American Reacts to the UK Healthcare System

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As an American I do not understand the British healthcare system or the National Health Service. Today I am very interested to learn about British healthcare and how it compares to the American healthcare system. If you enjoyed the video feel free to leave a comment, like, or subscribe for more!

[@c_n_b]

Many Americans can't stand the idea of their healthcare being "socialised", when in fact their army, navy, police force etc is already socialised.

[@Timbothruster-fh3cw]

And it's a mess!

[@lucylane7397]

They say they don’t want to pay for other people’s healthcare. But isn’t that what insurance does but with a lot of middle men taking a cut so it’s more expensive

[@marydavis5234]

@@lucylane7397health insurance is the US is for only the person, who pays the monthly healthcare. I pay $190.00 a month for Medicare Advantage, I have no co-pays, free prescription medicines, which would cost me, over $100.00 a month, if I had to pay for my prescriptions.

[@johnbraithwaite863]

The Army and Police are not socialised, they are levied instruments of power that the government wields to enact authority over others. They are not a service that you use.

[@frankdux5693]

​@@lucylane7397exactly that.

[@daleanthony5791]

The NHS is something that most Brits will fight tooth and nail to keep. When I was diagnosed with cancer I was seen at a specialist hospital with 2 weeks, they then paid for a hotel for my family and me when I had proton beam treatment in a different part of the country. This treatment would cost $250,000 in the USA, it cost me the price of lunch and dinner for a week. I really love the NHS

[@mdx7460]

This is what people don’t seem to understand (or chose to ignore). The waiting times people use as an argument against having universal healthcare goes out the window when it’s a serious situation.

[@samkenyon4522]

Unfortunately that's not what's happening. The NHS is being destroyed by the Conservatives and very few people are doing anything about it (including me). We're so lucky to have the NHS but it isn't going to survive underfunding, outsourcing to private companies, low wages and horrendous working conditions for much longer (including very dangerous covid practices where healthcare workers are currently given zero protection against covid infections). It's disgraceful.

[@gdok6088]

@@marydavis5234 Maybe you didn't have proton beam therapy which is cutting edge and very expensive.

[@samkenyon4522]

@@marydavis5234 The average cost for cancer treatment in the US is £150,000 - so some people will pay far more and some far less, depending on the type of cancer, how advanced it is, the treatment required, etc etc. Your personal experience doesn't necessarily match every other person.

[@marieparker3822]

I find it hard to believe that you and your family had hotel expenses paid. The NHS in Britain does not use hotels. You are either an in-patient in a hospital bed, or an out-patient visiting the hospital on an appointment that day.

[@iangudgin6536]

Us Brits like to complain about the shortfalls of the NHS but we LOVE it and are fiercely protective of it. My Dad remembers a time before the NHS, and he says it's the best thing we have done as a country.

[@nigethesassenach3614]

Well said

[@susieq9801]

I agree with your dad. I remember before our NHS too. My mother had surgery and we couldn't afford to keep her in the hospital because we were poor and my dad was laid off from work. During her first night home only a day after her major surgery she almost bled to death when I, as a 5 year old, heard her moaning and slipped in her blood on the floor. To me the difference between any NHS and FOR PROFIT health care is like a comparison between wholesale and retail. Retail requires a brick and mortar store (whenever you enter a city the biggest buildings are owned by insurance companies) with all the subsequent expenses, more employees doing all the processing trying to prevent people from getting benefits they paid for and siphoning off profits and more paperwork. Someone has to pay those pencil pushers. Wholesale gives you the exact same product without all the intermediary leeches who want to make a buck off others' misery. People are human beings, not products to provide money for some insurance company that never even touches a patient. What are they getting paid for when they do NOTHING to help the sick except trying to keep their costs down to make more money?

[@fallofcamelot]

There's a reason we celebrated it in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics

[@seldom_bucket]

I would agree it's the best thing we've done if it wasn't for the fact we abolished slavery all over the world.

[@iangudgin6536]

@@seldom_bucket Oh, yes you are completely right but the NHS is a close second 🥈

[@SotonCueMan]

The key thing that Americans miss, is that the extra sums we pay each month to have this are often cheaper than the insurance premiums they pay each month. So we pay less each month for way more - plus not having to worry about it at all! It also encourages us to seek help earlier when the illness is not so advanced and the cost of treatment much less. By Americans waiting until it's critical it means treatment costs are way way more!

[@jiggely_spears]

Costs are more, coupled with less favourable outcomes....

[@rodsmith7032]

@@jiggely_spearsNot true

[@apriljoy1094]

No. In the UK we pay less even if as well as the NHS (cradle to grave coverage) we also chose to have private health care as well. The comparison figures by country are for all health care private and public. So the NHS is even better value than it appears at first

[@brentwoodbay]

@@jiggely_spears In the US Yes!

[@randomxnp]

What utter, utter bullshit. "More"? NHS care is terrible.

[@MrPhil1503]

Can you imagine if you had to pay for the fire brigade in an emergency, or get a bill for calling the police? Healthcare is the same as these vital services

[@B-A-L]

American fire services were originally private companies and you had to pay to call them out. They were only nationalised after it was found that they were deliberately causing fires in order to profit from them.

[@RyanLeishman]

Just seems like in America people would rather feed a corporation than support their neighbour. It’s pretty sad.

[@IsaacSemple]

Don't think they have a choice but I've seen the insurance plans and they are extortionate

[@mdx7460]

@@IsaacSemple the many comments from Americans that I’ve seen, most don’t want the choice and believe they shouldn’t have to pay for others 😑

[@DataLupus]

which is ironic considering the US has a large Christian population and "love thy neighbour" is a commonly referenced quote from the Bible

[@marydavis5234]

@@simonrobbins8357 so wrong, healthcare insurance premiums in the US is used for only the person, who pays the monthly premium.

[@susieq9801]

@@marydavis5234 - YOU are "so wrong". Others pay premiums too and some of the money you pay the insurance company goes to their care as well. If you've never been sick but are paying insurance premiums, where do you think the money goes that YOU paid? Some goes to pay for the care of others insured by the same company and the rest goes to PROFIT even if you never need to use it yourself. The premiums others pay might go to take care of you too. Meanwhile, you are paying for something you might seldom or never use. Insurance companies love that. That is how all insurance companies work. When people don't need it the premiums go into their profits. How many insurance companies go broke? What are the biggest buildings in every city? Insurance offices....shysters. The difference is that your fees are exorbitant while taxes used to support any NHS system are according to income. Why? PROFIT, PROFIT, PROFIT. I would sooner my tax money be used for my own care when I need it and the excess go to help others if they need it. It's called altruism. An NHS is much less expensive than insurance because there is no profit. Remember that the taxes others pay to an NHS system are also there for YOU when you need it. You just don't get it because Americans have been propagandised for a century.

[@Boogledigs]

If a visitor to the UK needs urgent medical care, it is available, free of charge. We wouldn't have it any other way.

[@georgebarnes8163]

at the same time , UK citizens who have paid for the care can not get it.

[@erichalfbee503]

And that is a problem! I have a colleague from America working in the UK and he had to visit a UK hospital. He was fully covered by the company but there was no way to pay! So the UK yax payer missed out. Same with tourists. I take out travel insurance when I go abroud on holiday, people visiting the UK on holiday probably do as well but we seem unable to charge them!

[@djlads]

​@erichalfbee503 no we don't the American working in the UK is not only paying for their care via taxes paid here, they are also paying more as they have to pay a certain amount per year to cover their payments, that might be covered by their company, so they might not see that, but if they are working here they pay taxes and therefore pay nothing for treatment, as they are contributing and the employer is contributing as well at a higher amount which people seem to forget.

