Originally Posted by Stevie25 (Post 2814259)

I have paid, and continue to pay tax since I was 16 - are you suggesting I pay a further ‘surcharge’ to use the NHS?

Originally Posted by rab60bit (Post 2814277)

Not a bad idea (with some limitations) but better you read the whole thread...otherwise we'll go off at a tangent

Originally Posted by spyder (Post 2814271)

Just read the comments quickly, I think the surcharge has got lost in translation.

Anyone coming from a commonwealth or non-EU country on a residence visa has to pay £400 per year per person for a NHS surcharge, this will be every year until Indefinite Leave to remain is achieved-this could take upto 10 years, but is usually 5. So this will be around £3000 over and above the visa etc fees which will be a further £6000 or so. For a family of 4 this mounts up quite quickly. Taking into consideration that during those 5-10 years, they will also be paying NI, income tax and VAT anyway.

Many of these people are on tier 2 or 5, skilled workers visa's, given to people that are employed from outside the EU where a UK (and EU) worker has not met the requirements.

The plan is to exclude NHS applicant; nurses, Dr's dentists, physios etc to encourage them to apply. Much like staff discounts are given in many industries.


Another lesser known fact in the same vein, is that UK citizens living and working overseas, expats I suppose, are also required to pay a NHS surcharge when visiting the Uk, if they have been back here for less than 6 months. This would and does include UK born citizens. :}

Originally Posted by rab60bit (Post 2814279)

I can see and agree with some of your arguement but staff discount - noooo!
If you mean a bit like a company vehicle for a Ford Maindealer Salesman - HMCR class that as payment in kind which is subject to Income Tax ain't it!!
IMHO that's still a dumb deal for the country and the NHS - just look at the numbers in my little scenario (not actuals but fair guesses - and on the low side I may be so bold) - then I'd hope you'll agree it's financial lunacy.

Originally Posted by rab60bit (Post 2814266)

I refer you to how Christopher (Mileshawke56) succinctly puts it.
May I offer you an hypothetical scenario -
'Foreign' medical worker 'A' takes up a post in the UK after being recruited by an overseas agency (obo NHS) with the idea of spending 4-5 years in the system (or even contemplating becoming a UK citizen). By accepting the post we should assume 'A' has a contract with all the usual relevant details of employment etc. and also meets all the experience/qualification requirements. It is a given that 'A' is seeking employment in the UK and finds the offer/T&C's suitably attractive - there's no force or coercion involved.
'A' proves a very competent and diligent worker but after 9 months is involved in a serious rail accident together with 'B' a UK born colleague (of similar age/experience demographic - say has worked for 8 years after qualifiying) whilst in transit to work one day - they both suffer similar multiple injuries and are justifiably off work for 3 months (each spending 7 weeks in the various stages of hospitalisation); thankfully both fully recover and return to duties.
So far, 'B' has paid UK tax and NI for 8 of their qualified working years, 'A' has probably paid 8 months emergency tax and perhaps NI contributions. They both receive the same treatment and benefits whilst in hospital and throughout R&R at a conservative total cost to the system of £180K (£90K each) including all the special services whilst being recovered from the rail crash.
At the time of the accident clearly 'B' has paid more tax and NI into the system (for arguements sake let's say their contribution is £28K), 'A' meantime has paid £2K.
Neither of these figures comes anywhere close to the actual costs to the system but WE (you, me and millions of others and our forbears) meantime take care of the deficit.
Subsequently, after 4 years happily working in the UK 'A' takes up a post in the USA whilst 'B' works a further 20 years in the system (that = a 28 year NHS shift including that damned Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020/21...) and takes a slightly early retirement due to their back never fully recovering from the rail accident.
Over their working life, 'B' was promoted 5 grades, later had a child and had their appendix removed (NHS) and overall pays £120K into the system before retirement. 'A' didn't have further need of the NHS and over 4 years paid £9K into the system and received a tax refund of £1.3K on departing for the USA; the Health Charge in this scenario was applied and secured a further (massive...) £2K NHS contribution during the period of their time in the UK.
You can pick holes in it but I rest my case and just boggle at the thought of what many percieve as a massive magic money pit, FOC NHS for all - wake up and smell the coffee! The fact that an NHS worker also may have to use the system is a fact but not an excuse.
Not the original question but by all means let's value/pay NHS workers more (specifically those on the front line) but get real in the process.

Originally Posted by macafee2 (Post 2814297)

ok I understand what you say but I don't not agree with your view.
I worked for 38ish years paying tax, I was born in the UK, am I any more entitled to NHS care then the 17 year old UK born teenager injured on his first day of work? Neither of us work for the NHS!

Using your example I still do not think the foreign NHS worked should pay, can we agree to disagree?

macafee2

Originally Posted by macafee2 (Post 2814297)

ok I understand what you say but I don't not agree with your view.
I worked for 38ish years paying tax, I was born in the UK, am I any more entitled to NHS care then the 17 year old UK born teenager injured on his first day of work? Neither of us work for the NHS!

Using your example I still do not think the foreign NHS worked should pay, can we agree to disagree?

macafee2

Originally Posted by Stevie25 (Post 2814259)

I have paid, and continue to pay tax since I was 16 - are you suggesting I pay a further ‘surcharge’ to use the NHS?

Originally Posted by rab60bit (Post 2814266)

...
You can pick holes in it but I rest my case and just boggle at the thought of what many percieve as a massive magic money pit, FOC NHS for all - wake up and smell the coffee!