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

1. The ACC system is unreasonably denying older people accident cover where there is a possibility of an associated age related impairment of function.
2. The ACC system permits doctors to charge patients a surcharge in addition to ACC cover in contravention of the principle of no cost cover.
3. 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

1. The provision of precise criteria for judgements on a genuine accident regardless of age (addresses problem 1).
2. Fair tests for hearing loss (addresses problem 1).
3. Regulate ACC surcharges (addresses problem 2).
4. Clear, unambiguous entitlement information (addresses problem 3).

Policy goals

Grey Power will:

1. 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).
2. Advocate for ACC surcharges to be removed (addresses solution 3).
3. Advocate for more on-going entitlement information regarding ACC for New Zealanders (addresses solution 4).
4. Provide as much information as possible for its members in its quarterly magazine regarding ACC.