The debate thread

[Niall]

So if you do trackdays or snowboarding, boxing, or work with animals! All things you choose to do should you not pay extra then because you are more likely to be in hospital more often than a chess player

Thing is though Jonny, those things you dont do every day. Yes you could break a leg snowboarding on holiday but whats the likelihood in comparison with ending up ill because you are smoking 10 a day every day for 30 years?

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So if you do trackdays or snowboarding, boxing, or work with animals! All things you choose to do should you not pay extra then because you are more likely to be in hospital more often than a chess player

Exactly.

And regardless of whether or not you choose to do something, if you're a higher risk you should pay more. Look at car insurance, I don't choose to be 26 but i pay higher insurance than my dad. I didn't choose to have a lower NCB.

I'm not arguing that the above SHOULD happen, i'm just saying if there's a higher dependency/risk, surely you should pay more? Genetic, sexually transmitted, accident, whatever.

Problem with raising NI due to genetic issues is that can the person afford the rise in NI? And then in that respect, its no longer a free health service. With smoking, if you decide to take up smoking, you should ensure you can afford the rise in NI. If you complain you cant afford to live because of the rise, you shouldnt be smoking anyway!