Dunne calls for better health care for older New Zealanders

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne today told Eastern Bay of Plenty Grey Power members that older New Zealanders deserve a better deal in healthcare.

“A good starting point would be a free annual ‘warrant of fitness’ health check for all those over 65, as per UnitedFuture policy,” he said in a speech to their annual luncheon.

Mr Dunne said he was also extremely concerned at the high cost of medical health insurance premiums for older people.

“Many people took out health insurance years ago to ensure they would get access to elective surgery when they needed it during their older years.

“But now, when they are likely to make most use of it, rising premium costs mean they often cannot afford to keep up their payments, and so have to give up their insurance.

“In my Ministerial roles in Revenue and Health, I am currently looking at the possibility of a tax rebate for health insurance premium payments for over 65s to make it easier for them to keep their insurance, and I hope to put proposals to the government later in the year,” he said.

Mr Dunne welcomed the fact that under the current government a combination of increased funding and more prudent co-operation between the public and private hospital sectors had seen a significant increase in elective surgery levels.

“This is a good start, and is something UnitedFuture has pushed for as part of its confidence and supply agreement, but I am still concerned that waiting lists are too long, and waiting times too high.

“We need to do better yet, but financial constraints will always make that difficult, which is why UnitedFuture has floated a comprehensive universal national health insurance scheme, like those in the Netherlands or other European countries, as the long-term solution for New Zealand.

“In this context, it is time to bury one of the great New Zealand myths – that the Social Security tax (the old 1/6 in the £) introduced by Michael Joseph Savage in 1938 still exists and is what funds health services today.

“That tax only worked until 1946 – in fact, from 1946 onwards, it had to be topped up from general taxation, and the government stopped collecting it in 1964, before finally abolishing it in 1967.

“So we have no dedicated tax for health care, and have not has one for almost half a century.

“The national health insurance scheme UnitedFuture is talking of is, if you like, the modern version of Savage’s plan,” he said.

Mr Dunne also referred to the Budget’s tax changes, including the increases in superannuation payments to compensate for the rise in GST.

“I was especially pleased that the government accepted UnitedFuture’s strong recommendations that annuities paid to those in the Government Superannuation and the National Provident Funds should also be increased from that date.

“In addition, both New Zealand Superannuation and GSF and NPF payments will rise again in April next year when the annual cost-of living adjustment is made,” he said.

ENDS

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