Comments on: Universal Insurance http://conservativeposts.com/2009/04/universal-insurance/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:04:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul Chaston http://conservativeposts.com/2009/04/universal-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Paul Chaston Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:34:13 +0000 http://conservativeposts.com/?p=331#comment-6 I read this post with great interest. In the UK, of course health care is not and never has been free. The British National Heathcare System is funded by an additional "Tax" National Insurance Contributions (NI) which are paid by both employer and employee as a percentage of personal earnings up to a certain level. The unemployed, disabled, long term ill and those over pensionable age do not pay but are given credits. Individuals are free to purchase additional Healthcare Insurance which they may use instead of the National Health System (NHS) and, though less frequent now due to the current economic situation employers can provide Healthcare Insurance as part of an employees remuneration. Other Insurances provide care in non emergency cases after a certain period of time if the patient has to wait longer due to extended waiting lists. Foreign nationals from outside the EU are required to pay for their treatment but I understand that does not happen often in an emergency situation. While I enjoyed your well written and informative article, it failed to explain how the poor, unemployed, disabled, long term ill and elderly are able to receive healthcare and pay for it. We in Britain are very proud of our NHS, care is free to all at the point of delivery and emergency is free to all. My 83 year old Uncle living on a very small personal pension plus the State pension does not have to worry about paying for any of his treatment or medication. I read this post with great interest. In the UK, of course health care is not and never has been free. The British National Heathcare System is funded by an additional “Tax” National Insurance Contributions (NI) which are paid by both employer and employee as a percentage of personal earnings up to a certain level. The unemployed, disabled, long term ill and those over pensionable age do not pay but are given credits. Individuals are free to purchase additional Healthcare Insurance which they may use instead of the National Health System (NHS) and, though less frequent now due to the current economic situation employers can provide Healthcare Insurance as part of an employees remuneration. Other Insurances provide care in non emergency cases after a certain period of time if the patient has to wait longer due to extended waiting lists. Foreign nationals from outside the EU are required to pay for their treatment but I understand that does not happen often in an emergency situation.

While I enjoyed your well written and informative article, it failed to explain how the poor, unemployed, disabled, long term ill and elderly are able to receive healthcare and pay for it.

We in Britain are very proud of our NHS, care is free to all at the point of delivery and emergency is free to all. My 83 year old Uncle living on a very small personal pension plus the State pension does not have to worry about paying for any of his treatment or medication.

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