Giving three free GP visits to SuperGold cardholders makes economic sense, the freebie to see the doctor will save health dollars, says New Zealand First.
'The SuperGold Health Check programme offers a rare chance for the government to actively reduce the number of people going into hospital,” says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.
'The free visits are proposed in New Zealand First's SuperGold Health Check Bill which is coming up for its First Reading in Parliament in February.
'We call on all parties in Parliament to support the bill, and pass on the benefits to Seniors and the taxpayer.
'It's common sense given that the average stay in hospital for a patient over 65 costs $11,250, at about $1125 a night.
'Three free health checks only need to prevent one per cent of Seniors from being admitted to hospital and the programme will recover its cost.
'Simply getting on top of a winter cough or a minor ailment by taking advantage of a free GP visit may keep a SuperGold cardholder out of hospital. It's a preventive measure.
'The free checks will encourage Seniors to go to the doctor.
'Early diagnosis also has benefits in the social, emotional, physical and mental well-being of Seniors.
'It is critical our SuperGold Health Check Bill gets widespread support from all sectors of the community. The Government cannot veto this Bill saying it adds expense because clearly it does not.”
5 comments
Wisechief
Posted on 14-12-2014 10:42 | By Wise Chief
NZ FIRST is right in their quest to see Common Sense prevail over this issue and that the powers that be whoever and whatever they may be may see the light or reason to be able to understand that Free Doctors visits for the elderly DOES indeed save huge amounts of sorely needed funding up the track. This is far better than the current idiot slash and burn unreal world ACCOUNTANTS perspective of saving cost for any reason at this moment in time in pursuit of some lame ideology which never eventuates no matter how much silly tweaking of stats ti hide the negatives. Its time for real and intelligent solutions to this countries ballooning debt problems and compounding what are simple health check issues in lieu of saving a few bucks at this point in time to create work down the track spending ten/twenty later on is madness.
Free visits
Posted on 14-12-2014 16:26 | By roseh
What a help that would be even at 3 a year,I pay 42 dollars to go to Dr and then 50 for presciptions,so almost a hundred on single pension.For those who don't support try living like I do.Good on you Mr Peters
Carcass
Posted on 22-12-2014 15:23 | By Carcass
Free visits for the elderly is a simple solution to a complex problem with long term benefits for all which includes taxpayers.Well done N Z First
Doing
Posted on 28-12-2014 16:23 | By NZgirl
this will be the worst thing to do when its free they will go just for a chat and the ill wont get in for weeks
means-test first
Posted on 04-01-2015 12:45 | By rotovend
before you give free doctors visits to pensioners it needs to be means-tested as some pensioners truly dont need their pensions they believe they are entitled to them I have friends that work a bit have investments in trusts and still take home a government-funded pension, not to mention extra things they applied for like getting their lawns done. Seriously that needs to be looked at first and maybe all the free transport etc needs to be kept for those who need it like school-kids and the disabled
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