[@djlads]

​@@georgebarnes8163bullshit I've no issues seeing my GPs and accessing services.

[@erichalfbee503]

That would depend if they were on a tempory assignment or not, i.e. seconded employees. Obviously they dont swap tax systems if they are seconded for a day. The actual period of secondment depends on their country or origin and length of secondment. Either way, my employer has private coverage available that the NHS could have used to re-coup the costs.

[@katherinewithak2865]

I know everyone has different experiences but I have worked and been a patient in a good few different hospitals and they have never been dirty. I’ve seen that mentioned on a few videos of Americans explaining the NHS. The domestic staff work extremely hard and I don’t think they get enough credit xx

[@NorthWestOutlaws]

In the USA the hospitals are cleaner as people can not afford to use them

[@Mark-1978]

I've seen this criticism as well, I don't know if they confuse cleanliness with paint peeling in places

[@peterjackson4763]

There are problems at my local hospital, but cleanliness is not one. The main problem is the communication between departments, but it has been improving. I was in hospital just before Christmas last year and was told by my doctor I could leave on Christmas Eve, but it took hours for that to get through to the nurses in charge of the ward.

[@Nixie118]

I've been to loads of different UK hospitals, and never thought any were dirty, even the tiny quiet ones. I think this is misinformation.

[@matc6221]

The last 2 times I had surgery at the Heath hospital in Cardiff, there was dried blood spots on the floor by my bed. The second time I had wet blood soaking from the foam in the mattress on to my back, not from me. They had to change the sheets only for it to seep through again. Luckily I was sent home a few hours after. I appreciate the NHS but that is actually gross. What at a lot of people foget is the NHS was fonded by a Welsh man, Aneurin Bevan, who was born not to far from Cardiff, but the biggest hospital in Wales can be a bit ic.

[@1967AJB]

I’m English living in the U.K., and I’m coming to the end of a three month NHS experience. I discovered late on a Friday night a very scary looking, very large burst blister on my foot. I went to Accident and Emergency at 8:30 the next morning. I waited for two minutes to see a triage nurse. Then I waited less than ten minutes to see a consultant. He sent me to hospital and gave me the name of a department to go to. I arrived, went to the department named and was greeted by a nurse who knew my name and was waiting for me. Half an hour later I was in bed. I had a three week stay in hospital, was on IV antibiotics 24/7. I had a CAT scan, an MRI, X-rays and a ECG from a cardiology consultant. I was under the care of a vascular surgeon who I saw everyday. I came close to losing my leg, but they saved me. There was so much effort focussed on me, and the food was great! Upon discharge, I was fitted with an Off-Loading boot, to protect the wound on my foot. Oh and my three week car park fee was waved. In the eight weeks since discharge my leg has been cleaned treated and redressed three times a week. Once by a specialist treatment nurse, once by a podiatrist and once by the consultant. My large, deep wound is almost healed. The car parking charges for all those visits were also waved. The whole experience has cost my NOTHING! Nor have all the other treatments I receive. The reason why your country provides so much disinformation is that too many people are making too much money out of your system. Your system is morally bankrupt. Defenders of your system say, Ah, it’s not free, you pay for it by your taxes. Yes, you pay your taxes too, as much, if not more than we do, but those taxes don’t pay for any of your medical expenses. The only argument in the US not to adopt our system is that 1% of the population, those who already have 90% of your wealth might lose out. Crazy fear drives your country.

[@threethymes]

Correct. The NHS is NOT run for profit. US health systems are run for profit.

[@richt71]

NHS is amazing. My friend unfortunately had a heart attack recently. He had a paramedic stabilising him within minutes of calling for help and was in the operating room of the local hospital within an hour putting stents in. He was fit to come home 3 days later. I recently needed some physio on my back. I could go via the NHS for free but wait 2 months or pay £50 a session and go to the same practice but privately and been seen in a week. This is the NHS. Non emergency care can take time as emergency care is prioritized.

[@rogu3rooster]

I tore my ACL some years ago, had suregery and was back home in a few days but would've had to wait months for the rehab phase, luckily my father is quite well off so paid for rehab privately

[@shinycaterpie4443]

And, by making it an option to just wait, the NHS drives down costs of that privatised care so it is still massively helping non-emergency care even if they go private. Also a year ago I got mauled by a dog, leaving my hand fairly messed up after it bit down on it while I was defending myself. Got seen to by the NHS very quickly and had literally some of the best hand surgeons in the world working on me so after that and physio my hand is almost good as new and it cost me nothing.

[@jon2922]

Basically the biggest issue with the NHS is that it's underfunded right now, not enough doctors, nurses or facilities. Get a competent government that actually puts money into it and those long waiting times will gradually come down

[@TheRockkickass]

It took an hour to get in the operating room 😂. You think that’s good?

[@kareno6986]

⁠@@TheRockkickassprobably because the patient would need stabilised before transport to the hospital, it would also take time to travel to the hospital and be prepped for surgery before going in to the operating room. So yes I think that is good

[@ElunedLaine]

I think there's an element of our different cultures. UK residents have accepted that a percentage of their taxes paid go toward the NHS to help others. US folk seem to take the attitude 'why should my taxes help someone else'

[@lewis123417]

It's deffinately a cultural thing, especially considering even our conservative party have consistently upheld the principle of healthcare being free at the point of use. Couldn't imagine the republicans ever upholding that principle

[@shinycaterpie4443]

Exactly. Like, the US folks that say that really can't seem to understand the extra bargaining power it gives them with private providers if they have a free-at-point-of-use option and how it saves them money too by helping others

[@101steel4]

Yes and then pay insurance. Which they obviously have no idea how it works 😂

[@lewis123417]

@@101steel4 yeah the insurance system just seems like one big racket to me

[@lucylane7397]

Not sure why he said just England it’s all over the uk

[@torros1839]

I think all of us in the UK knows the NHS isn't perfect but not worrying about having to worry about the costs of drugs like insulin and worrying that being ill might bankrupt you is more than to keep supporting it

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

It's only having issues due to chronic under funding by Tories and when Tories do fun medicine all the money goes to private doctors. The NHS can be improved, but we need to fight to never let it disappear!

[@torros1839]

@@charlotteinnocent8752 I completely agree

[@jemmajames6719]

It’s less than perfect it gets far more money than it should need, it’s useless it needs a complete overhaul before it collapses.

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

@@jemmajames6719 No. It gets nothing like the money it should, money that is SUPPOSEDLY going toward it is going to private venders thanks to Tories, and it is not going to collapse.

[@countesscable]

@@jemmajames6719shut up you Tory

[@ianroper2812]

Hi Tyler, I’ve just spent 4 months in hospital after having a major heart attack. I was taken by emergency ambulance to a specialist heart unit. I’m now home but still having aftercare. Because of my age, over 60, all my prescription drugs, and I’ve a lot, are all free. Don’t forget, I’ve also had a number of X-rays, CT Scans, none of which I’ve had a bill for.

[@geoffpriestley7310]

I paid towards your health care and I'm happy your getting better no doubt in uour time you paid for my kidney stones and infection plus the cancer treatment for my dad . I thank you

[@vilebrequin6923]

​@@geoffpriestley7310lovely and accurate response. 👌

[@osric1730]

@@geoffpriestley7310 Nice one Geoff, what a decent fellow, that's exactly how we should see it.

