Conservatives have more self-control

[I_am_not_mafia]

I don't know how it all works in the UK and Germany.

In the UK we have the national health service paid for by taxes. Go to your GP with a problem and they'll either give you something to fix it or refer you to a specialist department if you need it. Walk into A&E (ER) and a triage nurse will determine how urgent your case is before you wait to be seen. Phone 999 and an ambulance comes round. Or phone NHS 24 and get advice. They'll tell you if you need to go to the A&E. All of it is free.

Prescriptions require you to pay a standard cost per bottle regardless of how expensive it is. I can't remember how much it costs, something like £6. The reason I can't remember is because I live in Scotland and all prescriptions are given out free here because the cost is offset by having less paperwork.

The advantage of the NHS is that economies of scale bring down the cost of healthcare for everyone. Disadvantages are that it can be a postcode lottery for some of the more obscure and expensive procedures. but this is rare. Another advantage is that the NHS can do its own research evaluating drugs etc rather than rely on profit seeking corporations with vested interests.


In Germany everyone has to have medical insurance. You are not allowed to move there without having the ability to look after yourself. The insurance company will take a cut out of your wages, The more you earn the more you pay. If you don't earn much you don't pay much. If the insurance company makes a profit at the end of the year then they give all their members some money back. This happened to me once when I was living there.

Go to the local doctors or whatever, show your card and get seen. The insurance company will pay for it all. Unlike the UK you can walk into a specialist department rather than wait to get referred by your GP. Everyone tries to offer you the best service they can because they know that the insurance will pay for everything.