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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think putting vat on private healthcare when many people use it because the NHS won't treat them is monstrously cruel

362 replies

DervlaGlass · 30/09/2025 08:10

I know so many people who have had to pay for cancer diagnostics or new joints because they couldn't obtain care from the NHS. Not rich people - people who have to take out bank loans to fund it.

What is wrong with labour.

OP posts:
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13
Goldenbear · 30/09/2025 10:31

Algen · 30/09/2025 10:19

Do you want to introduce a tax on breathing next?

Essential food items should be zero rated. No issue with increasing / putting VAT on luxury food, but the basics shouldn’t be taxed.

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What's a luxury food- smoked salmon, imported stuff like tropical fruits, Roll Mop Herrings? I dot think that's a good idea as who determines what a luxury is?

butimamonstersaidthemonster · 30/09/2025 10:31

Upstartled · 30/09/2025 10:25

Let's just tax the life out of every living soul and business and see how how long we can sustain the welfare bill? That sounds fun.

The biggest % of our welfare goes to pensioners. And when labour tried to do something about it with winter fuel everyone went crazy.

borntobequiet · 30/09/2025 10:31

It’s just been emphatically ruled out. YABU and deliberately misleading.

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/09/2025 10:30

Pharazon · 30/09/2025 09:08

Who pays for private health insurance out of their own pocket? Everyone I know has it as part of their salary and ends up paying tax on a largely useless benefit (every imaginable condition appears to be ‘pre-existing’ so they never seem to payout and you end up
going NHS anyway).

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Yep. I’m sacking mine off as it’s bloody useless. At least I’ll pay a bit less tax each month.

butimamonstersaidthemonster · 30/09/2025 10:29

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 10:22

They'll vote reform and we can put an end to this shit show?

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You do realise that reform want to get rid of the nhs and make us pay insurance. That will be everyone paying more and probably won’t improve the service. It’s extra tax by a different name.

QuestioningQuorn · 30/09/2025 10:29

Upstartled · 30/09/2025 10:27

Not till the end of November.

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Thanks.

I don’t know what it’s going to take to turn to growth.

Good news is that hopefully it will be ok for my kids. I swear I have lived through 20 years of retraction. Surely it cannot continue lest we end up one giant slum.

flawlessflipper · 30/09/2025 10:29

Southshore18 · 30/09/2025 09:10

Most kids in private education aren't those with SEN. Also, if the child has an EHCP/attends a special school, the LA will fund the bill. It's not primarily about children with SEN.

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Not all DC in independent schools with EHCPs have their placement funded by the LA. Some do, but some don’t because the parents are making their own arrangements.

And not all DC in independent SS have EHCPs. The vast majority do, but not all. Some independent SS accept self funders.

SoftCyanWool · 30/09/2025 10:28

Upstartled · 30/09/2025 10:25

Let's just tax the life out of every living soul and business and see how how long we can sustain the welfare bill? That sounds fun.

Well yes. This is true too.

welfare is ridiculously high. I know someone on benefits, has been for twenty years at this point. During that time she’s run various businesses but never enough to disqualify her from the benefits she receives. She currently spends her days over a sewing machine making clothes for people. You’re telling me she couldn’t do an office job?

MyDownstairsLooisHaunted · 30/09/2025 10:27

twistyizzy · 30/09/2025 10:12

It was never £2B from education tax. Here are Treasury figures and as 3-4% have already left you can see we are already under 1B. Plus the figures don't take into account the cost to the state of now education those 16K pupils

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That's an eye opener and shows that they really cannot justify not applying it to potentially higher revenue sources. That's of course if raising money is their aim rather than just the spiteful politics of envy 🙄

justasking111 · 30/09/2025 10:27

The NHS use private healthcare for patients when the waiting lists get out of hand. Cataracts in our health board last year. Also when they've cocked up on a treatment and fear being sued they shuffle them off to the private sector.

Upstartled · 30/09/2025 10:27

QuestioningQuorn · 30/09/2025 10:26

When is this budget?! This gov is a shambles. Pretty sure we are going to end up on UC by the end of their term (small business owners).

Not till the end of November.

Gall10 · 30/09/2025 10:27

My plumber/baker/hairdresser all charge me vat…why not a private health care provider?
And just wait til Nigel Fartage and his deform lot get any power….NHS…it’ll be a long past distant dream, No money then you’ll just have to suffer!