[@silvrfruit]

I’ve been in a number of hospitals in different areas of England, and they have never been dirty. The quality of care has also always been excellent

[@stevewallace1387]

NHS is the pride of Britain' the nurses are amazing as are the doctors we would be lost without them I'm so glad that I was born in England

[@_starfiend]

Most new (baby) doctors are told in very explicit terms not to piss off their nurses. A good, experienced, nurse can and will help the new doctors. And when the doctors show their appreciation and ask the nurses for help, then it works really well. When you get new doctors coming in, dismissive of 'mere' nurses, they will very quickly get a very hard wake up call. Either from the more senior nurses, or from their own more senior medical colleagues. It can be very humbling for those doctors and very satisfying for the nurses when an arrogant doctor gets taken down!

[@DebraElias-uc6yz]

NHS hospitals are very clean at least my local hospital is. My room when I recently had a stay in hospital, was cleaned on average twice if not on a few ocassions three times, a day. Also the food was plentiful: Breakfast Lunch - a nice warm meal plus desert. A choice from three options Dinner - another nice warm meal plus desert. A choice from three options Mid evening snack of a choice of various sandwiches and biscuits Tea and/or coffee when you wanted one.

[@Attirbful]

my biggest shock about healthcare was when I came to America for the first time in 1987 and I saw soooooo many people with missing teeth… I thought it was disgusting even then that the U.S. cannot provide minimal standards of mental health and dignity to its citizens… One‘s wealth should not equate one‘s access to health care. You should not get an automatic death sentence for getting cancer just because you are poor…

[@janolaful]

My aunt took ill in the usa 10 years ago it cost $60.000 to send her home

[@joyridgway6398]

Our hospitals are not dirty. The quality of care is great. We do have upto date equipment. Recently, I had a 3d x-ray. I've also had loads of different scans. The urgent illness is the quicker you are seen. During the first lockdown, my husband was diagnosed with a lump on a kidney within 2 weeks. It had been removed and tested, which came back cancerous. He is still receiving treatment. Also, some NHS doctors do private work.

[@davidz2690]

Yeah what the hell was that about lmao? A dirty hospital?! Also "The urgent illness is the quicker you are seen." is called triage and is employed in every medical system

[@rufusevison2913]

I have used health care in both the US and the UK. The notable difference was the amount of unnecessary procedures in the US. I had around 100 mri scans where three or four were all that were actually looked at. The care was better in the UK, as was the food. In the US I got colleagues to bring me food in.

[@vilebrequin6923]

The NHS started in 1948. I am 59. I have used the NHS throughout my life. The care i have received has always been excellent, the facilities clean, modern and welcoming and the technology has always been first class. ❤

[@ramadaxl]

Same thing here, I'm 72...if it hadn't been for the NHS I probably wouldn't even be here...my parents would have been made bankrupt and I would have been made bankrupt ( multiple times ! ) due to the procedures I've had and the sheer amount of hospital stays, and that's not even counting the amount of times I was transported by ambulance !

[@FreeScot67]

In early September I went to my GP as I was unwell. Zero cost. Gave blood samples. Zero cost. Next day was referred to local NHS hospital for checks. Zero cost. Admitted to ward and spent nearly 7 weeks on IV antibiotics treating bacterial infection in heart. Zero cost - for room, nursing care, medicines, food and more. Also had a number of procedures including multiple x-rays, CT scan, TEE endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Angiogram, Ultrasounds, ECGs, dental treatment. Zero cost. Transferred late October to different NHS hospital by ambulance. Zero cost. Similar list of ward room and some procedures. Zero cost. Major heart surgery on Halloween - whilst scary zero cost. ICU and HDU specialised care. Zero cost. Four weeks of inpatient recovery including IV antibiotics. Zero cost. Discharged with supply of medicine. Zero cost. Taxi home. Zero cost. Yes I pay UK taxation from salary but the financies did not enter my head once. I did look at a US hospital and cost this 11 week stay - was way in excess of $500k excluding drugs ! The NHS is far from perfect but needs protected.

[@trevorarnold5410]

In the Uk and the fact your job is not connected to healthcare, gives you more freedom to decide to swap jobs or take a career break , or try start a business , to know that you and your family are always covered should anyone should fall ill, is just one extra worry we don’t have. And they say USA is the land of the free ! Really ?

[@catherinehaywood7092]

Yes the NHS has its faults just like anything but to me it just the “gift that keeps on giving”. I’ve had 2 heart attacks, (ambulance on both occasions) had a stent fitted each time. I’ve had a procedure to close a hole in my heart. I’ve also had cancer twice (major surgery on both occasions and hospital stays on 3 weeks on each occasion) chemotherapy and now follow up checks every 5 years to make sure it’s not come back. My late husband was diabetic and all his meds were free. Because of my past cancer my meds were free. (When I lived in wales all meds were free for everyone but I’m now in England). I’m now over 60 so even though in England my meds are now free. Yes there are waiting lists but if something is life threatening you’ll be seen quickly. From my cancer diagnosis to surgery I waited 2 weeks. Yes it comes out of taxes but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to pay it. We pay something called National Insurance which is deducted from earnings. This not only covers NHS treatment but also covers state pensions when you get to pension age and any benefits like sickness pay and unemployment benefits. I guarantee that I paid less towards all of this a month that Americans pay a month for their health care and they still get hit with a co-pay. Give me the NHS any day. GOD BLESS THEM ABD LONG MAY THEY CONTINUE. I’d be dead or bankrupt if I lived in the good old U S of A.

[@carolh4119]

In the UK no politician would dare to meddle with our NHS - they wouldn't survive. We do love the NHS.

[@danielferguson3784]

Yes, we in the UK pay through taxes on our earnings, but the extra tax still is far less costly to the individual than the costs in insurance & out of pocket costs that Americans have to pay. Also it is not tied to one's job, so one need not fear loss of income stopping health care. Private health care is available in the UK, paid by insurance as in the US, which may allow the jumping of queues for some services, care in fancy private hospitals etc, but often they just get regular NHS treatment. The regular tax take on income is more like 2/300 per month, but much of the NHS cost to the Government comes out of general taxation. England, Scotland, Wales & N Ireland each have their own NHS unit, with some slight differences, but all on the same basis.

[@EdDueim]

Private insurance means you get a fancier room and food. Private hospitals don't have emergency rooms and if the condition is serious they send you to the NHS.

[@Adeodatus100]

This is a really important point - you can get private healthcare in the UK, but coverage is far less than what the NHS provides. In fact it's arguable that the NHS massively subsidises private healthcare - it trains their staff, takes on cases it won't touch, often (literally) stitches up its mistakes, and underpins the whole thing with an emergency care system that covers every square centimetre of the UK.

[@101steel4]

You can also get private hospital treatment paid for by the NHS. My mum had a gallbladder operation at a posh Wimbledon hospital. Free to her.

[@kathryndunn9142]

YES WE DO LOVE ARE NHS ❤ and the history of the NHS is amazing

[@laurahouston5454]

Each Country in the UK has their own NHS service. So there’s NHS England, NHS Scotland, etc. There’s slight differences between them for example, people in England pay for their medication except in various circumstances. Whereas in Scotland, all medication is free if it is prescribed

[@margaretknight8690]

I think most people who use the NHS would say they’ve had very good treatment. Yes, the waiting lists for non urgent operations are longer than we would like but overall, they give excellent service in difficult circumstances.

