I'm Scottish. If you are Scottish or Welsh, you pay £0 for prescription medicines as we have devolution. We also can go to pharmacies and get certain OTC (Over the Counter) medications completely free too. It is about over 20 years since I had to pay per prescription or via pre-payment certificates like in England.
In 2022 I spent 9 months in hospital, I lost count of the number of times I nearly died (more than 7), experienced the most pain it's possible to experience and live and spent a continuous week in surgery. After my surgery I was down to, from 120 kg, 45 kg. That's 265 lbs (18 stone 12) to 99 lbs (7 stone 1) I'm 195 cm (6 foot 4) My small intestine split open. My albumin was 2, so I was unable to heal a wound, I'd just melt and bleed. 24 hour care, in bed for 9 months. The NHS is stressed to breaking, underfunded and has lost thousands of the finest nursing staff they've ever had because of Brexit. But they still broke their backs to look after people like me. I did, of course, not spend a single penny. I've been out of work due to a debilitating illness for 5 years and signed off work but still paid SSP by the state, I've paid no National Insurance (like state health insurance) for years and they still look after me. Now I'm sitting waiting for more surgery so I can heal and go back to work. The state now pays me PIP, Personal Independence Payment, you can call it disability if you like. I pay nothing. I will not have to pay extra when I go back to work, which I desperately want to do. Another year or two and I'll be all done and back at work and again contributing to society. God bless the NHS and the United Kingdom, our beautiful isle of green and plenty.
My taxes paid for all that treatment .my wife and I are sending another payment in January for you and anyone who needs it. I'm 70 in 2025 so it may be me that needs it and you probably paid towards my treatment thank you
It's actually 8% technically, as that's the National Insurance rate if you're working....but you pay that from your earnings between £12,500 and £50,000 (approx). Up to £12,500 it's 0% and over £50k it's 2%. The 20% that was being referred to in the video was just the first income tax bracket, which of course is separate from NI.
Here in the UK there are also nurse specialists. There are diabetic nurses, parkinsons nurses etc, who are experts in their field. They are able to prescribe medications and will also advise the patients GPs which medications and doses to prescribe
Brit here. If I go to the doctor /GP if I need a prescription there is a flat price per item, if you are over 60 you get them free, same for children also diabetics. If you are an adult under 60 and need many regular prescription you can pay for a prepaid certificate which is good value.
@@MrBulky992Free prescriptions are for everyone in Scotland, Wales and, I believe, Northern Ireland. So in three out of four countries in the UK you don't have to pay for your prescription. England is the odd one out in the UK.
@@jacquieclapperton9758Yes, you are correct. I was focussing too hard on the age and nor enough on the geography. The vast majority of the population of the UK, however, live in England - 84% - so an individual UK resident is far more likely than not, statistically, to be paying prescription charges - not exactly an "odd" situation: more the UK norm.
I live in England and although I'm a Pensioner now from the time I was diagnosed as Asthmatic when I was in my 50s I got all and every Prescription free. My late husband had a Ileostomy which resulted in a Stoma Bag when he was in his 50s and from that day got all his prescriptions free.
@@jillosler9353I too am asthmatic and had to have a regular montly prescripion of inhalers but was never entitled to free prescriptions until I reached the age of 66. Perhaps your condition was more severe than mine. I definitely at least broke even with my prepayment certificate and probably did much better with it because of other medicines (nasal sprays, antihistamines, medicated shampoos and ointment for eczema).
The 20% Tax is a total, of which about half is general taxation, the other half is divided between state pension and NHS, so the healthcare part is less.
NHS funding comes from the Government, and our cost is what we call National Insurance Contributions (NICs), which for most employees is about 11% of their salary separate to the 20% Income Tax (those earning more than £50k a year pay a higher percentage, and £100k up an even higher percentage). NICs also contribute to the Social Security benefits like Unemployment, Disability and Pensions. But healthcare is totally free at the point of use, with the only real cost being around £10 for a prescription unless you're exempt from paying (under 16, unemployed, or retired and on pension). However, if you're taken to hospital, they don't take you home - I've been discharged at 4am twice in the last 10 years and I don't drive, so that's two taxi rides I had to pay for.
