I'm not in the upper tax band (40% + National Insurance), so I pay tax + National Insurance at the regular rate of about 25% If I had enough surplus cash I might think about paying into a Private health plan, as there are a few notable ones like BUPA, over here in Britain. Frankly I can't afford it. I've not even got to the point of financial security where I can afford to pay into a pension plan, above and beyond the National Insurance one.
Can I ask a question?
What does a Private health plan pay for that a socialized health plan doesn't? I don't understand the system of duplication? Why would you go on one of these plans, what is the incentive?
Heck, I once even had to go on social security for six weeks because there was absolutely no work available (I visited the Labour Exchange every day), and this was after having learnt a trade as a Joiner/Carpenter. ; Other than that I've been very fortunate and have since changed careers twice. ; Each time the jobs that have followed have been good timing rather than hard work (though I've worked hard all my life). What about the poor souls who don't get such breaks, or even worse, get their lives totally destroyed by natural disasters or unplannable debilitating illness?
I think you raise a very good point.
Natural disasters suck, but we're going to have them. I wonder after seeing the devastation in the South, how many other families down there are making serious disaster relief program? Heck, I don't have an 'earthquak preparedness kit'--but I live in the part of CA that is not affected with quakes, a rather large stable plate.
Human beings in general want to put their head in the sand and play the crap shoot. Everyone does to some extent. At some point, when another human says, 'Take your head out of sand and look around you!" That human is ostracized as believing they are somehow 'above it all' or 'lucky.'
Hard work doesn't guarantee you anything but a sore back much of the time. For instance, in many tribal cultures, the work is VERY hard. And yet there are very few if any advances over time. People still using vines to tie together fences and what not.
Surely, I am lucky. But what is that quote--"Luck favors the prepared."