There is very little chance of a tax break for private medical insurance (PMI) despite government’s “strong support” for the private healthcare sector, according to the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN).
The trade body for private hospitals and clinics noted that there was hesitance to rule the move out altogether, but that it was still politically “too difficult”.
Speaking at the Laing Buisson Private Healthcare Summit yesterday, IHPN chief executive David Hare was asked what the chances were of the government introducing a tax break for individual PMI.
“I think slim, to be honest,” he told the audience.
“It was interesting the secretary of state was pressed on that by back bench Conservative colleagues a few weeks ago and didn’t rule it out in a way which he probably would have done previously.
“Our sense is that government support for private healthcare is pretty strong – they are clearly seeing more people choose to pay does really to a degree relieve the pressure on the NHS.
“Will they go as far as a tax break? I don’t think we’re in that territory at the moment. That may change but politically that’s still too difficult.”