Two and a half years ago, I wanted a represcription of a painkiller for my osteoarthritis; the GP wanted a blood test for anaemia first. The blood test showed anaemia so I was sent for a colonoscopy which found cancer. After further tests, scans and surgeon appointments, six weeks later, I was taken into hospital by patient transport to have a colectomy, half of my bowel removed. I spent one night in the High Dependency Unit and six nights on the ward. I was then taken home by Patient Transport. I had my wound checked and dressed by the district nurses; at one point I had a telephone conversation with the out of hours GP at the local hospital who prescribed antibiotics which were dispensed by the hospital pharmacy. I then started chemotherapy after an appointment with the oncologist, referred on by the surgeon after the pathology from my operation came through. Every cycle, I had a blood test a couple of days beforehand. I was taken to and from my chemo appointments by Patient Transport, my medication was dispensed by the hospital pharmacy, and I was fed tea, biscuits and lunch during my treatment. Every cycle, I saw the oncologist and had further blood tests. I also had surgeon appointments until he discharged me to the specialist nurses some time after I was discharged from oncology. I get regular scans, blood tests and appointments with the specialist nurses. Since this, I have been diagnosed with diabetes, again due to blood tests at my GP's. I have been seen already by a specialist nurse and a dietician, and have had my eyes checked. I also see an NHS dentist on a regular basis. Because I am on benefits, i don't pay. I also get my spectacles provided. For all this, I paid NOTHING, not even for prescriptions as I live in Scotland. I am now on benefits and a higher level because I am considered unable to work due to illness (I received a lower level before my cancer as I had lost my job due to illness and being off sick for a year on full, then half pay. I also receive a separate disability payment.) I will receive my pension in three and a half years. I paid my National Insurance all my working life before this so I have already paid for it. Between tax and National Insurance, around 20% of my pay was taken off for the government before I received it; how big a percentage does a US person pay in terms of tax and health insurance? I don't begrudge any of my payments going towards others; we are all part of the same society and we never know when we will need help ourselves. I cannot imagine living in the USA and constantly worrying about how i could pay for my health needs. I consider myself lucky to be a Scot, in a country with strong socialist beliefs. If a country can't look after its weaker citizens, how can it lay claim to being civilised?
I am in the UK, I went to a pharmacist who tested my blood pressure at about 2.30 p.m. By 6.00 p.m. the doctor had phoned me and I had been supplied with a blood pressure machine and a chart to log my blood pressure twice in the morning and twice at night for two weeks. Quick and coordinated work wasn't it? It cost me nothing apart from a refundable small deposit for borrowing the blood pressure machine. We do pay for some things in the UK. I.E. for dental treatment and eye tests though a number of people can be exempt from these for a range of reasons, not necessarily financial reasons. NHS eye tests and dental treatment are subsidised so I expect they are cheaper than in the USA. Spectacles/glasses always cost something but some frames are aimed at people with low incomes to make them affordable. Last Monday I paid the NHS dentist £28 for a check up, descale and polish. Sadly a lot of dentists are now only accepting patients on a private basis and this has crept in and something needs to be done about it. People paying for dentistry privately are paying twice. Ear tests and hearing aids are completely free on the NHS a lot of people don't realise and go paying through the nose for these privately, again something needs to be done about this to make people more aware and to counter all the advertising of private ear tests and hearing aids aimed at older people. Thankfully there is no charge at all for speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hearing therapy or any similar therapies. Assistive devices are free up to a certain level but a means test is conducted for expensive OT/Physio equipment such as a stair life, through floor lift, house adaptation e..g. making a downstairs bathroom or a ramp to the path to one's house.
This lady ..I didn’t catch her name at the beginning..she needs to be in govt in either country… she really knows how to explain the issues for anyone to get it
National Insurance pays for the NHS, which is 5% I think, the 20% she’s talking about goes to the government for other spending, education, military etc.
