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

[DervlaGlass]

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.

Lots of people pay for it out of their own pockets. I do. I work in the public sector and such perks are not available. Several friends who are self-employed pay for their own cover too.

Most of us have experienced parents and other relatives having to pay tens of thousands in cash for essential operations like hip and knee replacements, as the alternative would have been a 2-3 year wait for NHS treatment.

It's no exaggeration to say that being essentially housebound for that length of time would have pretty much ended my MIL's life, as all her other conditions - and her mental health - would have deteriorated greatly.

And there are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions on the policy I have. It's based on moratorium underwriting, so everything is covered once you've been treatment-free for two years after your cover started

My elderly parent needed a Urology consultation. Fortunately they have private healthcare as part of their retirement package. The GP did a double referral for reasons unknown.

We had been to see the Consultant and received a diagnosis when a couple of weeks later, we got an NHS letter acknowledging the GP referral, stating that they would be going on a waiting list.

In addition, where I live has a fairly elderly demographic. The majority of people needing joint replacement go privately as the NHS waiting lists are so long and the effect of that wait on their health is debilitating.

Unless it is one of those stupid little dogs that are taken in prams - those should double tax, since they are completely pointless. I'd allow an exemption of guide dogs, sheep dogs etc.

The education of children yes. The optional education of adults has not. So adult education is more important than the education of children, optional or not.

Well, yes.

Optional private education is not a necessity. We have schools, free for all children.

Soontobe60
Most people pay for private education and healthcare because they see it as an elitist thing to do. Let’s be honest here, they think they’re better than the rest of the plebs because they have more money.
Where is your evidence of 'most people,'?

It's not going to be pensions or, it's going to be pensions and, when it comes to welfare cuts, sooner or later.

The wfa policy was fine in principle but the threshold was too low. Personally I think what we have should cover the poorest, which includes those living with £10 quid more than pension credit.

We have "free" NHS healthcare.

University isn't compulsory for majority of people, it's optional unless you are a doctor etc. Most adults don't need to go to university, it's a choice

I pay VAT on private education for my dc with SEN, they don’t have ehcps so full vat payable. We pay for private healthcare, our of pocket not from employer. It would be entirely logical (albeit annoying) to have VAT charged in future.

and for the pp who said people who pay for private health and schools are “elitist” : I don’t know who you associate with but I suggest you get some new friends. I don’t know anyone who’s ever considered not waiting 18 months for a basic operation, or wanting a class smaller than 30 for their child with inattentive adhd and hearing loss as “elitiist”.

Really surprised at the opposition to VAT on private healthcare. There was overwhelming support for VAT on private education. Whats the difference?

"I think it's true for a lot of parents choosing private education - keep the plebs away from their PFBs (and later borns)"

A) get new friends
B) where is your evidence for this claim 🤔

Even then that is optional. No-one is legally mandated at birth to become a doctor. These choose that career route. The VAT could be set variably based on requirements. If you want to study engineering/medicine zero. If you want to study geography 20%.

You are assuming the people here objecting to Vat on healthcare weren't also objecting to Vat charges on education.

As poster a little while ago. Labour supporters going like to spend other peoples money. They know they might need to use private healthcare in the future.

How much for Medieval Dance?

Student loans already don’t get paid off by a lot of people, though. VAT on university fees would just make this worse - who would actually benefit?

It’s a stupid idea. If you put vat on private healthcare, there’ll be a massive drop in demand, and those people will flood to the NHS.

If anything we should be encouraging more people to go private.

I don't know any self funder for SS place. My child's school does not self finders. Fees are usually sky high, easily 80-100k per annum. Who can possibly afford that esp with a child with complex needs???

Exactly. Link it to the specific skills shortages at the time.
Ideologically if you tax education then the next step is healthcare.

The laugh is that the posters on here who are opposed to taxing heslthcare are using sane arguments as we did against taxing education. They just can't see the irony. Because for some warped dystopian reason some people believe that the education of children isn't good and that independent schools are the most harmful thing in the country. They are way more harmful than vapes/gambling etc

Ahh, you’re one of those ‘label and blame people’ rather than using your brain to try and understand the situation. Feel free not to tax yourself by trying to engage intelligently.

Healthcare can be the difference between life and death. Private education is a luxury and completely different.

The wankypoo breed’s or whatever they are would definitely be double taxed.

Working dogs, tax exempt.

It’s not happening so not sure what the point of the thread is.

I dont agree with tax on education or private healthcare

Both state systems are not fit for purpose anymore. Particularly school sen provision

If people want to shorten wait lists and go private I say go for it There should be no taxes on healthcare ever.

Exactly this. I am opposed to VAT on education but as most people support that, then I support VAT on private healthcare which I don’t use. It should also be added to uni fees and nursery fees. Of course this is madness but so many supported the disgusting VAT on education so now everything elitist should have it added.