[@hilarypower6217]

Two things from the opening - 1. Yes, I pay National Insurance to 'cover' my healthcare, and I have had value from that (3 hip operations and now a brain tumour), but I have no problem that my NI contributions pay for someone who is too poor to be taxed and who has therefore made no contribution to the NHS to get free treatment. 2. Illegal immigrants - if an illegal immigrant turned up at A&E with a serious injury, they would never get turned away. My daughter is a midwife and she has delivered at least one 'illegal' baby. They're humans, we need compassion sometimes.

[@gabbymcclymont3563]

In the last 22 years i have had 4 life saving ops, iv had a 5 month stay a 10 week stay a month in intencive care and HDU. Iv been all over the country and had loads of scans etc and get my bloods done at home every 2 weeks. I also had a team of 5 consultants and a profesor keep me alive. The paramedics know me so well they always ask how my dog is 20 odd years ago yes my local hospital could have been cleaner but now its very very clean, also the food is good and the staff are fantastic. I deeply love the NHS.

[@gabbymcclymont3563]

Iv also had 10 Strokes in 2 months and now i have Epelepsi. Yes my body is trying to kill me, iv not worked in 22 years so iv not paid any taxes so yes its all been FREE. I love the NHS.

[@pspence9569]

Britain has three NHSs, the UK four health services. Only England charge for prescriptions. Scotland dental is covered for under 25s and over 65s, includes braces, but not whitening. Eye tests are free too, with some lenses covered.

[@Aloh-od3ef]

In the UK we all pay a tax called National Insurance. It helps pay for the NHS, pensions and unemployment payments. 😊

[@davidwilton730]

Pensions..WRONG, the goverment call pensions a benefit.......It's not, it's our money, 6% pay from our saleries and 6% from our employers

[@Aloh-od3ef]

@@davidwilton730people who have never worked are legally entitled to a pension. Where did the government get the money to pay for these pensions? Taxes, lots and lots of taxes 😂😂😉

[@Spiklething]

NI contributions are really only for pensions and benifits. The NHS is mainly funded through taxes

[@SotonCueMan]

@@Spiklething Only since 2010 - see my other comment earlier. By definition National Insurance was originally set up as a system for jointly sharing the risk for costs of health care, social care and pensions.

[@_starfiend]

@@SotonCueManNo it wasn't. NI was ORIGINALLY set up explicitly to pay for the state pension, however it was also used to determine what and how much you get in the way of benefits. It was never set up to pay for the NHS, that always came out of taxes, despite what some politicians liked to claim. That said however, at least as far back as the 1980's when I started working, and probably much earlier, tax and NI all went into the same pot.

[@sarahwaterfield1428]

My Mum unfortunately has terminal cancer. I'm not sure what we would do without the NHS. The care she has had is amazing. Admittedly the waits in the ambulance and call times to speak to a GP are very long sometimes, but I'm never scared of calling them and they are just awesome. TBH I think Mum would be dead without the NHS.

[@delskioffskinov]

Always good to see you tackle heavier issues Tyler, you tackled it well! I enjoyed this one!

[@martyncopeland6896]

I just went through a heart bypass , couple of weeks in hospital three meals a day ,i left the backup was fantasic, can't fault . In the uk if you really need it you get it.

[@andyt3783]

Calling the hospitals dirty feels a little far, I've never seen it be the case when I have visited. One thing to note is that the NHS would fail miserably if it wasn't for the hard work the staff put into it. Hospitals are underfunded and have more patients than room, which must cause a huge amount of stress on the people working there. The staff work as hard as they do because they want it to be better. They sure as hell don't do it for the money they get.

[@kathnunan641]

think they they look dirty from the outside with peeling paint etc i know hospitals rae not dirty spent a lot of time in hospital as a ptient due o ulcerative colitis

[@rolstonholas333]

Nobody in the UK goes bankrupt due to medical bills or medical bills being the major contributing factor. Universal healthcare is probably the best thing about the UK (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland). However, after 13 years of conservative govts., I would argue that the Scandinavians provide an even better service to their citizens. In 2010, customer satisfaction was the highest it has ever been for NHS services & the doctors & nurses are amazing people who do an amazing job often under very trying circumstances. It is universally loved in the UK except by some politicians

[@capablancauk]

To quote Tony Benn "If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people." A strange fact is if the USA switched to the UK model the amount of revenue needed would be almost the same as it is now. The reason is the cost of drugs you are forced to pay!

[@Lily_The_Pink972]

Another feature of the NHS is that people with certain diseases, especially those of the endocrine system like diabetes and underactive thyroid do not get charged for their medication. All UK residents register with a doctor called a general practitioner (GP). For minor illnesses, the GP provides the treatment and writes prescriptions. The GP can refer patients for x rats, scans, further investigations ec. He/she can make provisional diagnosis then refer the patient to a specialist at a hospital. We all pay National Insurance from our wages to pay for the NHS and the benefits and pensions services. Some people do opt to pay extra for private health care, but usually only if they're wealthy

[@grahamsmith9541]

Your comment about not knowing where your taxes go to. Here in the UK we are sent a statement at the end of each tax year. Detailing how much we paid in tax and National insurance. With itamised statement of how much was spent on what.

[@Jinty92]

Private Healthcare is available in the UK but it is usually the same consultant you will see both in the NHS and privately. Private Healthcare allows people to be seen quickly for non life threatening conditions so to get a new hip would be quicker and you would jump queues. I have never had private healthcare through my job. I work in local government in education as did my father. We always used the NHS. I only know 1 person who had private healthcare through their job and it was my uncle. My aunt had access to private healthcare even after his death and she made use of it but also made good use of the NHS too. I am Scottish and in Scotland we only pay for dental with a co-pay through the NHS. I recently had root treatment which cost about £20. In Scotland, like Wales, we do not pay for any medications either from our doctors GP's and medications given at hospital. We also have a service at Pharmacies which give some free over the counter medications from a list of free medications per NHS authority. My authority is one of the biggest Greater Glasgow & Clyde. My father had gall bladder surgery while abroad in France and this cost £16.000 which was paid in full through a government travel card. He only had to pay for injections before and following surgery which were paid for through his travel insurance. Long live the NHS.

[@rbweston]

So this year, I’ve had, 3 appointments with my General Practitioner, 6 outpatients appointments at various hospitals, 4 blood draws/tests, 8 prescriptions (including two lots of antibiotics), and my out of pocket expenses, just over 70 quid (about $90)

[@suebrookes]

Earnings are taxed here, and from the taxes collected by the government, a percentage is used for the NHS. We pay a certain amount for a prescription but it's nowhere near the full cost of the medication. Operations and childbirth are free. Kids and once you reach retirement age you don't pay for meds.

[@Spiklething]

You only have to pay for meds in England. The rest of the UK gets them all for free for their entire lives.

[@Phiyedough]

For some items the prescription cost is much higher than the actual cost of the item. The doctor will sometimes ask if you pay for prescriptions so you get the choice to buy some items without the prescription.

[@DebraElias-uc6yz]

Yes it us paid through N I contributions, (National Ibsurance).

[@SideQ-rr6my]

​@Phiyedough like when everyone shared a post on social media telling parents to get calpol on prescription. A nightmare for the NHS.

[@lottie2525]

I think one of the best things about socialised health care like the NHS, and most other systems around the world, is that they do preventative stuff so much better. I've heard so many shocking stories from Americans putting off going to get their 'issue' sorted out cos they're scared of the cost, only to find that they've left it too late when they do finally go and then have some incurable disease. We have regular testing for all sorts of things. For example, as a woman, I've had regular smear tests all through my life, I have annual asthma reviews, now that I'm over 50 I get regular test for diabetes and general health montioring. When I was pregnant with my three daughters I had regular test throughout my pregnancies and that's just my circumstances, other people with other issues will have their own regular tests. This is so much better at catching things early.

