There are plenty of parts of healthcare that are privatised and pay only. Some of this paid for by the NHS and the current government are attacking the “costs” of that. Especially as the treatments are often more expensive when done privately than they were on the NHS. Dental and optical treatment are privatised now. Much of our ambulance and rescue service are now private or voluntary. We’re seeing ever increasing costs for the ambulance services, while watching wait times skyrocket. Given private ambulance firms are measured on a few KPIs, they are targeting those over general care. Many surgeries that used to be covered (such a cleft lip) by the NHS are now regarded as cosmetic and come with insurance deductibles or are not even covered by insurance.
Many industries, such as software development, are offering private cover as a workplace bonus. What that means in reality is when I come off my motorbike, the expensive emergency surgery I need will be covered by an NHS surgeon. The insurance company will then “elect” to pay for me to be moved to a comfortable hotel/hospital where I can stay in comfort. That comfort is what I’ll be paying my insurance for, not the actual surgery.
Even if there are a few things now considered “cosmetic” in the UK, it’s still far, far from anything you’d experience in the US. And that’s where all the medical debt comes in.
Not only do you have to struggle with the health issues, often through no fault of your own, you also have to struggle through financial hardship on top of that. It’s truly an awful system.
Britain has universal healthcare with zero deductible and zero co-pays. Not even on the same planet.
Currently yes but Torries want to remove that and replace it with one like the USA
Yes, and they are being bribed just like our politicians were
Sadly, only somewhat true nowadays.
There are plenty of parts of healthcare that are privatised and pay only. Some of this paid for by the NHS and the current government are attacking the “costs” of that. Especially as the treatments are often more expensive when done privately than they were on the NHS. Dental and optical treatment are privatised now. Much of our ambulance and rescue service are now private or voluntary. We’re seeing ever increasing costs for the ambulance services, while watching wait times skyrocket. Given private ambulance firms are measured on a few KPIs, they are targeting those over general care. Many surgeries that used to be covered (such a cleft lip) by the NHS are now regarded as cosmetic and come with insurance deductibles or are not even covered by insurance.
Many industries, such as software development, are offering private cover as a workplace bonus. What that means in reality is when I come off my motorbike, the expensive emergency surgery I need will be covered by an NHS surgeon. The insurance company will then “elect” to pay for me to be moved to a comfortable hotel/hospital where I can stay in comfort. That comfort is what I’ll be paying my insurance for, not the actual surgery.
Even if there are a few things now considered “cosmetic” in the UK, it’s still far, far from anything you’d experience in the US. And that’s where all the medical debt comes in.
Not only do you have to struggle with the health issues, often through no fault of your own, you also have to struggle through financial hardship on top of that. It’s truly an awful system.