Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
False
General
Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
Discuss non-medical topics
This was an idea posited in a blog on the Institute of Economics Affairs in a slightly off the wall blog called 'How to Abolish the NHS'
http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/how-to-abolish-the-nhs
It co
0
Cat:OffDutyForum:General
Cat:OffDutyForum:GeneralDiscussion:852d7a2b-f754-4284-b357-38c076862c6f
|
Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 20/6/2012 5:30 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
*Moderator*
Posts: 1501
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 20/6/2013 |
This was an idea posited in a blog on the Institute of Economics Affairs in a slightly off the wall blog called 'How to Abolish the NHS' http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/how-to-abolish-the-nhs It contains several unique ideas and I'll write some separate posts on then. But it would be good to hear your views on the lead question of whether patients who do not use the NHS should receive a rebate? |
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 20/6/2012 5:57 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 1343
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
No - of course they shoudn't. We have a State-funded health service paid for out of tax as agreed by a democratic parliament - that's how it works. The fact you chose not to use it does not entitle you to a rebate. It's a ridiulous suggestion. Should people who have no children (or send them to private school because they wish to gain a social/educational advantage) be entitled to a rebate for not using State-funded schools? Should non-drivers get a refund for not using State-paid for motorways? Should people living in remote communties get a rebate because there is no crime so why should their taxes be spent on the Police? Should Quakers and other pacifists get a rebate because they openly and consistently reject military violence so why should their taxes fund the Army? Actually, come to think of the last one, I am still p'ed off that Blair and Co. used my taxes to fund the war in Iraq... |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 20/6/2012 8:06 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 2139
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
We have a state funded school service. We have a state-underfunded legal system. We have a state funded military defence service. We have an established state church. WE have a state funded system for politics and government. So, anyone who send their children to a private school, sues their business rivals and pays the barrister themselves, arranges their own security, worships at the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and pays MPs to influence government policy their own way can claim the costs against income tax! Excellent! John |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 20/6/2012 9:23 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 148
First: 14/5/2012 Last: 8/6/2013 |
No. But quite strictly technically they could get some rebate from their 'National INSURANCE' as the NI was originally created to specifically fund the healthcare. If you use less, 'insurance' rebates are not unreasonable. But probably the more relevant point should be the clear separation of private and NHS healthcare as long as NHS remains a provider. Private providers should not get NHS funding or provide treatment for NHS patients. Conflicts of interests and Confusion of Interests are ruining the system. Private healthcare should get out of its slumber and provide affordable healthcare; it will rise to the challenge only if NHS money becomes unavailable to it. |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 20/6/2012 10:06 PM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 897
First: 17/6/2011 Last: 17/6/2013 |
It's a choice not a requirement to opt out of any of these things and hence you can pay for the privelige of that choice! It's also a fair bet that when things don't go to plan that the NHS (state) picks up the pieces so your rebate can be kept as insurance! sadian |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 21/6/2012 3:25 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 3011
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 20/6/2013 |
Most governments with any sense are trying to get the populace off the government nipple. If this means incentives to do so, so be it. Greece has a terminal nipple problem. The UK is nipple-dependent except for London Water. |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 23/6/2012 12:52 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 10
First: 9/9/2011 Last: 1/7/2012 |
In Response to Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?: No - of course they shoudn't. We have a State-funded health service paid for out of tax as agreed by a democratic parliament - that's how it works. The fact you chose not to use it does not entitle you to a rebate. It's a ridiulous suggestion. Should people who have no children (or send them to private school because they wish to gain a social/educational advantage) be entitled to a rebate for not using State-funded schools? Should non-drivers get a refund for not using State-paid for motorways? Should people living in remote communties get a rebate because there is no crime so why should their taxes be spent on the Police? Should Quakers and other pacifists get a rebate because they openly and consistently reject military violence so why should their taxes fund the Army? Actually, come to think of the last one, I am still p'ed off that Blair and Co. used my taxes to fund the war in Iraq... Posted by skyesteve |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 23/6/2012 12:53 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 10
First: 9/9/2011 Last: 1/7/2012 |
In Response to Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?: No - of course they shoudn't. We have a State-funded health service paid for out of tax as agreed by a democratic parliament - that's how it works. The fact you chose not to use it does not entitle you to a rebate. It's a ridiulous suggestion. Should people who have no children (or send them to private school because they wish to gain a social/educational advantage) be entitled to a rebate for not using State-funded schools? Should non-drivers get a refund for not using State-paid for motorways? Should people living in remote communties get a rebate because there is no crime so why should their taxes be spent on the Police? Should Quakers and other pacifists get a rebate because they openly and consistently reject military violence so why should their taxes fund the Army? Actually, come to think of the last one, I am still p'ed off that Blair and Co. used my taxes to fund the war in Iraq... Posted by skyesteve |
|
|
Re: Should private patients receive a tax rebate for not using the NHS?
posted at 23/6/2012 12:58 AM BST
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 10
First: 9/9/2011 Last: 1/7/2012 |
This is an immature response to the question. The NHS is overloaded as it is. If the NHS was funded and staffed to a level that provided the same level of service as Private Health Care your taxes would be more than you earn. Stop deluding yourself with all the irrelevant analogies and concentrate on reality. |
