I live under the NHS and whilst it has its advantages, a lot of people live under the delusion that it is "free". Like the students who protest against higher tuition fees for university, people do not understand that anything paid for by the government is ultimately paid for by the people. If education was free for students, it would be paid for by everyone else. Likewise, the NHS is free for everyone, but it paid for by the tax payers.
Roughly 8.6% of my gross income is taken as national insurance, which covers services like the NHS. That is on top of the 20% tax rate I already pay. If there should be such a service, it should be completely optional. I want the right to either pay the government for my healthcare, or choose to go with a private insurer if I am not satisfied with the NHS.
In an ideal world, the free market would handle this by having numerous insurance companies that competed for customers, lowering prices to make healthcare affordable for everyone (and the government / welfare charities would support those unable to buy healthcare themselves). Hospitals would not be limited to a few insurers, but would be able to accept all of them. Oh yes, and in the case of the US, insurance across state lines would be legal, so you can live in Boston and still have valid insurance in San Francisco.
Roughly 8.6% of my gross income is taken as national insurance, which covers services like the NHS. That is on top of the 20% tax rate I already pay. If there should be such a service, it should be completely optional. I want the right to either pay the government for my healthcare, or choose to go with a private insurer if I am not satisfied with the NHS.
In an ideal world, the free market would handle this by having numerous insurance companies that competed for customers, lowering prices to make healthcare affordable for everyone (and the government / welfare charities would support those unable to buy healthcare themselves). Hospitals would not be limited to a few insurers, but would be able to accept all of them. Oh yes, and in the case of the US, insurance across state lines would be legal, so you can live in Boston and still have valid insurance in San Francisco.
