Smokers and drinkers should pay own healthcare costs: survey

The vast majority of Dutch people think that young people who end up in the hospital after drinking to much, should pay the bill themselves, either completely or partially. About the same amount feel the same about smokers who need help quitting. This is according to a survey done by Statistics Netherlands on who should pay for healthcare costs in a number of circumstances. The results of the survey were published on Wednesday. Eight out of 10 adults think that smokers should partially or completely pay for help in quitting. A similar proportion think that the cost of hospital treatment after excessive alcohol intake should be covered by the young people themselves. On the other hand, the survey revealed that Dutch people are more understanding when it comes to people who need psychological help. A massive 80 percent believe that people suffering from depression should not have to pay for the help they need themselves. And only 25 percent indicated that people who lost a loved one should partially or completely cover the bill for psychological help. Opinions are more divided when it comes to other healthcare costs. 65 percent of respondents felt that people receiving IVF treatments should pay for it themselves. Only 37 percent believe that patients should carry the costs for a second opinion. And 68 percent think that diet advice should be at own cost.