Grey Power NZ Federation Inc. ACC Policy
Last reviewed 9/09/2014
Policy Mission
To promote a fair and equitable ACC system for New Zealanders.
Problems the policy addresses
- The ACC system is unreasonably denying older people accident cover where there is a possibility of an associated age related impairment of function.
- The ACC system permits doctors to charge patients a surcharge in addition to ACC cover in contravention of the principle of no cost cover.
- There is a lack of ACC entitlement information regarding the ability to make subsequent claims resulting from a previously covered accident.
Explanation:
Cases have been documented of ACC calling accidents such as falls age related i.e. they are the result of a pre-existing condition. Hearing loss is also assessed percentage-wise on what is purported to be job related and what is judged as natural age related hearing loss.
Policy solutions
- The provision of precise criteria for judgements on a genuine accident regardless of age (addresses problem 1).
- Fair tests for hearing loss (addresses problem 1).
- Regulate ACC surcharges (addresses problem 2).
- Clear, unambiguous entitlement information (addresses problem 3).
Policy goals
Grey Power will:
- Advocate for a clear definition of what fair treatment means for older people when they need to use the ACC system (addresses the policy mission and solution 1 and 2).
- Advocate for ACC surcharges to be removed (addresses solution 3).
- Advocate for more on-going entitlement information regarding ACC for New Zealanders (addresses solution 4).
- Provide as much information as possible for its members in its quarterly magazine regarding ACC.