No it isn't free people have & people are still paying into ... like I have said in my previous post I would willingly pay some on a regular basis it to keep it ... I am sure others would aswell ...

My son lives in the US and healthcare is a major issue there. He and his wife are fortunate to have health cover with their jobs but even then, it still costs. Their young son got a piece of Lego stuck up his nose (don’t ask!) and it had to be removed in a clinic. Even with insurance, it cost $700 co-pay.

There are so many T&C’s to the various insurances, it’s not like you pay and then have cover for everything, everywhere in the US. They both know people who have been bankrupted by health costs and even a 24yo man who died of pneumonia because he had no cover and couldn’t afford to take time off work to visit a free clinic.

I have private medical insurance , have for years ... saying that it does cost ... used it a few times ... NHS ... I am not rich far from rich, but would willingly pay into it, out of my pension to keep it. I think it is wonderful to know people can get treated, without worrying about the cost, although some could pop to the chemist to ask for advice , even cheap medication. Years ago when I went to the doctors told me the medication was cheaper over the counter. I know people who have medication delivered regularly, but don't need it as already have loads , people should just contact chemist & say , as this takes a lot of wasted money , especially if free ... my opinion ... KEEP THE NHS

Posted before I had finished

NHS is very expensive to run and we pay for it, maybe more per person than we would pay in medical insurance.

Yes the NHS is wonderful. We have a version of it but I think it is not as good as yours and we are usually out of pocket with doctor appointments and scripts. Not as bad as the USA though.

Over 90% of American citizens have health insurance, either employer or state paid. There will be some that fall through the net but it is available to all.

There are many countries without the NHS that cope very well.

I’ve read of cases where married couples have had to divorce because of health care costs ( can’t remember the ins and out of it). And I’ve seen bills that people have shown on Facebook for procedures that we take for granted. And most people have now got used to the idea that they won’t have an NHS dentist and will have to pay for private treatment. Yet another thing that this country is sleepwalking into.