We do too it's called National Insurance and currently you pay 12% of your wage and your employer pays 13% (depending on income and assuming the UK average) so an amount equivalent to 25% of your wage goes into a compulsory health insurance scheme. I understand Gordon Brown took the ring-fence off this money and it now goes into the general government income pot so isn't actually used for the purpose intended anymore.
To be fair home ownership only became the norm when the (hated by many) Mrs T made it possible for council tenants to buy and the lowed tax rates made it possible for the rest to at least look at buying. I have 3 children who all rent but I rented til I was their age so what's new?
K
Absolutely agree that the NI payments should be ring-fenced so they cannot be used on general public spending, but they don't just cover health/social care. They also cover the state pensions system and various welfare benefits. When you add up the cost of all that, and add in increasing life expectancy and the wonderful but expensive new treatments we all expect to have, current levels of contributions from wages are never going to be enough.
My 2 year old grandson has had five weeks of inpatient treatment so far plus significant amounts of outpatient support. His parents both work in NHS finance so have a better idea than most about the cost to the NHS of his treatment. It's absolutely mind-boggling and even with good jobs they would have had a hard time funding the care privately.
In most countries with publicly-financed health systems, there is some level of payment at point of use, with exemptions for low-income people. The one thing that does do is make people think more sensibly about how they use the system. Do you really need to see the GP for a minor problem for which paracetamol may be prescribed (80% of all prescriptions are free) when you can buy the same product yourself at the same pharmacy?
More controversially, life insurance companies will charge you more if you are a smoker, drinker, etc. Travel insurance companies will charge you more if you want to participate in ski-ing or similar risky sports. Car/home insurance will cost more if you make a lot of claims. Health is the only area where we are protected from the consequences of our actions/choices. Maybe that will have to change in the future?