My uncle had to remortgage his house in America so that he didn’t die of cancer which cost HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars. If he stayed in the UK it wouldn’t have cost him a penny and he’d be sitting pretty in his old age. Instead, he’s 76 and still working full time. Sad.
In my case, in the UK , I can drive around to my doctors any weekday morning and see one of our five doctors at the surgery. No payment. There can be little worse than being sick and not able to get treatment because of not having the money to do it.
As my life is literally dependent on manufactured insulin I’m very appreciative of the system we have in England. I would be scared to live in America. Simply because of that. It’s almost like the need to stay alive via insulin, is in a sense disregarded in the states.
There is no defined element of income tax that goes to the NHS, essentially the government collects tax from a variety of sources and from that pot spends an amount on the NHS in the same way that they spend tax revenue on the armed forces, what it does do though is mean that the burden of healthcare does not as in the American system adversely impact those least able to pay for it, in other words the poorest in society are not locked out of healthcare.
the pay me or fuck off attitude that exists in the US is puzzling to me. why would anybody want to live in such a selfish, uncaring and ..... well you know what i mean!
The USA does not provide universal health care free at the point of use and funded through taxes. The USA does provide universal education free at the point of use and funded through taxes. Both are required for there to be a productive workforce from which the whole nation benefits. Why the inconsistency? If universal free healthcare is "socialism" then free education must be too. Should all the public schools in the USA not be fee-paying?
I'm Scottish. If you are Scottish or Welsh, you pay £0 for prescription medicines as we have devolution. We also can go to pharmacies and get certain OTC (Over the Counter) medications completely free too. It is about over 20 years since I had to pay per prescription or via pre-payment certificates like in England.
Also free in Northern Ireland
In 2022 I spent 9 months in hospital, I lost count of the number of times I nearly died (more than 7), experienced the most pain it's possible to experience and live and spent a continuous week in surgery.
After my surgery I was down to, from 120 kg, 45 kg.
That's 265 lbs (18 stone 12) to 99 lbs (7 stone 1)
I'm 195 cm (6 foot 4)
My small intestine split open.
My albumin was 2, so I was unable to heal a wound, I'd just melt and bleed.
24 hour care, in bed for 9 months.
The NHS is stressed to breaking, underfunded and has lost thousands of the finest nursing staff they've ever had because of Brexit.
But they still broke their backs to look after people like me.
I did, of course, not spend a single penny. I've been out of work due to a debilitating illness for 5 years and signed off work but still paid SSP by the state, I've paid no National Insurance (like state health insurance) for years and they still look after me.
Now I'm sitting waiting for more surgery so I can heal and go back to work.
The state now pays me PIP, Personal Independence Payment, you can call it disability if you like.
I pay nothing.
I will not have to pay extra when I go back to work, which I desperately want to do.
Another year or two and I'll be all done and back at work and again contributing to society.
God bless the NHS and the United Kingdom, our beautiful isle of green and plenty.
My taxes paid for all that treatment .my wife and I are sending another payment in January for you and anyone who needs it. I'm 70 in 2025 so it may be me that needs it and you probably paid towards my treatment thank you
Hi, you've been through so much.
Wishing you well.
NHS i literally owe my life to!
💙from scotland
In the US they know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Well put
GREED IS GOOD....F"ck your feelings! USA USA USA! .....
What a shithole.
Nobody in the UK moans about that 20% of TAX (if that is in fact the actual %) goes on the NHS. It's not even something most Brits know.
and its still less than americans pay for their health insurance when those corporations are inflating prices and fleecing them.
It's actually 8% technically, as that's the National Insurance rate if you're working....but you pay that from your earnings between £12,500 and £50,000 (approx). Up to £12,500 it's 0% and over £50k it's 2%. The 20% that was being referred to in the video was just the first income tax bracket, which of course is separate from NI.
Here in the UK there are also nurse specialists. There are diabetic nurses, parkinsons nurses etc, who are experts in their field. They are able to prescribe medications and will also advise the patients GPs which medications and doses to prescribe
Brit here. If I go to the doctor /GP if I need a prescription there is a flat price per item, if you are over 60 you get them free, same for children also diabetics. If you are an adult under 60 and need many regular prescription you can pay for a prepaid certificate which is good value.
