Our National Health Service may not be perfect but at least we don't die in childbirth or of cancer because we couldn't afford medical care.
We pay National Insurance contributions through payroll and this covers medical treatment, Job Seekers Allowance (an unemployment benefit), sickness benefit and state pension contributions and child allowance.
You pay National Insurance if you’re:
- 16 or over
- an employee earning above £153 a week
- self employed and making a profit over £5,885 a year (unless you get an exception)
The exact amount you pay depends on:
- how much you earn
- whether you’re employed or self-employed
If you are on unemployment benefit, unable to work through long term illness or disablement, at home raising children, retired or a full-time student you get credits so you don't miss out
Most people apart from children under 16 or retired people pay for prescriptions but not the full price of the medicine - IIRC it's about £7 per item whether it's a 100 x aspirin tablets or the most expensive prescription-only drug on the list.