I can only speak about

...Japan, where 30% of the 'cost' is covered by the individual, including the cost of the bed/ward/food, so that offsets the numbers between UK and Japan considerably. Same for drugs: not a flat fee, a 30% charge.

Having spent most of my adult life there, it is a system I am used to, and would support here. You can insure yourself against 10%, 20% or all of the portion you have to pay and, often, your employer will cover a portion of it, as it works out much cheaper than them funding a fully private health policy.

Note: They don't cover a lot of the stuff you can get on the NHS here, e.g. IVF, cosmetic surgery (unless as the result of an accident, e.g. burns), Cancer. You either pay for that your self or, in the case of Cancer, there are specific Cancer insurance policies.

You even pay for giving birth in Japan, but you can claim some of it back depending on certain conditions, e.g. caesarean.

Posted By: Jester, Jan 8, 18:41:32