VAT on private health

[Simonandrod]

Am I right in thinking there isn't VAT on private health care? Is it completely unfeasible that it could be put on and money raised go to NHS? Or is it too complicated as so many people who use it have health insurance? Just interested

I think they actually need to start treating people who very want to work. My DD’s psych has told us there is a 3 year waiting list for the therapy she needs if he can get her on the waiting list. It’s a vicious circle, the longer you’re stuck at home the iller you get.

Agreed. The main parties have to get beyond their ideological opposition and get on with it as the NHS is sinking fast.

But why should "life" only be available to those that can afford to pay for it? Why should rich people (or not so rich people who make sacrifices) be able to buy better healthcare free from taxes but not be able to by better education free from taxes? Surely if taxes levied on private education will improve education provision for all, the taxes levied on private healthcare will improve health provision for all?

Of course we know that's not actually true, because taxing private education is simply the politics of envy and isn't designed to raise funds, it's designed to punish people who can afford to send their children to private school.

I 100% think private healthcare should be treated the same as private education though. The arguments for taxing private education hold true for private healthcare to (not that I agree with them). But there's no logical reasons for treating them differently to each other.

Are they?

Not only isn't the surgeon doing an NHS op but the rest of the nursing and HCPs aren't treating or working in the NHS either.

One reason NHS lists are rising is because NHS staff are leaving the NHS and where do you think they are going?

Exactly

Having read your post twice, you have a point!!

What do they do in the US ?

That's the answer in 10 years time in the UK.

@mrsm43s Yup, the VAT thing will cost whatever it makes to run, if it runs. It'll only punish the kids who's parents are barely affording it. If they were actually against it, they'd ban private schools altogether, like Finland has. But they're not, it's an exercise to get headlines and causes more division than it solves problems.

Why would they if the can’t buy better things with the money they earn because that would create a ‘two tier’ country?

It’s the typical fur coat no knickers virtue signalling that we’ve all come to expect from Keir Starmer. After that comment on not allowing his own family to use private healthcare should they need it he lost my vote. He can make a martyr out of himself if he likes but bringing his relatives into it is completely unacceptable

You are the problem. You and this attitude. Why can’t we have nice things like they have in Europe? Why do we have to go straight to the worst possibly option, missing out all of the nice options on the way?

The more I think about this way of taxing people, the fairer it seems. Basically choosing how much you are taxed so a basic NI contribution and income tax bands for most and then additional VAT penalties for really unnecessary or already state-provided services would really even the playing field and open income streams for other projects.

Private health
Private school
Private adult social care
Cars over a certain price
Foreign holidays
Imported fruit and veg

All strike me as things that are brilliant to haves but probably unnecessary and could have a bit more tax on them to fund state schooling/NHS/public adult social care.

Because it’s MN and no private healthcare debate is complete without somebody inevitably bringing the US into it.. What they fail to realise is that this attitude is the exact reason why we’re headed towards a US style system.

Sure - and those of us who believe you should be able to enjoy the money you earn without being punished for it - will go live elsewhere. The rest can stay and pay all the taxes they like to fund the kind of country they want.

I actually think it will be really good for Britain - those left behind would have to do really contribute and then a balance would be found. The 'rich' won't be available to be picked on anymore, so alternative targets would have to be found or shock horror - everyone would have to bear the burden fairly

Private Adult Social care isn't an unnecessary, nice to have service. This is people who desperately need support and are paying themselves because they have over £23k in savings.

Cars over a certain price

Why not all cars? There is public transport

Makes sense. Education is as essential as healthcare. Private healthcare is a luxury not everyone can afford and should be taxed. I look forward to when labour gets in and implements these sort of policies, probably when they realise the economy isn’t growing and they need to generate revenue for things they want to do.

Hmm, re adult social care, if you pay privately, you can have what you like - a companion, housekeeper, 24hr care or a beautiful nursing home with cordon bleu chef. Is it the same in the public system? Should the standard of care be the same for everyone?

Maybe you have a point. I guess I was thinking of places where public transport isn't brilliant - maybe there could be a system to claim an allowance for that if a car was necessary for your work.

Just listening to Keir “its about how you slice the cake”

I'm very hopeful!!!

True, perhaps a needs based assessment that is exempt, then VAT on the excess if you want more.

Ive just been costing up 4 2 person care visits a day for my father. The hospital have said this is the minimum he needs if he comes home at all. I’m already at £72k pa. The thought of VAT on that essential service seems very unfair.

But probably irrelevant as the money will run out and the state will have to pay eventually.

"this attitude" has been around since the early days of Thatcher selling off everything in sight. Something I have repeatedly and consistently voted against whenever and wherever possible. However I lost and got over it.

We don't tax anything like as much as mainland Europe does, so we look to low tax economies for answers.... the UK wants it all on the cheap and as my ole Granny would have said "Penny Wise, Pound Foolish"

It all ends up costing us far more.

Yh I'm not following politics and don't get involved but I did see that and thought, wow. Your political career is more important than yours and your families health/life? It shocked me tbh. And let's be real, he's not going to be sitting around on waiting lists is he.

When people talk about European health insurance systems I never really understand why this would be better. I mean compulsory insurance is a tax by any other name isn't it? The only reason that European countries have better health systems is that they spend more whether that's from general taxation or insurance what's the difference?