Can you opt out of national insurance?

Question

Im confused. My friend and I are at a disagreement. I was told you can opt out if national insurance and set up your own pension scheme and health care. However my friend thinks u cant totally opt out altogether as what would happen if you were knocked down. An ambulance would pick you up but noone checks you national insurance number so u would be treated for free as you weren't paying ni.How is that fair. I thought you would get a bill?

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Can you opt out of national insurance altogether?

Answer 1

No you can't opt out.  It's automatically deducted from your wages if you earn over a certain amount, your employer also pays some of it for you.  If you don't earn enough money to have to pay NIC (national insurance contributions) but earn enough you might still get a 'credit' on on your record for you.

If you are self employed you still need to pay it.

I had a car accident when I was quite young, I got treated by the NHS of course, but I nearly didn't get incapacity benefit because I was very close to not having paid enough NIC (as I hadonly been working for a year or two).

Edit: If you only came to the UK for a couple of years, and did not intend to retire here, you would still need to pay the NIC anyway.

Answer 2

no you cannot opt out

why should you if you would like to go to hospital if you have an accident

or visit a doctor to get the pill

etc

Answer 3

You can't opt it, it is british law. it is a way that you contribute to the NHS.

Answer 4

yes, by emigrating or commiting suicide, otherwise I'm afraid you are like the rest of us, taxes & N.I. are the only certainties in life

Answer 5

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Answer 6

only on DEATH!

Answer 7

every one in work pays N.I.Contributions there is no opt out  

Answer 8

National Insurance is a form of tax and you can't opt out of it.

If you are an employee, and a member of a contracted out pension scheme, you can pay lower National Insurance contributions and get nothing from the State Second Pension.  

If you are employed and arrange your own pension scheme, or if your employer runs a stakeholder scheme, you pay full National Insurance contributions, but you can arrange for part of them to be paid by HMRC into your scheme.  Again you get no State Second Pension.

Whether this is a good idea depends on your age, your circumstances and whether you are a risk taker.

Answer 9

In theory if you earn less than £ 83.00 per week you would not be liable to pay NI however you would miss out on so many benefits it would be foolish to do so.

Do not ever think that you could take out medical insurance to replace what you have on the NHS,  it would not be financially viable for anyone to take out insurance to replace NHS cover, to enhance yes you could never replace it.