What is the point in paying...
Discussion
For National Insurance? Was having a chat with my neighbour earlier today who is off work due to a stuffed knee (cartlidge problems) he is self employed and is unable to work, the NHS specialist has told him he needs an operation to correct the problem and this is where it all goes wrong....
The MRI scan can take 4-6 weeks to get an appointment and the operation he will need has a waiting list and will be a minimum of 16 weeks after the scan results!! Now we are all aware the NHS have waiting lists but the specialist informed him it might be a good idea to go private, he can't work until his knee is sorted so has stumped up £200 for a private MRI scan, he is also having the operation carried out privately at a cost of approx £3000, going private will have him back to work in approx 4-6 weeks.Just seems pointless to have to pay out of your own pocket to get back to work quicker to pay more tax!
The MRI scan can take 4-6 weeks to get an appointment and the operation he will need has a waiting list and will be a minimum of 16 weeks after the scan results!! Now we are all aware the NHS have waiting lists but the specialist informed him it might be a good idea to go private, he can't work until his knee is sorted so has stumped up £200 for a private MRI scan, he is also having the operation carried out privately at a cost of approx £3000, going private will have him back to work in approx 4-6 weeks.Just seems pointless to have to pay out of your own pocket to get back to work quicker to pay more tax!
Yep.
We pay for private health care. It may £150 pcm but the bottom line is if we need an Op we get it. If we need an MRI (as I did last year), I go to my Doctor on Monday, and that Thursday I have an MRI. Had there been a serious issue I could have been in surgery the following week.
Quite frankly, it's worth the money, you only have one life and health is fundamental, it's worth paying for.
We pay for private health care. It may £150 pcm but the bottom line is if we need an Op we get it. If we need an MRI (as I did last year), I go to my Doctor on Monday, and that Thursday I have an MRI. Had there been a serious issue I could have been in surgery the following week.
Quite frankly, it's worth the money, you only have one life and health is fundamental, it's worth paying for.
steve.c said:
Just seems pointless to have to pay out of your own pocket to get back to work quicker to pay more tax!
If you didn't have a job, there'd be no rush and as such the system works fine, if you are a spongeing layabout. Another example of people who actually contribute something - other than another generation of tracksuited feckless layabouts - being shafted.
FQ110 said:
Most Heavily taxed country in the world I reckon - could be wrong - Being a welfare state we're paying for lazy ass f
kers to sit about having too many kids.
I can't get over needing a license to watch fkin TV. What;s that about, a gun - yes, a car - OK, but a tv? ok
Do other countries have to pay for a TV license?kers to sit about having too many kids. I can't get over needing a license to watch f
kin TV. What;s that about, a gun - yes, a car - OK, but a tv? okDon't fancy having no NHS though. We don't realise just how lucky we are - if you couldn't afford private healthcare insurance - I think costs in the private sector would be a shock. Cup of tea sir? £2.50. ECG sir? £100. Appendix out sir? £500. Its not perfect but its better than nowt!
steve.c said:
For National Insurance? Was having a chat with my neighbour earlier today who is off work due to a stuffed knee (cartlidge problems) he is self employed and is unable to work, the NHS specialist has told him he needs an operation to correct the problem and this is where it all goes wrong....
The MRI scan can take 4-6 weeks to get an appointment and the operation he will need has a waiting list and will be a minimum of 16 weeks after the scan results!! Now we are all aware the NHS have waiting lists but the specialist informed him it might be a good idea to go private, he can't work until his knee is sorted so has stumped up £200 for a private MRI scan, he is also having the operation carried out privately at a cost of approx £3000, going private will have him back to work in approx 4-6 weeks.Just seems pointless to have to pay out of your own pocket to get back to work quicker to pay more tax!
Wrong. From the moment the patient is referred by the GP the patient has a maximum wait of 18 weeks before they have completed the required treatment.The MRI scan can take 4-6 weeks to get an appointment and the operation he will need has a waiting list and will be a minimum of 16 weeks after the scan results!! Now we are all aware the NHS have waiting lists but the specialist informed him it might be a good idea to go private, he can't work until his knee is sorted so has stumped up £200 for a private MRI scan, he is also having the operation carried out privately at a cost of approx £3000, going private will have him back to work in approx 4-6 weeks.Just seems pointless to have to pay out of your own pocket to get back to work quicker to pay more tax!
NI isn't simply a tax that finances the NHS, it's just another tax. The NHS is funded from the exchequer, and is not singly financed by the NI.
Doctor Bone said:
Don't fancy having no NHS though..... Its not perfect but its better than nowt!
Trouble being that if you work for a living - easpecially self employed own boss etc. Generally the wait to go from referral, to scans to appointment with specialist to solution is way longer than you can afford off work. As such, if you can you go private which forces people who are already paying into the system 'topping up'That is not how the system was envisaged nor is it how it should be.
Two years ago (in France), I injured my back disagreeing with a horse, after living with the pain for a couple of weeks, I went to see my GP who did a few cursory checks and declared himself unhappy with the reflexes in my left leg. He scheduled an X-Ray & MRI for the following day and called a surgeon there and then to book an appointment for the following Monday... They operated on the herniated disc on the friday and I was home on the saturday.
All courtesy of the French social system. No it's not cheap, but at least you get some form of service in return.
And this is not a dig a the poor buggers at the coalface in the NHS, but the muppets the fund and mismanage them.
National Insurance payments are just another tax. They are not ring-fenced to pay for healthcare. The main point of paying National Insurance contributions is to qualify you for the State Retirement Pension. When you have paid 30yrs contributions, you will qualify for the full pension on reaching retirement age.
If you are lucky, this should cover your weekly shop, provided that it's no more than two tins of catfood and a tube of pile ointment
If you are lucky, this should cover your weekly shop, provided that it's no more than two tins of catfood and a tube of pile ointment
sparkythecat said:
National Insurance payments are just another tax. They are not ring-fenced to pay for healthcare. The main point of paying National Insurance contributions is to qualify you for the State Retirement Pension. When you have paid 30yrs contributions, you will qualify for the full pension on reaching retirement age.
If you are lucky, this should cover your weekly shop, provided that it's no more than two tins of catfood and a tube of pile ointment
absolutely correct, but also the reality is absolutely disgraceful.If you are lucky, this should cover your weekly shop, provided that it's no more than two tins of catfood and a tube of pile ointment
sparkythecat said:
National Insurance payments are just another tax. They are not ring-fenced to pay for healthcare. The main point of paying National Insurance contributions is to qualify you for the State Retirement Pension. When you have paid 30yrs contributions, you will qualify for the full pension on reaching retirement age.
I thought it was to cover both healthcare and pensions, but I could well be wrong...sparkythecat said:
If you are lucky, this should cover your weekly shop, provided that it's no more than two tins of catfood and a tube of pile ointment
Such a sad image and probably so true.What kind of work does he do? - I have totally buggered knees, they're incredibly painful at times - to the extent that I have a medical need to drive an auto car for work and can no longer ride modern sportsbikes, play any sports or run.
It hasn't stopped me working - I just control the pain with a combination of voltarol and ibuprofen.
Eventually, I may get them fixed - but I can't be arsed at the moment.
It hasn't stopped me working - I just control the pain with a combination of voltarol and ibuprofen.
Eventually, I may get them fixed - but I can't be arsed at the moment.
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