Govt breaks free doctors visit promise to kids
The Government has already broken a key election promise by reneging on a pledge to make all doctors’ visits for under
13 year olds free, the Green Party says.
Documents obtained by the Green Party show that the Government decided to fund only 90 percent of doctors’ visits for
children suffering from an injury in an attempt trim the cost of the so-called “free” visits.
“This makes a lie of the promise to provide free doctors’ visits for all children under 13,” Green Party Health and ACC
spokesperson Kevin Hague said.
“If one in ten kids have to pay up to $38 to go to the doctor when they have an accident, then that visit is not free
and that’s a broken promise. It begs the question: what other promises are the Government going to renege on this year
in a bid to save a bit more money?
“This shows how desperate the Government is to reach a surplus that it’s trying to pinch pennies from injured children.
“National Government ministers may not think a few dollars for a doctor’s visit affects families, but parents know how
these unexpected bills can hurt.
“The Government is now making excuses for why it should not provide free doctors’ visits for all children, including
saying that it will be only wealthy kids who’ll have to pay, but that is not true. There is no means test.
“The truth is a promise has been broken and, as usual for the National Government, it’s children who will pay the
price,” Mr Hague said.
Link to the OIA showing ACC Minister opted to fund only 90 % of kids visits, to save money: https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/OIA%20doctors%20visits%20ACC.pdf
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