wrighty Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 10 minutes ago, The Phantom said: However I do agree with Singapore's idea. If you're unvaxxed you're paying your own Covid-19 hospital bills. My gut feeling is similar, however charging the unvaxxed for their covid treatment is in the same ballpark as charging smokers if they get lung disease, charging the obese for just about anything wrong with them, charging drinkers for getting pissed and falling over or fighting... We either have a health service that is free at the point of delivery or not. I don't necessarily disagree with charging people for healthcare, but I don't think this single issue discriminatory method is the way forward. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 1 minute ago, wrighty said: My gut feeling is similar, however charging the unvaxxed for their covid treatment is in the same ballpark as charging smokers if they get lung disease, charging the obese for just about anything wrong with them, charging drinkers for getting pissed and falling over or fighting... We either have a health service that is free at the point of delivery or not. I don't necessarily disagree with charging people for healthcare, but I don't think this single issue discriminatory method is the way forward. True. I was thinking along the same lines. I think accidents are just accidents - i.e. if I crash my mountainbike and get injured. But if you've virtually done something to specifically harm yourself... What about a failed suicide? There is tax on booze and fags that should go to the NHS. Is that not also the idea behind the sugar tax? Hey it's certainly not perfect nor a solution, just my thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opusManx Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) . Edited January 13 by opusManx 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoo Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) 44 minutes ago, The Phantom said: Yes and no. It's a tricky one and I very much doubt the money will be going to big Pharma. Do you think it's 100% fine for someone to not get vaxxed then end up in hospital potentially costing £1000s in treatment which the rest of us then have to pay for? I can't remember which country it was, but one was proposing to charge any unvaxxed people that get hospitalised for their covid treatment. Personally I'd say this seems much more reasonable and equitable. EDITED TO ADD: It's Singapore charging. Australia are considering. We keep hearing this tired old trope but the real world evidence doesn't seem to back it up. If we start to charge individuals for their health decisions then we have to keep going with it and target the obese, the smokers, the heavy drinkers etc... It's the thin end of a very dangerous wedge. ETA: Just seen Wrighty's post, which duplicates this. Edited January 12 by Danoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Blonde Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 12 minutes ago, wrighty said: My gut feeling is similar, however charging the unvaxxed for their covid treatment is in the same ballpark as charging smokers if they get lung disease, charging the obese for just about anything wrong with them, charging drinkers for getting pissed and falling over or fighting... We either have a health service that is free at the point of delivery or not. I don't necessarily disagree with charging people for healthcare, but I don't think this single issue discriminatory method is the way forward. You're right. It's the thin end of a wedge. Once they establish a charging mechanism then it won't 'just' be for Covid. It will spread to the examples you have listed then to people who have an 'unhealthy' BMI. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 7 minutes ago, wrighty said: We either have a health service that is free at the point of delivery or not. I don't necessarily disagree with charging people for healthcare, but I don't think this single issue discriminatory method is the way forward. I don't either though, it's worth pointing out that many of these countries have compulsory insurance schemes, so what they would be basically doing is increasing the premium for those engaged in high risk activity. Though I suspect the Quebec scheme will never actually happen and charging unvaccinated individuals for care is going to cause the sort of problems that charging for emergency care normally does. Most of these measures are actually virtue signalling by the state and the usual government strategy of trying to blame things that go wrong on anyone except the people in charge. In current circumstances, restricting the movements of the unvaccinated can only be justified clinically for the reason that it's their health that is being protected, not that they might infect others. It's astonishing just how much difference vaccination does make though. Even if you look at local figures of the seven in hospital last week, three were unvaccinated (wildly disproportionate when you consider the Island's high vaccination rates) and the other four hadn't received a booster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 2 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: I don't either though, it's worth pointing out that many of these countries have compulsory insurance schemes, so what they would be basically doing is increasing the premium for those engaged in high risk activity. Good point. I have to pay extra on my travel insurance if I'm going to do winter sports or certain other high risk sports and don't quibble about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowman Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 People already pay for healthcare. The NHS isn't free and "we" don't pay enough for it to operate properly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opusManx Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) . Edited January 13 by opusManx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danoo Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 35 minutes ago, James Blonde said: You're right. It's the thin end of a wedge. Once they establish a charging mechanism then it won't 'just' be for Covid. It will spread to the examples you have listed then to people who have an 'unhealthy' BMI. As others have said, I don't necessarily disagree with this approach though. If someone wants to make poor lifestyle decisions then they should have to pay for them, literally and figuratively. However I'd like a reduction in direct taxation to reflect this though. Which won't happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Blonde Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 3 minutes ago, Danoo said: As others have said, I don't necessarily disagree with this approach though. If someone wants to make poor lifestyle decisions then they should have to pay for them, literally and figuratively. However I'd like a reduction in direct taxation to reflect this though. Which won't happen. It's a slippery slope. Should expectant parents then pay for having a baby delivered? Personally I prefer the all inclusive free at the point of need option, but I can see why others would prefer different approaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banker Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 7 minutes ago, opusManx said: Yeah. It looks like a bit of political theatre thus far. Short on details regarding implementation. Already grumblings of court challenges. He may just be waving the stick to elicit some compliance...I guess he never heard of the boy who cried wolf Lol Well Austria are starting fines for unvaccinated soon with Italy adopting for over 60s and Greece over 60s https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-181673194367 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeliX Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 1 hour ago, The Phantom said: Do you think it's 100% fine for someone to not get vaxxed then end up in hospital potentially costing £1000s in treatment which the rest of us then have to pay for? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the stinking enigma Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 I would think pensioners are quite a drain on the nhs. Prescription drugs and treatments etc. I havent been to the doctor in years yet pay quite a lot of tax. This making the unvaxxed pay for treatment is just the first stage of privatisation and should be resisted as such. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opusManx Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) . Edited January 13 by opusManx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.