QuestioningQuorn · 30/09/2025 10:26

When is this budget?! This gov is a shambles. Pretty sure we are going to end up on UC by the end of their term (small business owners).

Original poster
DervlaGlass · 30/09/2025 10:26

R0ckandHardPlace · 30/09/2025 10:11

I’m so sick of this whining. I say that as someone who was forced to pay £14K for private surgery last year, or wait housebound for three years for the same operation by the same surgeon on the NHS.

The country is on its arse. Money has to be raised from somewhere. Taxes have got to rise. We’ve just got to suck it up.

The money is going on things that won't make life better for the people paying the tax. It's hard to justify that beyond a certain point.

OP posts:
dynamiccactus · 30/09/2025 10:25

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 10:19

Exactly.

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I'd like a dog tax so that councils can reinstate their dog wardens. The revenue should be ring fenced for that purpose though so councils can't just waste it on other things.

Upstartled · 30/09/2025 10:25

Let's just tax the life out of every living soul and business and see how how long we can sustain the welfare bill? That sounds fun.

dynamiccactus · 30/09/2025 10:24

coolmum123 · 30/09/2025 08:32

👏👏👏 this

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I think it's true for a lot of parents choosing private education - keep the plebs away from their PFBs (and later borns). Obviously that isn't the case for those whose children can't cope with 30 in a class and need the attention smaller class sizes can provide. But would people be prepared to pay more tax for smaller classes and more teachers in the state sector? Nope. Thought not.

But it's not the case for private healthcare - people use it because they feel there is no option. And as a pp said, because it's included with their jobs.

SoftCyanWool · 30/09/2025 10:23

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 10:22

They'll vote reform and we can put an end to this shit show?

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So you want to fuck the country over even more, and end the NHS, to get what you want? Reform will be infinitely worse

Horsehow · 30/09/2025 10:22

Algen · 30/09/2025 10:19

Do you want to introduce a tax on breathing next?

Essential food items should be zero rated. No issue with increasing / putting VAT on luxury food, but the basics shouldn’t be taxed.

Show quote history

Any of the countries who recently introduce VAT tax food. the UK VAT on food exemptions take the piss. Have you read the Jaffa cakes tax cease? Or the M&S tea cakes? Or the Pringles case? The zero rating of food legislation is a national joke. Far easier to scrap the lot and compensate those who really need the money.

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 10:22

SoftCyanWool · 30/09/2025 10:21

And when people can no longer feed themselves? Then what?

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They'll vote reform and we can put an end to this shit show?

SoftCyanWool · 30/09/2025 10:21

Horsehow · 30/09/2025 10:15

Food should be subject to VAT and benefits should increased accordingly. Zero rating food is handing a tax cut to the wealthy. It’s a very poorly targeted tax exemption.

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And when people can no longer feed themselves? Then what?

Bumblebee72 · 30/09/2025 10:21

Algen · 30/09/2025 10:19

Do you want to introduce a tax on breathing next?

Essential food items should be zero rated. No issue with increasing / putting VAT on luxury food, but the basics shouldn’t be taxed.

Show quote history

Shussssssh! whispers - Don't give Rachel any ideas!!!!

Southshore18 · 30/09/2025 10:20

Horsehow · 30/09/2025 10:13

How long did it take until the LEA agreed to pay for specialist private? If mainstream private would have been the most appropriate setting - as it is for so many ASD kids - would the LEA have paid for that? How long would that have taken? What would you have done in the interim?

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and yes, my LA pays for those with EHCP who can only cope in a smaller mainstream independent setting if the needs are such, that a big state mainstream school is not suitable. I have a few friends in this situation.

twistyizzy · 30/09/2025 10:20

Algen · 30/09/2025 10:19

Do you want to introduce a tax on breathing next?

Essential food items should be zero rated. No issue with increasing / putting VAT on luxury food, but the basics shouldn’t be taxed.

Show quote history

VAT isn't a luxury tax

Algen · 30/09/2025 10:19

Horsehow · 30/09/2025 10:15

Food should be subject to VAT and benefits should increased accordingly. Zero rating food is handing a tax cut to the wealthy. It’s a very poorly targeted tax exemption.

Show quote history

Do you want to introduce a tax on breathing next?

Essential food items should be zero rated. No issue with increasing / putting VAT on luxury food, but the basics shouldn’t be taxed.