Free prescriptions in the UK are when you are 66 and over.
@@MrBulky992Free prescriptions are for everyone in Scotland, Wales and, I believe, Northern Ireland. So in three out of four countries in the UK you don't have to pay for your prescription. England is the odd one out in the UK.
@@jacquieclapperton9758Yes, you are correct. I was focussing too hard on the age and nor enough on the geography.
The vast majority of the population of the UK, however, live in England - 84% - so an individual UK resident is far more likely than not, statistically, to be paying prescription charges - not exactly an "odd" situation: more the UK norm.
I live in England and although I'm a Pensioner now from the time I was diagnosed as Asthmatic when I was in my 50s I got all and every Prescription free. My late husband had a Ileostomy which resulted in a Stoma Bag when he was in his 50s and from that day got all his prescriptions free.
@@jillosler9353I too am asthmatic and had to have a regular montly prescripion of inhalers but was never entitled to free prescriptions until I reached the age of 66. Perhaps your condition was more severe than mine.
I definitely at least broke even with my prepayment certificate and probably did much better with it because of other medicines (nasal sprays, antihistamines, medicated shampoos and ointment for eczema).
The 20% Tax is a total, of which about half is general taxation, the other half is divided between state pension and NHS, so the healthcare part is less.
NHS funding comes from the Government, and our cost is what we call National Insurance Contributions (NICs), which for most employees is about 11% of their salary separate to the 20% Income Tax (those earning more than £50k a year pay a higher percentage, and £100k up an even higher percentage). NICs also contribute to the Social Security benefits like Unemployment, Disability and Pensions. But healthcare is totally free at the point of use, with the only real cost being around £10 for a prescription unless you're exempt from paying (under 16, unemployed, or retired and on pension).
However, if you're taken to hospital, they don't take you home - I've been discharged at 4am twice in the last 10 years and I don't drive, so that's two taxi rides I had to pay for.
Two and a half years ago, I wanted a represcription of a painkiller for my osteoarthritis; the GP wanted a blood test for anaemia first. The blood test showed anaemia so I was sent for a colonoscopy which found cancer. After further tests, scans and surgeon appointments, six weeks later, I was taken into hospital by patient transport to have a colectomy, half of my bowel removed. I spent one night in the High Dependency Unit and six nights on the ward. I was then taken home by Patient Transport. I had my wound checked and dressed by the district nurses; at one point I had a telephone conversation with the out of hours GP at the local hospital who prescribed antibiotics which were dispensed by the hospital pharmacy. I then started chemotherapy after an appointment with the oncologist, referred on by the surgeon after the pathology from my operation came through. Every cycle, I had a blood test a couple of days beforehand. I was taken to and from my chemo appointments by Patient Transport, my medication was dispensed by the hospital pharmacy, and I was fed tea, biscuits and lunch during my treatment. Every cycle, I saw the oncologist and had further blood tests. I also had surgeon appointments until he discharged me to the specialist nurses some time after I was discharged from oncology. I get regular scans, blood tests and appointments with the specialist nurses.
Since this, I have been diagnosed with diabetes, again due to blood tests at my GP's. I have been seen already by a specialist nurse and a dietician, and have had my eyes checked.
I also see an NHS dentist on a regular basis. Because I am on benefits, i don't pay. I also get my spectacles provided.
For all this, I paid NOTHING, not even for prescriptions as I live in Scotland. I am now on benefits and a higher level because I am considered unable to work due to illness (I received a lower level before my cancer as I had lost my job due to illness and being off sick for a year on full, then half pay. I also receive a separate disability payment.) I will receive my pension in three and a half years. I paid my National Insurance all my working life before this so I have already paid for it.
Between tax and National Insurance, around 20% of my pay was taken off for the government before I received it; how big a percentage does a US person pay in terms of tax and health insurance? I don't begrudge any of my payments going towards others; we are all part of the same society and we never know when we will need help ourselves.
