Call to back health insurance bill

The Affordable Healthcare Bill, sponsored by NZ First MP Barbara Stewart, was drawn from the ballot yesterday.

It proposes a 25% health insurance rebate for people aged over 65, and the removal of fringe benefit tax from health insurance to incentivise employers to include it in salary packages. It also requires parent category migrants to have health insurance on arrival and to maintain it in New Zealand for 10 years.

HFANZ acting chief executive Chris Pentecost said the bill would encourage people to contribute to their elective healthcare costs in a way that was consistent with supporting the public health system in the face of increasing costs, overstretched resources and an ageing population.

“The initiatives in this bill are hugely important. They have the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars in public sector health costs over the next decade and increase workplace productivity. Any measures which help more people access or maintain health insurance are very welcome,” he said.