[@catbevis1644]

My recent NHS care with costs: Doctor's visits (about four): £0 Three ambulance rides: £0 Two stays overnight in the emergency room: £0 Ultrasound scan: £0 MRI scan: £0 Several blood tests: £0 Blood transfusion: £0 26 tablets a day, including controlled painkillers: £9.65 per prescription (script), approx £80 in total for six months) Visits to two surgeons: £0 5.5hr state-of-the-art keyhole operation (only 5yrs ago they couldn't do that operation by keyhole): £0 Five nights in hospital including meals, medication and aftercare, where I had a private room and bathroom (not everyone gets a private room though): £0 Twice-daily visits for two weeks after I went home: £0 Several calls to an overnight doctor's helpline: £0 So far seven follow-up appointments: £0. I've looked up the cost in the US- the operation ALONE (without including any care in hospital, let alone all the pre- and post- operative treatments and medication) would be over £40,000. Total cost of taxes I've paid towards the NHS in my LIFETIME: approx £24,000. Yes there was a six month wait for the operation, but in that time I was monitored closely and I would have been moved up the waiting list if my condition got worse. Because I didn't have to worry about costs, I went to see a doctor as soon as I got symptoms, whereas in the US I don't doubt that people will ignore symptoms for longer, with potentially fatal consequences. The fact I went to a doctor straight away meant waiting six months for surgery was less risky over here, and they weighed up my life expectancy with the diagnosis (approx 5yrs without treatment) before deciding a six-month wait was going to be fine for me personally. There were issues with my care which very much upset me, but I am alive, I am cured, and I am debt-free. I can barely even make out the surgery scars. There are things that could be done very much better, but by God I'm glad I went through that in the UK.

[@ED11116]

I love the NHS and am so grateful for it! My son has a lifelong complex health condition which means regular imaging (ultrasound, MRI and MAG3) on top of medication throughout the day, and the hospital stays - we’ve never paid a penny! My mum had cancer and all her treatment was free! My father had a stroke and massive bleed on the brain, and was in a private ICU room with a 1:1 nurse, and we never paid a penny! I’d also like to point out that when there are “co-pays” for prescriptions, it’s about £13!!!

[@Trillock-hy1cf]

When working we pay National Insurance via our taxes to pay for the NHS, and income taxes, but when at retirement age, the NI Contributions stop, Prescriptions become free, but still pay income taxes. So we can be hospitalised for treatments from women giving birth, a broken toe nail, arm or leg to heart and lung surgeries and any other ailments without having a massive Bill when discharged to worry about . Also visiting a Doctor or being Hospitalised doesn't cost a bean. Calling out an Ambulance is also free of charge I think calling out one in the US can be a $1,00 or so depending on which State it is in? US, patient in Hospital, patient: 'I have a headache so can I have a Paracetamol/Aspirin please?' 'Doctor/Nurse: Of course, and that's another $60 on to your Bill'.......😄 I have only been in 3 Hospitals for 1. a broken arm (when a kid, about 1958) 2. SMR, 1962 when in RAF, 3.. Abscess removal 2018, and was treated well by the Doctors and Nurses.

[@rhiwright]

The idea of your job providing healthcare is disturbing to me. What happens if you lose your job? do you no longer have access to medical treatments? how is giving your employer the power of life and death over you not a form of slavery? Also, I'm currently sat in a wheelchair that was free on the NHS, a week after seeing my neurologist, again, free on the NHS, having taken medication that was free on the NHS this morning. I have a physiotherapy appointment that is free on the NHS in a few days and am anticipating an upcoming MRI that will be free on the NHS. I'm also wearing a pair of glasses that came at a significant NHS discount (I basically only paid to have the lenses thinned, which is fair enough, taxpayers should not fund my vanity). I'm not sure how I could cope if this stuff came out of my pocket and we didn't have an NHS.

[@byno3862]

As a disabled person in the UK, I have to say, the NHS really is a life saver. I have an electronic wheelchair provided free on the NHS, hearing aids and glasses as well. I can't imagine how expensive these would be in another country

[@amenhotepthethird209]

Yes, seemingly, the employer "have you over a barrell". No doubt many use this to keep employees under control.

[@marydavis5234]

I retired in 2017 ,due to major knees issues and I applied for SS disability and the company, I retired from paid m healthcare premium thriu them, until I was approved for SS Disability, I went from a healthcare monthly premium of $499.00 a month , where the company I worked for paid 95% of the monthly premium and I was approved for SSD and my healthcare premium is $190.00 a month and it is actually take out of my SSD check before it is even automatically deposited, and I’m from the US, Most Americans pay a high monthly healthcare premium, because they get the highest one possible, when they don’t need it.

[@rhiwright]

it's taken out of your benefits? wtf? how is that even legal? how do the people of your country tolerate this? are Americans just selfish? you'd expect protests and riots on behalf of the disabled. Why don't people... actually why didn't you fight forbetter treatment for the sick and disabled before you needed it? We didn't get an NHS by not standing together. We actually got it at a time of unusual additional solidarity (just after WW2). Your country can have this too. All you need to do is, as a people, demand it and refuse to take no for an answer. @@marydavis5234

[@animalian01]

Tyler in 2020 I had multiple cardiac arrests,was rushed to a specialist hospitsl by ambulance. Had stents fitted,a quad bypass,and a heart valve replaced. I was on ECMO life support in a coma for a month and had a ICD defibrillator fitted and I'm on life long drugs now, and all that has cost me nothing. All on the NHS. Since I turned 60 even my prescriptions are free.

[@charlestaylor3027]

My friend has skin cancer and also has private insurance at about $30 a month. The actual cancer treatment is handled by the NHS and then she uses insurance to move to the private wing. She sees the same oncologist and dermatologist but she gets wine with dinner and a nicer coffee.

[@apriljoy1094]

Also organic herbal teas and maybe a balcony. Plus the doctor and nurses mobile for questions. And if you are NHS and private coverage you are still paying less than Americans in total

[@alisoncauser2955]

I'm a type 1 diabetic, everything is free, I get a blood monitor , test strips, lancets, insulin, all prescriptions are completely free for me. 12 week blood tests etc. Everything. You never have to worry. I've worked in the NHS almost all of my adult life.

[@PeterRyan-n6c]

In the next 3 months, I will be having a heart valve replacement. All the tests and the actual operation will be given without me needing to pay a penny. Also,if I am unable to get to the hospital, I can arrange transport also without paying.

[@Gidjoiner]

England NHS - End of 2022 I got Pneumonia + Sepsis, 5wks in hospital, ambulance to take me there, blood tests, 2 x CT scans, several X-rays, VATS to clear out Pleural cavity, antibiotics, bed, food, excellent service, 2 out patient appointments ... & It was clean!!!!, - no bill at the end.

[@listerofsmegv987pevinaek5]

I feel sorry for the people in the US. Health access no matter who you are should be a right not how deep your pocket is. Yes our NHS Isn't perfect but my real worry is not the bill but how soon i can get back to a normal life. Good video

[@maz3555]

Yeah me too ,not only do they have the worry of being sick but also the added stress of where they are getting the money to pay for it , one thing I can say we in the UK do t have that added pressure o top of sickness or illnesses.

[@ravinloon58]

Like so many Brits, I owe my life to the NHS. They have been there for me my whole life. In the last 10 years (since I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes) all my prescriptions are free. I have been in hospital several times and been operated on. and given care, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, ambulance trips etc and have never paid a penny. Because I am on a low income I pay no income tax and my national insurance contribution is covered with a benefit. Frankly the best I have seen is the genuine outpouring of love as millions of ordinary UK citizens went out every night during the Covid lockdown and clapped and cheered from their doorsteps to express their gratitude for the NHS workers who risked their wellbeing to care for us.

