To think we shouldn’t have to contribute to soch if we don’t intend to use it?

You take advantage of living in a society where you don’t see bodies on the streets , begging rates are relatively low, children are educated to become doctors and nurses

out society is shaped by the social commitment we all make - to opt out you need to move out - leave the country

Lol none of us will be having pensions like the current claimants we're all paying for. It is unfair.

So op, you want to live in a free style economy.
Well there are plenty of countries which operate like that. Basically you pay for what you use.
If you chose to live in a society run more like the UK, you don’t get to cherry pick the aspects you like.
You are free to leave at any time.

That’s what I was saying when I was paying 60% taxes on my salary and the only time I used the NHS was to register at the GPs. Then 3 months before my 50th, I got aggressive cancer that only the NHS could help. Then, an autoimmune present from the cancer treatment that only an NHS hospital managed to control. All my contributions were used up in the space of 3 years. Never say never.

But why, your rationale makes no sense? If protecting “low inc9me families” is important enough to ensure schools are paid for why not the pensions of poor elderly people? I don’t have kids, rarely drive and have private healthcare so I shouldn’t have to pay many elements of tax, but the whole bloody system would collapse if you allowed people to pick and choose. We all pay tax to support a functioning society and if you start trying to unpick it then it doesn’t work anymore.

Here's another cheery statistic a huge amount of NHS use is by people in the last 6 months of life!

Who knows what sort of health care any of us will need at that point in time.

I've just read all of OP's comments and conclude this post is a wind-up. Earns over £75k but can't think or spell, will never get run over by a bus, thinks anyone who's not heard of soch/sosh is being obtuse and will self-treat any ailments (good luck with a broken leg, OP).

NI nowhere near covers the average persons NHS costs. You may be private now, but we're you as a child? If you have two children in a NHS hospital, you are unlikely to ever pay the cost of that back through NI contributions in your life time. Also, most complications that happen in private hospitals are blue lighted to NHS hospitals, would you be prepared to be denied that right?

Why would any of those things happen to the OP? Sounds very far-fetched.

Nae bother Margaret.

Nope, never heard of it in 67 years of living in all 3 mainland UK countries, multiple areas North, South and West in England.

There’s no such thing as a non NHS user. You may have private healthcare for elective surgeries, but where do you think you end up after a car crash, heart attack, stroke etc…

If anyone turned this in as a school essay, they would not be scored highly 🤣

Why didn’t you contract out pre 2016 when what you’re describing was an option?

Why have you chosen a term (soch) that is not commonly understood? You've even previously dismissed people who've asked what 'soch' is, saying it was 'self-explanatory' when it clearly isn't. What does the H stand for?

How on earth did you get to have so much money you don't want or need your state pension in a few years time while being so utterly ignorant of what might, and quite likely will soon at your age, happen to you that you cannot "treat yourself".

You've shamed me completely, though. I should obviously have taken some knitbone (comfrey) and stuck some plaster on my shattered arm bone instead of letting a surgeon put a 7 inch titanium plate in it.

Thanks for the laugh out loud and eye roll entertainment.

My dad did at 61 before state pension age. He had to pay for his own care as he was unable to look after himself. Did he get a massive rebait? No. He had to pay 40% tax on his estate.

But for example a non NHS user who does not want a state pension should be able to opt out of soch payments imo.

Everyone is an NHS user. That ambulance waiting outside the station for a call? That's your ambulance, ready in case you ever need it.

Immigrate to USA. Good luck with that.

This would be ridiculously complicated. Imagine every time you used a service, having to prove you're entitled. You need to look up what 'society' means as you happen to be a part of one.

Is she talking about SERPs?
State Earnings Related Pension thats been abolished?

There was a time when people could opt out but then it was realised Pension funds aren't always great.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I dont think you understand how it works do you...

How much do you expect to be spent modify the tax and pension system so that people could do this?

What happens when you lose your trust find or whatever your source of money is and suddenly need a pension you haven't paid for? At your age you may well be cast iron secure, but most people choosing this path would be to young to know what the future holds.

What exactly is a "non NHS user"? Are you aware that private medical services don't cover accidents or the vast majority of emergencies?

When you get to retirement age, if you suddenly find your pension isn't enough or you fall on hard times, would you still expect the state to provide for you? I think a system where people could opt out would be complicated and impractical.