Mykids, for the exact answers I suggest you look on the UK government website, but briefly the NHS is supposed to be paid for out of National Insurance contributions which are quite similar to FICA in the US i.e. not regular income tax but a percentage of earnings taken by the employer with an employer match, and I think there is still an upper earnings limit. I don't know all the current details because I haven't lived there for 15 years. I am not sure there is any traceable relationship between National Insurance and the NHS budget, I suspect not, although at some level the Government balances its books (or runs a surplus/deficit)
The tax system in the UK has exemptions and credits for the lower paid, and tax bands, so the lowest paid pay little or no tax and may get social security payments. Higher earners have higher tax bands and, of course, many schemes to avoid tax. Remember the Enron tax schemes were invented in the UK!!!
I think one aspect that everyone should be very careful about is that until one understands how a particular state's economy works as a whole it is difficult to compare. As a small example - in the UK most people are registered with a General Practioner (Doctor) which, these days is likely to be a Group practice i.e. several doctors working from one location. For "everyday" complaints, vaccinations, troubling but non life threatening symptoms, one makes an appointment and goes to the GP within a couple of days. You can usually see one of the doctors on the same day if you say you have the need. If you are incapacitated, maybe a sick child or you have something contagious, then the doctor will come to you (home visits - what is the copay on that in the US). If you become sick outside of normal surgery hours you will call your GP's emergency number and a doctor will come to see you, if necessary, or advise you on what action to take e.g. call an ambulance. If you have an accident then you either go to the nearest Accident and Emergency department or call an ambulance and the paramedics will stabilise you and get you to hospital. Dialling 999 in the UK connects you to the emergency services - Police, Fire and Ambulance, and they will despatch the required services - no insurance required.
The use of A&E and ER is therefore somewhat different from here. A small example but to compare the services you need to go into a lot of detail.
The tax system in the UK has exemptions and credits for the lower paid, and tax bands, so the lowest paid pay little or no tax and may get social security payments. Higher earners have higher tax bands and, of course, many schemes to avoid tax. Remember the Enron tax schemes were invented in the UK!!!
I think one aspect that everyone should be very careful about is that until one understands how a particular state's economy works as a whole it is difficult to compare. As a small example - in the UK most people are registered with a General Practioner (Doctor) which, these days is likely to be a Group practice i.e. several doctors working from one location. For "everyday" complaints, vaccinations, troubling but non life threatening symptoms, one makes an appointment and goes to the GP within a couple of days. You can usually see one of the doctors on the same day if you say you have the need. If you are incapacitated, maybe a sick child or you have something contagious, then the doctor will come to you (home visits - what is the copay on that in the US). If you become sick outside of normal surgery hours you will call your GP's emergency number and a doctor will come to see you, if necessary, or advise you on what action to take e.g. call an ambulance. If you have an accident then you either go to the nearest Accident and Emergency department or call an ambulance and the paramedics will stabilise you and get you to hospital. Dialling 999 in the UK connects you to the emergency services - Police, Fire and Ambulance, and they will despatch the required services - no insurance required.
The use of A&E and ER is therefore somewhat different from here. A small example but to compare the services you need to go into a lot of detail.