Do people 'deserve' universal health care?

[his_girl_l]

Just a quick note on prescriptions in response to gagged_Louise - in Australia low income earners (and the thresholds are pretty generous, especially for families with children) get prescriptions for a flat fee of $4.90 each (which isn't very much, it's even less in American dollars). That pays for administering the scheme and the government pays for the drugs.

Not quite free, but anyone can afford it.

And pensioners (not just aged, but disabled, single parents etc) get a fortnightly pharmacutical supplement, i think it is the cost of 2 prescriptions.

I've always found the public health system here fantastic.

[Tufty]

Just a quick note on prescriptions in response to gagged_Louise - in Australia low income earners (and the thresholds are pretty generous, especially for families with children) get prescriptions for a flat fee of $4.90 each (which isn't very much, it's even less in American dollars). That pays for administering the scheme and the government pays for the drugs.

Not quite free, but anyone can afford it.

And pensioners (not just aged, but disabled, single parents etc) get a fortnightly pharmacutical supplement, i think it is the cost of 2 prescriptions.

I've always found the public health system here fantastic.

Here in UK, those on low income or claiming state benefits don't pay for precriptions. People suffering from certain illnesses are also exempt from charges

The thing that makes the prescriptions here expensive is that they make a charge of £7.10 per ITEM (US$11.12) Now, I usually have 12 different drugs prescribed each month...so you can see how it mounts up!

There is the option to pay a yearly fee of £102 / US$159.70 (which is what I do) for a 'pre-payment certificate' to show that I have paid the fee and have to show it when I go to collect my medicines from the pharmacy.

[angela_shy]

Here in UK, those on low income or claiming state benefits don't pay for precriptions. People suffering from certain illnesses are also exempt from charges

The thing that makes the prescriptions here expensive is that they make a charge of £7.10 per ITEM (US$11.12) Now, I usually have 12 different drugs prescribed each month...so you can see how it mounts up!

There is the option to pay a yearly fee of £102 / US$159.70 (which is what I do) I receive a card to show that I have paid the fee and have to show it when I go to collect my medicines from the pharmacy.

hi Tufty
in Wales prescriptions are free... i have a spare room if you want