[@alexcampos4370]

The key point is that healthcare is provided based on need and urgency. Someone suffering a heart attack will be seen and treated immediately. A non life threatening condition may have to wait.

[@valleyofghouls]

as someone who had experience with the NHS today it makes me really grateful, i took an unknown allergic reaction to peanut butter cookies, thankfully there’s a hospital 2 minutes away from school so i went along to A&E with my mum, within 10 minutes i was signed in and seeing a doctor and that’s with the waiting room PACKED full of people, they took me to the major unit for monitoring and medication, they later gave me my own private room with its own bathroom (which was great as i was throwing up) after 5 hours and monitoring they simply asked if i felt okay to go home or if i wanted to stay, being able to say “i’ll just go home” and walk out with no catch is such a relief yet saddening that many don’t get that experience.

[@DB-stuff]

We've had a fair few governments that have or attempting to dismantle the NHS. It's a shame as the NHS is one of the greatest achievements ever in the uk

[@leonardochapman4736]

including our current government for the past 13 years

[@andyshaw2601]

Took my mother for an operation this morning modern & clean care was fantastic nhs amazing

[@thebighon6854]

In the UK, woe betide any politician who proposes to turn the NHS into a US style system...

[@Adeodatus100]

But they are doing. During his tenure as Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt had several meetings with the American healthcare corporation Kaiser Permanente with precisely that in mind.

[@EnigmaMachine94]

So a couple of points I feel the video could have explained a bit more; the tax for healthcare in the UK is called National Insurance, and as part of the most widely used tax assessment system, PAYE (pay as you earn), all taxes including this are deducted from your pay before you receive it and are detailed on your payslip, meaning you never see that money since you get paid your net pay after deductions and we never have to think about a tax return as part of that system since it’s processed by your employer, so a lot of people don’t think about it at all. Also, the NHS does cover the whole UK, but, at least in Scotland, it’s a devolved matter, meaning the Scottish government (in this case) manages it. There are differences in how it is managed, for example in Scotland we don’t have charges for filling prescriptions at pharmacies and our hospital car parks are free of charge to use. I’m using Scotland as an example because I am a Scot born and raised, so this is what I’m used to. Another point the video raised is that every single party from left to right runs on supporting the NHS (to varying degrees). Even during the pandemic, the conservatives supported a widespread campaign of public support for the NHS where each day at a certain time (I don’t remember exactly when but it was 6 or 7pm), people stood on their doorsteps and applauded in solidarity for our doctors and nurses. Sounds silly, but it was quite touching. Since the pandemic public support for the NHS has been more open than ever, especially for us brits and our “stiff upper lip” approach to showing emotions. I’ve seen people stopping nurses and doctors in supermarkets and in the streets to thank them for their service like an army vet.

[@DougBrown-h1n]

I wonder if Tyler can imagine how shocking the US system looks to us. Support the NHS peeps!

[@robinhooduk8255]

the private employer health insurance is mostly for high end employees as i nice benefit they offer, many of those employees dont even bother to use it, but my mother had it and when she had a brain aneurysm she was in the nhs for the critical care and surgery, after she came out of the surgery she would have spend 3 weeks in the hospital and the insurance care provider then took over and looked after her for those 3weeks, she had her own room in a private bupa ward at the same nhs hospital the ward is leased to the private provider, they have more nurses, single rooms, much nicer food and drink than the NHS, she still sees all the same NHS doctors in the private ward as the NHS bill the private provider for the use of those nhs doctors.

[@HeyItsMad]

The most shocking thing is the US actually spend more tax dollars per capita on healthcare than the UK does. The US is basically propping up private profiteering rather than spending less to prioritise patient care.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

The NHS is so cheap because there really is only one consumer, the NHS. They can buy cheaper and keep costs down. The USA is business, objective, profits.

[@marydavis5234]

Wrong, my healthcare is under 10% a month .

[@HeyItsMad]

@marydavis5234 It's not personal spending, it's the amount of tax that the government spends per citizen on healthcare. It's shown in the video!

[@geoffpriestley7310]

​@@marydavis523410 % of what? of your wage

[@marydavis5234]

@@geoffpriestley7310 no, I’m retired. And when I was working , I paid 10% for my monthly healthcare insurance, the company paid 90% of it.

[@johnsimmons5951]

In the UK some companies provide private health care insurance, this provides the option to have treatment when you want it rather than wait on a queue. Did you know that when the late Queen’s husband (Philip Duke of Edinburgh) was ill just before his death, he was transferred from his private hospital to an NHS hospital for a particular treatment, and when he was well enough he transferred back to the private hospital.

[@striderwhiston9897]

An additional fun fact: The NHS is funded by the national insurance tax which is around 5%, it doesn't only just fund the NHS but numerous other public services, and the total cost on average is much lower than what the average american pays. It also contributes to your state pension, so basically eventually you get most if not all of the money you spent on the NHS back in retirement. The NHS is in a bit of a dire state due to underfunding by the tories and the tories wish to privatise the healthcare industry making it american-like which would be, yeesh.

[@djtwo2]

"The NHS is funded by the national insurance tax". No, it is mainly funded out of general taxation (income, capital gains, sales, companies). Formally, a little money goes from NI contributions to the NHS, but really it is all from just one tax pot. Some state benefits are based on NI contribution records, but not health.

[@Spiklething]

Um actually National Insurance really only pays for state pension and other benefits. The NHS is mainly funded through tax. Around 20% of the tax you pay goes on health. It is supplemented from NI but the majority of money that goes to the NHS is from taxes

[@SotonCueMan]

@@djtwo2 The National Insurance historically was ring-fenced to fund the NHS, Social Care and Pensions. It was George Osborne [Tory Chancellor] in 2010 under David Cameron that took the decision to pool it in with general taxation. It allowed them to muddy the waters on what was being spent on what and where the funding was coming from - so that NI contributions could be channelled off to other areas and not the defined items it was originally intended for. Creative book-keeping by the corrupt tories who'd really just prefer to scrap it and have the American system. Don;t forget the conservatives voted against forming the NHS in 1948 as they didn't want the socialised system and preferred it as a profit based system like before then.

[@peterjackson4763]

@@SotonCueMan No, the NIF has never been ringfenced. When in surplus governments would borrow from it, when in deficit they would supplement it. Effectively it is just a tax. The creative bookkeeping is the illusion that is is not and goes back to its origin. George Osborne decided to be more honest about it. Don't forget the conservatives support the idea of an NHS in the form proposed by Beveridge. They objected to the changes that Labour made, such as having more central control and nationalization of all hospitals. They supported the idea of a national health service paid for through taxes and free at the point of use. They most certainly were not proposing going back to the pre-war situation, or even just keeping the Emergency Hospital Service they introduced at the start of WW2.Churchill committed to creating a NHS in 1943, the Conservatives published their proposal in 1944, and like all major parties had it in their manifesto in 1945.

[@pathopewell1814]

The NHS is not underfunded, just wasted on managers etc. The Labour party are the worst offenders, as proved time and time again.

[@barbarahayden5602]

If we have serious illnesses that need immediate treatment we get it. Our nurses and doctors are among the best in the world for care and commitment and when I was diagnosed with cancer, I had amazing treatment from doctor, specialists to aftercare. I am an NHS cancer survivor and proud of what we have. PS our ambulances and the paramedics are free and can save lives before you even reach a hospital

[@Mark_Bickerton]

Well you have socialised police and fire services. Even the armed forces are socialised... why would you not provide healthcare also?

