A Gloom, don't make enough to afford private health insurance-- they are the ones > whole need universal health not someone making $100,000 or more. >
If the rich don't get it, or those in prison etc.. it is not universal. However in Australia we have a medicare levy, medicare being our healthcare system. I am not sure the exact figures but we all pay something like 1.5% of our wages through the tax system and people over say $70K will pay another percent if they do not prove they have private health insurance. However if you earn little or nothing you do not pay the medicare levy and in fact may be entitled to cheaper prescriptions and more, if they issue you with a "health care card". With insurance, you always have the choice to go public or private. Our health care has being threatened a number of times, the "weasel words" used in health and social security are, its a "safety net" rather than universal. I don't like the idea of safety net, it makes me feel unless they arrive in time you will hit the ground. More recently we have also adopted the "National Disability Insurance scheme" in which the Government insures all Australians such if they are born with or or acquire a disability they will be covered for help, equipment, care and basic support income their whole life. Interestingly this takes a lot of pressure of large payouts or legal suits, by being "off the table", overall insurance premiums can drop. Whilst I am proud of Australia's health care system, it is always in need of improvement, and the main reason I explain it to others is so they are informed to influence their own Governments, or will share the ideas within their own systems. Regards Tony -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TiddlyWiki" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tiddlywiki/8b0cd7d8-d378-48e6-a272-852d50c2b8d7%40googlegroups.com.
