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Source: ONE News -
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The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is floating the idea that if you get injured you should pay an excess of up to $100 for treatment, similar to insurance claims.
This is part of some of the ACC changes being considered by the government as part of an overall stock-take of ACC, following a $4.8 billion blowout.
Physiotherapy is vital to getting people like injured truck driver, Boyd Searancke, back on their feet after an ankle injury. But treatment like this is about to get more expensive, with a series of new charges on the way.
"People will have to pay it if they have to pay it, but a lot of people aren't able to afford that amount of money," says Searancke.
This could include charging accident victims a $50-$100 excess on every claim . It would save $1.6 billion over 10 years.
Other proposals included are reducing income compensation from 80% to 70% after one year and 60% after two.
Imposing a two-year limit on compensation for soft tissue injuries, such as back pain, is also an option.
Labour leader Phil Goff says he thinks all the cuts have one thing in common.
"I think all the cuts have on thing in common - they hurt the most vulnerable," he says.
At a south Auckland clinic, 90% of clients fall into that category.
"They simply can't afford to pay a surcharge, so in effect they either miss out on treatment when they need it, or in our case, we're not going to surcharge and we'll take it on the nose and suffer for it economically," says Ian Rainey, physiotherapist.
Others agree.
"Financially, once a surcharge comes on, people are just going to stop coming, which is going to be a detriment to their own health and in the long run the rest of their family will suffer," says injured rugby league player, Lilly Frewan.
However, the government is suffering right now as it scrambles to get support to pass its controversial ACC law.
It is in talks with the Act Party, and the Maori Party will discuss the issue at its caucus meeting on Tuesday.
Although suggested cuts to disability services do not seem to be helping the government's case there.
"As the minister for disabilities, I would be opposed to that because already (the disabled) don't receive their entitlements," says Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia.