[@marydavis5234]

Healthcare is provided for the disabled and retired people in the US, the state you live in pays for it.

[@RoyCousins]

The American healthcare system is an insurance industry. As such, the insurance premiums go to pay the corporations and their shareholders, as well as the doctors, nurses and hospitals. That's what makes it expensive.

[@HaurakiVet]

New Zealand has a socialised healthcare system similar to the UK in that it is funded by taxes. There are some variations in service delivery, for example, most dental care is not covered at this time although there seems to be a move toward that recently. It was introduced in the late nineteen thirties and functions alongside a private system for those who choose medical insurance, the same surgeons working in both private and public systems. As far as cost in real terms is concerned the cost for both systems is much cheaper than the US, being only a fraction the cost for comparable procedures.😢 In the public system this is because of economies of scale for purchasing power for pharmaceuticals and equipment, with only one purchaser for the whole country there is considerable bargaining leverage. Also there are reduced overheads ie, no advertising, no debt recovery, no legal costs (New Zealand is a non litigious society and medical misadventure is covered by our government operated accident compensation scheme.) The biggie of course is that there is no profit rake off, every dollar going into health goes to providing healthcare. Even private insurance is much cheaper as many of our medical insurance organisations are cooperative, no profit organisations and long term care is covered by the public system, so the risk of a patient becoming a long term drain on the insurer is not the same as in the US so is not factored into costs.

[@officechairpotato]

Some companies will offer private insurance as a perk to employees. One major reason for this is that it also applies abroad, so if you spend a lot of time abroad for your job, it's important to have it. Another is that private often has shorter wait times. Finally there's "No recourse to public funds" visas (A type of permission to stay where you can't access welfare, this applies to family members of someone on a work visa). The NHS will still treat those people for emergencies, but not other care. So they often need private or have to pay the NHS surcharge of 600 pounds-ish a year to gain access. If you move to the UK on a work visa and bring your family, your employer offering you private health insurance as a perk will cover your family. Otherwise they would need to pay the surcharge. If you're a family of 4, and you move here on one persons work visa, the surcharge would amount to 1,800 a year. Cheaper to just get the private insurance while waiting for citizenship.

[@MetalRocksMe.]

I’ve NEVER been a dirty NHS hospital 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️

[@victormccoy1671]

Such as the queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham UK. A lot of American military personnel get sent there for some treatment as it's the best hospital in the world

[@brian5154]

Healthcare is not good in the UK at the moment. Try other European countries. We in the Netherlands have a good system. US is the only country in the world that doesn't have universal healthcare......

[@pem...]

NHS is fine! And saying america is the only country that doesn't have universal healthcare isn't even close to being true though is it?

[@default3252]

The US is the only DEVELOPED nation without universal healthcare. Plenty of third-world countries don't either.

[@taakelur]

@@pem... That's not what your media says. 'Crisis' is the word they use. If you're British and think the NHS is 'fine', well that's just sad.

[@yick39]

You are talking rubbish I can see a doctor the same day and I never had no trouble with the NHS I am 63 and never had no trouble and I've had quite a few operations all good

[@Joshua-fi4ji]

​@@default3252I believe Serbia also, but I don't think anyone ever sees the Serbian healthcare system as something to aspire to.

[@lad1981uk]

As a Brit in my 40s, I had to look up the term copay as I'd never heard it used before.

[@patriciahanvey286]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, within 2 months I had various scans/ xrays , 2 operations plus radiotherapy & tablets for 10 years, in 2021 I was taken in as an emergency diagnosed with bowel cancer, in hospital for a week I had major surgery plus follow up scans/ xrays & chemotherapy plus follow up appointments for 5 years all at no cost (apart from income tax which I paid for 48 years) the care I received was excellent, we are so lucky to have the NHS.

[@TheOnlyGazzLam]

I agree... I don't know how you cope with it in the USA. I've not lived in the UK for over a decade, but when I did(iirc), the NHS was the first deductible from your salary, amounting to 10% of your paycheck. But for that, you get road/air ambulances, A&E (Emergency room), repeat non-emergency travel to the hospital, general surgery, major operations, transplant (heart/kidney, etc), significant dental discount, basic prescription glasses..... and so on, and so on... (this is at any hospital/doctore/dentist/optician) Private health care is available, and can give you single rooms, and shorter wait times for operations, etc. It doesn't cover elective surgeries however (although, orthodontics, braces, etc are free for children. Plus there's an upper cap on a total dental plan. When I left you could get a root canal on every tooth, bridge work, veneers etc and you couldn't pay more than £1000). Prescriptions are also capped (currently at about £10 per prescription... for ANYTHING) They also have a bunch of countries where they will reciprocate healthcare on the same basis (25 countries, maybe... it changes. Commonwealth countries are pretty much covered... except Canada, but their healthcare system is similar anyway). So if I went to Serbia, and broke my leg, the U.K would pay for it... likewise if a Sebian citizen broke their leg in the U.K... the U.K would pay for it. It's the ONE thing we really need to keep hold of as a nation, and is a matter of British pride. If you watch the UK 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, we had a whole section dedicated to the NHS... because we love it.| You can check KZbin for the UK Ambulance series and see some of the crap the paramedics will deal with because they system is free OMG moment: My sister who lives in the USA got tested to give a kidney to my dad, and the NHS paid for her tests in the USA and partially covered her travel to the UK to donate the kidney.. and obviously covered the cost both surgeries in the U.K

[@carolineskipper6976]

We have the NHS throughout the Uk, but there are slightly different arrangements for Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland within that, in that their regional governments can make decisions on exactly how, and to what level some services are funded. For example in Scotland no-one pays prescription charges, whereas in England most (but not all) people between the ages of 18 - 60 have to pay a flat rate of just under £10 per prescription. Usually in the Uk, if your medical need is urgent you are seen quickly and receive all the treatment you need. The long waits in the system are typically for non-urgent care, and this is why those with private Insurance choose to have it. However, typically, private hospitals don't have emergency or intensive care, and so if something goes wrong, you have to be transferred to the local NHS hospital that has those facilities.

[@suzieannie1]

I pay my money to the NHS out of my pay packet each month ... and do it gladly. I have had two major operations in my life, Minor issues and I am currently waiting for hand surgery. Yes I have had to wait and maybe I might not get an immediate appointment to see my GP - but I know that if I lived in the US those two operations alone would have bankrupted me. Thank You fellow Brits for paying into the NHS which saved my life. Thank You to All who work for the NHS.

[@Rhianalanthula]

As i live in England, I'm under NHS England. I do have to co-pay my prescribed outpatient medication. My sister lives in Wales and is under NHS Wales where ALL prescribed medication is free. The co-pay amount is per item on the prescription, regardless of whether it's a 2 week, 1 month, or three minth supply. If you have a number of medications that you need to take, you can see if a prepayment certificate is cheaper. The current charges are £9.65 for a single prescribed item, and £111.60 per year for the prepayment certificate. I save about £10 per year, plus i know that if im ill with something else, my medication for that is also covered.

[@olienajh]

In the UK we have private healthcare available to us for a monthly insurance. BUPA, Benenden Health, Nuffield Health, Spire etc. We would get seen quicker in private healthcare but they don’t do emergency healthcare. My husband had a hernia. As it was not life threatening he would have had to wait a long time to have surgery under the NHS so he was able to get a referral letter from the GP saying he would have to wait ages for surgery & had his surgery under Benenden.

