Age Concern Media release

18 June 2010

ACC breaks its contract – Age Concern

ACC cuts will result in people with workplace hearing loss not getting treatment for their injuries, Age Concern New Zealand national president Liz Baxendine said today.

"We don't want to see people let down by a scheme that promised them cover and support in case of injury."

ACC wants to stop funding the total cost of entitlements for clients, even though they have accepted their claims.

"Losing their hearing and not being able to afford help will have severe quality of life issues for older people.

"ACC must not keep shifting the goalposts. Once an entitlement has been decided, that decision should be honoured. People organise their finances based on such decisions. They should not be penalised simply because ACC now says its own processes are at fault."

Age Concern's submission to ACC says that older people will find it difficult, if not impossible, to pay the proposed part-charges.

"If ACC withdraws their full support, we'll see a new type of claimant – people who are covered but cannot afford their entitlement.

"This will stop them receiving the rehabilitation they are legally entitled to," Liz Baxendine says. "How does ACC propose to honour its obligation to them?"

The bulk of older people live on NZ Super and very little extra; and can't get extra income for unexpected extra charges.

Age Concern says that increased ACC costs for hearing loss reflect increasing need, and reducing the service provided is not the right response.

> READ the full Age Concern submission on ACC's changes http://www.ageconcern.org.nz/files/ConsultationHearingLossRegs.pdf [small PDF file]

ENDS

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