The NHS needs more money to operate and pay front-line staff appropriate salaries.
I truly believe there would be a lot of support from pensioners earning over the tax free amount to contribute 2% National Insurance on income, including interest and dividends, above current tax free allowances. Indeed this 2% NI should also be levied on interest and dividends over the respective £1,000 and £2,000 tax free allowances for ALL ages. (Often the highest paid receive dividends rather than extra salary or bonuses to avoid tax, so why not close this loophole and charge tax and NI on all income above the respective allowances, the same as tax & NI on salaries?)
People on basic state pensions with no other income would not be affected, as their income is below the £12,500 tax threshold. Currently National Insurance is not paid by people who reach pension age. Of course we have paid for our state pensions by then, but more of us are living longer and it is in our later years that we rely most on the NHS. The money we contributed in our working years was spent a long time ago! The current Covid-19 pandemic has made us all more aware that the NHS is especially needed by the elderly.
Personally, we only have small private pensions plus our state pension, so for me this would only be 2% of about £2,500-3000 pa and similar from my husband (who agrees). There are many pensioners today who have generous private and workplace pensions who could easily and willingly afford this little extra to support the NHS we rely on in old age. Higher paid working age people should also pay NI on earnings from dividends, not just salary.
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