[@hr35rasmus]

I had several major heart-attacks due to an undiscovered birth defect that only became apparent when I was 60 years old! I required major open-heart surgery and I was in hospital for a month and had a ‘piggy’ valve grown especially for me in a Petri dish a few days before the operation. 5 days after the operation I was released and a year later I walked the 102 mile Cotswold Way National Trail to celebrate by regained health. When it comes to the ‘big stuff’ the NHS is world-class…….and by the way, it cost me NOTHING including all the prescription drugs, as I’m over 60, they are free too! 😊

[@jonathangoll2918]

A real eye-opener was a video by your fellow KZbinr Evan Edinger. He was sitting next to an English NHS hospital junior doctor. They were talking about the real cost to the NHS of various medical procedures. And the astonishing thing was that the costs to the NHS were far less than for American hospitals. Your medical people are swindling each other! Americans have been led way up the garden path by this making of 'Socialism ' to be a boo word. There have been some very dodgy regimes that have called themselves Socialist, but also some very good ones. ( Such as some Scandinavian countries, regularly decided to be some of the happiest countries of the world.) I am both a Socialist and an Evangelical Christian. Of course, Socialism's real offence is that it opposes big money having too much power. Possibly, the way out for the USA is to try to ban campaign donations by interest groups. This may need a Constitutional Amendment. Too many American politicians are in the pay of big business. Not that we can avoid complacency in the UK. I suspect the right wing of the Conservative Party to be secretly trying to get rid of the NHS. Too many of the extremely wealthy are getting away with not paying the taxes they should. Were they to pay, the financial troubles of the NHS would be over.

[@marieparker3822]

General Practitioners - the first doctor you would see, who would be situated, probably, locally to you, are actually independent contractors to the NHS. They can also be private and not contracted to the NHS. The general practitioner makes the diagnosis of your complaint and either prescribes a treatment there and then, or refers you to a specialist in a hospital.

[@anotherthez7598]

I'm surprised that so many Americans are STILL healthy, honestly, so sad. In the UK or the EU it's just unacceptable to not have health services at your door when you need it; paying for an ambulance is something you never think about.

[@BeastedPk]

I’m 29, just tore and separated my ACL playing football, although I had a 6 month wait for the surgery, I’ve had an X-ray, MRI scan, multiple physio visits, general anaesthetic, crutches, surgery and a 6 month post op physio plan with appointments FOC. The staff are knowledgeable, attentive and the hospitals (although busy) are exceptional, clean and once you’re seen to - slick and efficient. That would’ve cost 20-50k in america without insurance and affected my insurance premium (which I probably couldn’t have afforded) leading to higher rates going forward. I’ve paid a good amount of taxes since turning 18, have a good job and I wouldn’t change our NHS for the world. People’s health shouldn’t be exploited for profit.

[@maxjjackson]

3% of your annual income, deducted from your weekly/monthly wage, is a negligable amount - people spend more at Starbucks every month. But Starbucks wont save your life for no extra charge if you get cancer at 45 or fall off a cliff chasing Pokemon. And if you've got the money to go private, you go f**king private - you're reducing NHS waiting lists by giving up your spot and the fancy private hospital will see you a lot sooner. For a price, obv. And the surgeon extracting G.I. Joe from your lower intestine - a gazillion dollars - is the same guy fixing hernias at the local nhs hospital - £7 for a 2 week pain medication prescription.

[@Badgersj]

You can get private healthcare here too, subsidised by insurance in some cases - but they have to compete with the NHS which gives a good baseline service, which means the private companies must make clear what they offer above the NHS, and also why you should pay the extra.

[@patrickmcgrath5094]

So firstly the NHS is available in the whole of the UK not just in England and we also pay National Insurance ( around 9%) of our gross income which helps to fund the NHS. We also pay around £9 for prescription medication, however medication is free if you are in full time education or you are pregnant

[@jonathanhall2401]

To clarify a few points, it does cover all the UK, if you are a UK citizen you get cover, so really those that do pay taxes help people who don't. Even a penniless homeless guy can got get health care. My son is a physiotherapist and once a month helps at a clinic for homeless people set up in a church. It is more triage, but it doesn't mean they then can't get further treatment at a hospital if needed. Private health is for people who can afford it, bit like the US, but the NHS does have long waiting times for non urgent treatment. Private health care allows you to get treatment done privately, as it say, much mor quickly that on the NHS. Need a new hip, private patient, that you for your premiums, when would you like it done? NHS, it's free but you may wait 18 months for it. as the saying goes, "Pay you Money, Make you choices". Though like said, if you are broke, you will still get that hip replacement, just not quickly Think of our NHS as you Second Amendment, we feel it is our right

[@rogerb4436]

New Zealand 🇳🇿 also has a National Healthcare System and they also have a system called ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) which covers the cost of sports related injuries, from walking, rugby, cycling, fishing, jogging to motor sports.

[@mattishoemark8540]

Love the NHS it’s really great! the 111 service has helped me time and again! (It’s a service that gives medical advice for free) I filled out the form and got diagnosed with a UTI (not fun 🙄) but they referred me to a out of hours GP (it was 8pm at night) and they got my antibiotics to get rid of the infection and it only cost £9.50! The price has gone up but still is quite cheap. Other medication I take is actually free so I don’t have to worry about the cost.

[@johnedwards5687]

The NHS covers all of the UK. Each nation (England, Scotland, Wales and NI) has some degree of autonomy. That means that they are responsible for administering the NHS in their region. For example, Scotland and Wales has abolished all prescription charges. England however, still charges in some circumstances. GPS are private businesses but they are contracted to the NHS. Hospitals are owned and managed by the state. Dentists are also private businesses but they are also contracted to the NHS. Waiting lists are an issue for NHS patients. For that reason, some people opt for private care which can be provided more quickly.

[@bugs7139]

The NHS/Welfare State is one of the best social programmers the UK has ever come up with! It’s by no means perfect and never will be, considering it’s open to 67 million people 24/7 every day of the year I’m extremely proud of it!

[@simonoleary9264]

The NHS is "Free" at the point of service, but is paid for through taxation (but this still tends to cost less than US medical insurance). There is also no co-pay, or deductibles, or any other of these insurance complications. It covers family doctor visits and treatment, all hospital treatment, ambulances and paramedic visits. Prescriptions are not generally free (except for people on low or fixed incomes, or some long-term health issues), but have a fixed price of about £10 per item, whether the drug actually costs £1 or £10,000. There is also a prepay scheme for prescriptions, for about £13 per months, all your prescriptions are covered.

[@laurelmayne9270]

I've just finished reading a book which highlights the amazing changes the NHS brought to people's lives, 'Hold on Edna!' by Aneira Thomas, well worth a read. Aneira was the first baby born on the NHS.

[@alchristie5112]

NHS is UK-wide, but Scotland NHS is separately managed from England NHS. An example of where they differ is that ALL prescriptions in Scotland are at no cost, while in England and Wales there is a charge. The voluntary private medical insurance overcomes some of the short comings of the NHS by offering some services that are no longer freely given and can also fast track treatment.

[@productjoe4069]

I find it interesting that your selection of things that are a ‘choice’ to buy were staple foods (and in the UK pregnant mothers and children under the age of 4 can get support to buy those staples from the NHS)

[@elton1981]

3:25 in 1947 it was made clear that we pay for the NHS as taxpayers. However, there is no deductibles or additional fees (except for certain things) and even though we do pay higher taxes this is still *significantly* cheaper than paying insurance and deductibles.