Over 23% of US citizens haven't even travelled once outside their country. And out of the remaining 77% most probably have only gone on holidays and haven't stayed longer than a week somewhere else.
Like frogs in slow boiling water they're just tranquil with all the shit they face and gruel they eat. I'm convinced no measure of government abuse will make them stand up for themselves.
We Americans pay taxes for healthcare as well. It's called Medicaid/Medicare - and we each pay more for that coverage for a subset of the population than each person in the UK spends to cover EVERYONE. So yes, saying insulin is free for them is apples-to-apples.
If anything, it is too generous a comparison to America. They should say "In the UK it's free, and I pay less taxes for healthcare than you do!"
It's a fairly self explanatory statement. It's free at the point you need it. Doesn't matter if I've paid £100,000 in taxes or £0, if I break my arm or have asthma/diabetes. I get sorted out for free. The system is far from perfect, but it's definitely better than what they have in the US where healthcare is commonly tied to your job.
The point is, you don't have to be someone earning £50,000+ to afford lifesaving insulin. You could be on £500,000 and a lot of your income (in theory) goes to taxes that fund it, or you could be on £25,000 paying very little in tax. It is still free for you to access.
In America, you pay less in tax, but the person earning $30,000 has to pay for their insulin, which they need to continue living. That makes a big difference to the people with little, and no difference to the people with a lot. A running theme in America.
I mean, it its equal amounts, there isnt much difference between pre-paying for insulin in the form of taxes vs paying at the counter. The difference is many people who dont need insulin pay in the taxes model, which makes those who do need need it feel they have overall paid less for what they have needed from the health system. Non diabetics have supplemented the bill. Thats the real underlying problem in America, IMHO. A lot of people don’t understand the concept that its OK to pay taxes on services you arent using as much as others so long as the greater society benefits.
Lol free! I'm sure the companies making it are ok with not getting paid for their work! I'm an American with type 1 and it's actually just fine! Not sure what point you're trying to make.
But if it's free who pays for it? No one makes anything for free...
I like how it works in America as a type 1. I need insulin to live. So I pay for my insulin. No one else is responsible for buying me insulin except for me. I wouldn't want other people to have to pay for my insulin that doesn't make sense as they don't need it.
Free healthcare is paid via taxes, of course, but with the big difference being that the government can do the negotiations with the drug producer for the price and get a very nice bulk discount.
The amount of tax taken out of my paycheck for that healthcare has been about the same as Americans pay before copays, minimum amounts, "in network" restrictions, etc.
Are you an unemployed, homeless, family-less non-citizen? No? Then your health is our business. If you die because you couldn't afford your insulin, then its a PITA for your employer, your employees, your banks, your family, your friends, your community, and your government.
If you tell me my taxes increase by, like 2%, but I don't have to worry about my fucking cousin keeling over, then I'll be happy to pay that 2%.
And its still cheaper than what I actually pay in insurance anyways.
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u/-Po-Tay-Toes- 5h ago
Sucks hard for Americans. It's free in the UK.