US Healthcare Through the Eyes of a Briton
Lucas - It doesn't matter in Britain what your financial status is, the healthcare is universal and free of charge. From cradle to grave, you can walk into any hospital or doctor's surgery and get the medical provision that you need. Those unable to earn (health, age etc) are paid for by those who do earn, but aren't using the health service right now.
For example, say there was a year when I paid my NI every month, but never got ill and never so much as stubbed my toe. The NHS has that money, without providing any care for me at all. That would have been used to pay the medical bills of, say, an unemployed man having a heart-attack or a schoolgirl breaking her arm.
However, these things are swings and roundabouts. Right now, I'm unemployed, so my contributions are the minimum amount, subsidised by the government, from the unemployment office. Nevertheless, if I became ill, I'd still be able to access the health service with no trouble at all.
Everyone in Britain is eligible for healthcare, regardless of whether or not they have family.
JoHarrington, Feb 5, 2012
