As published by NZ Life* a leading health insurer, forty percent of New Zealanders will develop a major health condition before the age of sixty-five. Our current legislation leaves many of them considerably out of pocket and lacking support. Let’s look at some examples.

• for every mortgagee sale due to death there are 16 for disability
• 83% of long term disabilities are due to sickness.
• 40% of disabilities are due to disease or illness.
• (Source: NZ Health Information Service 2001)

Grant, (aged 47 in 2005) was married with three children. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. It was small, and flexible so I was told surgical removal should see me right. What an operation, I was cut open from my breast plate to just above some very private parts. The cancer and some of my bowel was removed. I was given a eliostomy (a bag) to help my modified bowel heal before commissioning it into action again. Unfortunately the histology (analysis of tissue removed) showed the cancer had spread to one of my lymph nodes. This meant I now required Chemo and Radio therapy which followed and were radical and highly unpleasant. After treatments my bowel was re-connected.

I had incredible trouble with my bowel and all movements (up to 20 a day) were unbelievably painful. It took 2 years of trial and error to get my bowel into any form of manageable process.

My cancer was being monitored but early in 2008 my CEA blood tumor marker showed a significant jump. Immediate CAT and PET scans showed tumors in my abdomen and lungs. Surgically in-operable I was told I had a short time to live. This was a little hard to believe.

Since then I have been on more chemo therapy, some of which I could not tolerate and so have stopped. I continue with a milder chemotherapuetic drug which is helping slow things down. Maybe I can live a little longer?

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If I was covered by a system with ACC’s entitlements, 80% of my previous salary would be paid while i recuperated, or if necessary, for life. Under the Ministry of Health’s eligibility criteria there is no such allowance. WINZ does provide a sickness benefit at the rate of $144.92 p/wk but given I was in fulltime employment prior to my diagnosis, it can hardly be considered an equitable or sustainable income replacement.

Note: The 2003 / 2004 census identified that an average New Zealand *family (*two adults with children) spends $888.00 per week to live. In 2007 the cost must be higher. This suggests that my family are in a most serious financial situation as well as having to deal with my cancer.

Emily, (39) was first diagnosed at age ten. Now with three university degrees she works fulltime in an important role for public advocacy. Her needs for personal care, housing modifications, and mobility fall under the Ministry of Health. It is here she runs into her greatest obstacle. Even with the Ministry of Health’s vehicle allowance, it falls well short of the $110,000 required for the modifications needed for her van. It falls to community groups to fundraise on her behalf.

Margaret (aged 59) is unable to walk long distances; requiring a mobility scooter to access her local shops to remain independent. She is ineligible for a wheelchair or other mobility equipment through the Ministry of Health because she is able to cope inside her own home. If she was covered under ACC, this would not be a factor. The Ministry’s stated goal to maintain the dignity and independence of their clients is in this instance a farce.

Sasha (Stroke)

Four years ago Sasha, (aged 12) was riding her bike to school when she suddenly felt dizzy. She got off her bike and sat down, several minutes later having a major stroke. With Sasha now profoundly disabled, her mother has given up work to look after her. Under ACC, a family member can be paid to look after a relative; sadly the Ministry of Health has no such criteria. This disparity is unacceptable. Of course had Sasha stayed on her bike a few minutes longer and fallen off as she had the stroke, it would’ve appeared as if the stroke was a result of an accident.