I cannot imagine living in the USA and constantly worrying about how i could pay for my health needs. I consider myself lucky to be a Scot, in a country with strong socialist beliefs. If a country can't look after its weaker citizens, how can it lay claim to being civilised?
I am in the UK, I went to a pharmacist who tested my blood pressure at about 2.30 p.m. By 6.00 p.m. the doctor had phoned me and I had been supplied with a blood pressure machine and a chart to log my blood pressure twice in the morning and twice at night for two weeks. Quick and coordinated work wasn't it? It cost me nothing apart from a refundable small deposit for borrowing the blood pressure machine.
We do pay for some things in the UK. I.E. for dental treatment and eye tests though a number of people can be exempt from these for a range of reasons, not necessarily financial reasons. NHS eye tests and dental treatment are subsidised so I expect they are cheaper than in the USA. Spectacles/glasses always cost something but some frames are aimed at people with low incomes to make them affordable. Last Monday I paid the NHS dentist £28 for a check up, descale and polish. Sadly a lot of dentists are now only accepting patients on a private basis and this has crept in and something needs to be done about it. People paying for dentistry privately are paying twice. Ear tests and hearing aids are completely free on the NHS a lot of people don't realise and go paying through the nose for these privately, again something needs to be done about this to make people more aware and to counter all the advertising of private ear tests and hearing aids aimed at older people.
Thankfully there is no charge at all for speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hearing therapy or any similar therapies. Assistive devices are free up to a certain level but a means test is conducted for expensive OT/Physio equipment such as a stair life, through floor lift, house adaptation e..g. making a downstairs bathroom or a ramp to the path to one's house.
This lady ..I didn’t catch her name at the beginning..she needs to be in govt in either country… she really knows how to explain the issues for anyone to get it
National Insurance pays for the NHS, which is 5% I think, the 20% she’s talking about goes to the government for other spending, education, military etc.
My uncle had to remortgage his house in America so that he didn’t die of cancer which cost HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars. If he stayed in the UK it wouldn’t have cost him a penny and he’d be sitting pretty in his old age. Instead, he’s 76 and still working full time. Sad.
In my case, in the UK , I can drive around to my doctors any weekday morning and see one of our five doctors at the surgery. No payment. There can be little worse than being sick and not able to get treatment because of not having the money to do it.
As my life is literally dependent on manufactured insulin I’m very appreciative of the system we have in England. I would be scared to live in America. Simply because of that.
It’s almost like the need to stay alive via insulin, is in a sense disregarded in the states.
Wales, Scotland another Ireland all scrips are free for everyone.
There is no defined element of income tax that goes to the NHS, essentially the government collects tax from a variety of sources and from that pot spends an amount on the NHS in the same way that they spend tax revenue on the armed forces, what it does do though is mean that the burden of healthcare does not as in the American system adversely impact those least able to pay for it, in other words the poorest in society are not locked out of healthcare.
The USA does not have a health care system, it has health payment system. The difference is the word Care.
The U S health care system is a business nothing more.
the pay me or fuck off attitude that exists in the US is puzzling to me. why would anybody want to live in such a selfish, uncaring and ..... well you know what i mean!
Mafia medicine "fuck you, pay me".
You mean the fuck you I'm all right . Until they need it
If I was American I would be dead.
Most people 😂 train to be doctors to help people if your in it for the money you train to be a lawyer
In the states you have a tax system for space travel but not health care. Is it just me that thinks that’s bizzare 🤔
Yeah in the UK if you earn more money then you get taxed more. If you earn over 50K then that is taxed at 40%
Only on the amount over £50,271. First £12,570 is 0%, between £12,271 & £50,270 is 20%.
The USA does not provide universal health care free at the point of use and funded through taxes.
The USA does provide universal education free at the point of use and funded through taxes.
Both are required for there to be a productive workforce from which the whole nation benefits.
Why the inconsistency? If universal free healthcare is "socialism" then free education must be too. Should all the public schools in the USA not be fee-paying?
Do you want to know what i spend on health care, i have, scoliosis, depression, and some other things,
it cost my every week.......
FA, NOT A PENNY