Quote Originally Posted by frogmiller View Post
Do NI contribution still stop at the higher rate of taxation?

Here we pay 7% of 12000€ as a minimum contribution to health and then 7% onwards.

Obviously there is a top up insurance which cost around 50€ but that is picked up by the employer. If you're self employed you can offset it. If you on a low income then the health care is free.

Seeing a surgeon can knock you back 200€ but again if you're on low income it's free.

If you have a long term problem then your treatment for that problem is free.

I know that all of the taxes in the UK go into a pot and get shared out which is different than what I believe happens here.
All of the tax for the health system goes to the health system.

The amount of things we get here in regards to service compare to the NHS and what it gives is miles apart.

This isn't to say that the NHS and those who work in it is bad because it isn't and they're not. I've just experienced better service here.
Interesting to look at how another country organises their health provision Frog. Just a couple of questions:

What is the low income threshold for low earners?
What protections are there if for example i am a low/mid income person who has basic insurance cover and then have an accident that requires extensive care at say 5 - 10k. Will my basic insurance cover me for that?
How does the state/private subsidise/pay for the the cover so that all citizens are covered at the point of need? How do they ensure that wastage is avoided if we think that our NHS is wasteful?
Are any people left out, unable to get treatment due to cost?