John MacDonald: The ACC change that is long overdue

I reckon we should have signs up at our international airports saying: “Welcome to the people’s republic of pushovers”.

Because of our crazy ACC system which, a lot of the time, makes those of us living here fight tooth and nail but tells anyone coming here for a visit that they can tie themselves to bungy ropes, jump on skis, do whatever they want - and we’ll pay for their treatment.

It seems even crazier when we’ve got ACC announcing today that it’s got a plan to become more financially sustainable, after that big loss last year and a projected $26 billion deficit in four years’ time.

ACC says it’s going to focus on getting people back to work quicker after an injury. But I think it also needs to think about who it covers, starting with people from overseas. Because we are too much of a pushover.

Not that it’s ACC in isolation that’s the problem. The reason we provide ACC to visitors from other countries is that we don’t have the right to sue here in New Zealand. That’s why visitors are covered.

So, let’s say someone comes here and goes skiing and has an accident and ends up getting helicoptered to hospital. They can’t sue the ski field operator or the clown who was gunning it down the mountain and lost control and ploughed into them. So ACC covers the cost of their treatment and care.

But I think this needs to stop.

Some people will probably argue that, if we make tourists pay for their own treatment if they injure themselves, then they won’t come here. But that’s nonsense.

There are two approaches we could take. We could either charge non-residents at the door when they need treatment. Or we make it mandatory for anyone visiting New Zealand to have travel insurance. Because it isn’t at the moment.

It needs to be. Because it’s time to turn-off the ACC tap for people visiting from other countries

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