You know we exercise and eat well in countries that do have “free” healthcare too right? And you have noticed that richer people tend to live healthier lives too, no?
richer people tend to live healthier lives too, no?
YMMV. Richer people tend to have access to more amenities that can improve their health. But there’s something of a selection bias. You don’t see mega-millionaire celebrities like Chris Farley and John Candy or music celebrities like Amy Winehouse or Kurt Cobain around anymore because the Hollywood lifestyle caught up with them.
I used to say the same thing. Then they dismantled the NHS to the point that using that free healthcare is so difficult and so inept at diagnosing things on time, that the only thing you have left is exercise.
That’s not the point, at all. People, and rich people especially, live healthier lives because it improves your quality of life dramatically, especially as you age. If you are expecting to rely on healthcare to save you from a shitty lifestyle, you will die long before your time regardless.
Precisely, additionally we’re collectively too poor for healthcare unless we do our best to reduce the need for it in the first place. That’s why many countries in the EU for example are trying to regulate people away from unhealthy behaviour. Healthcare costs are already disproportionately burdened by the workforce while those who benefit are people on their last legs, since your guaranteed necessary care (at least in the Finnish system). That’s why there have been talks to lax the guarantees of the healthcare system for e.g. people over 80, who cause almost the majority of all costs.
The society is planning on the basis that I’ll be a productive worker until 69,5 years old – that’s the recommended age for starting my government backed pension. Good luck making it that far without a rigorous focus on one’s health.
What do you mean lax the guarantees for people over 80? Just screw them, they worked for us, now let them rot and die? Lax it for alcoholics and people who at least had some choice!
They did not really work for us, but purposely built a pension system where they paid in about 10-13 % of their income towards the pensions, while reaching pension age between 60-65. That, and a public health sector that prioritises urgent care over preventative, meaning there’s insane queues for anyone who can wait as their health issues pile up – since they’re not in immediate risk of death. Most urgent care gets used by pensioners, leading to the budget not being enough for anything else.
My generation pays 24 % of all income as a pension contribution before all other taxes, pension age will be between 68-70 and the system still doesn’t have enough money and there’s pressure for increasing contributions even further. Still the current retirees have the audacity to complain if someone tells them they had it easier. The pension system was designed as an insurance, instead of everyone’s payments being invested. I have practically zero trust I’ll ever see a single cent of the money I put in.
Most of the ones responsible for actually building the welfare state are already dead, or close to dying. The ones I’m talking about are their children who chose to ignore all the problems they were presented with (like the ballooning costs of pensions and healthcare, and shrinking generations), and are now whining when the next generation doesn’t want to pay for all their mistakes.
The main reason I’m so fed up with the current retirees in Finland is, that there’s been insane amounts of austerity for years now – but the austerity measures never affect pensions as they’re treated as an earned benefit. Without any thought toward the fact that the first generations to actually “save” their pension in full (i.e. contributing enough) were those born in 60’s and 70’s, not the ones who are currently retired. Also the choices etc. are already taken into account, you don’t get a new liver if you’re an alcoholic and things like that.
You know we exercise and eat well in countries that do have “free” healthcare too right? And you have noticed that richer people tend to live healthier lives too, no?
YMMV. Richer people tend to have access to more amenities that can improve their health. But there’s something of a selection bias. You don’t see mega-millionaire celebrities like Chris Farley and John Candy or music celebrities like Amy Winehouse or Kurt Cobain around anymore because the Hollywood lifestyle caught up with them.
Cocaine kills plenty of rich people.
Celebrities are under a unique pressure that most rich people are not, which is generally non conducive to a long life.
Talk to any lawyer. Alcohol, more than coke, tends to be their poison. But as a profession, near universally, its a trainwreck.
Meanwhile, doctors smoke like chimneys. Software developers love their ket and mushrooms. God only knows what investment bankers are using.
I wouldn’t call it unique. Just easy to toss out names everyone is familiar with.
I used to say the same thing. Then they dismantled the NHS to the point that using that free healthcare is so difficult and so inept at diagnosing things on time, that the only thing you have left is exercise.
I hope it does not happen to you
That’s not the point, at all. People, and rich people especially, live healthier lives because it improves your quality of life dramatically, especially as you age. If you are expecting to rely on healthcare to save you from a shitty lifestyle, you will die long before your time regardless.
Precisely, additionally we’re collectively too poor for healthcare unless we do our best to reduce the need for it in the first place. That’s why many countries in the EU for example are trying to regulate people away from unhealthy behaviour. Healthcare costs are already disproportionately burdened by the workforce while those who benefit are people on their last legs, since your guaranteed necessary care (at least in the Finnish system). That’s why there have been talks to lax the guarantees of the healthcare system for e.g. people over 80, who cause almost the majority of all costs.
The society is planning on the basis that I’ll be a productive worker until 69,5 years old – that’s the recommended age for starting my government backed pension. Good luck making it that far without a rigorous focus on one’s health.
What do you mean lax the guarantees for people over 80? Just screw them, they worked for us, now let them rot and die? Lax it for alcoholics and people who at least had some choice!
They did not really work for us, but purposely built a pension system where they paid in about 10-13 % of their income towards the pensions, while reaching pension age between 60-65. That, and a public health sector that prioritises urgent care over preventative, meaning there’s insane queues for anyone who can wait as their health issues pile up – since they’re not in immediate risk of death. Most urgent care gets used by pensioners, leading to the budget not being enough for anything else.
My generation pays 24 % of all income as a pension contribution before all other taxes, pension age will be between 68-70 and the system still doesn’t have enough money and there’s pressure for increasing contributions even further. Still the current retirees have the audacity to complain if someone tells them they had it easier. The pension system was designed as an insurance, instead of everyone’s payments being invested. I have practically zero trust I’ll ever see a single cent of the money I put in.
Most of the ones responsible for actually building the welfare state are already dead, or close to dying. The ones I’m talking about are their children who chose to ignore all the problems they were presented with (like the ballooning costs of pensions and healthcare, and shrinking generations), and are now whining when the next generation doesn’t want to pay for all their mistakes.
The main reason I’m so fed up with the current retirees in Finland is, that there’s been insane amounts of austerity for years now – but the austerity measures never affect pensions as they’re treated as an earned benefit. Without any thought toward the fact that the first generations to actually “save” their pension in full (i.e. contributing enough) were those born in 60’s and 70’s, not the ones who are currently retired. Also the choices etc. are already taken into account, you don’t get a new liver if you’re an alcoholic and things like that.