HOSPITAL CHARGES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 15

HOSPITAL CHARGES

Operation Of Benefits A warning should be included in New Zealand tourist literature that the Dominion’s hospital benefits do not extend to citizens of countries such as Australia and the United States, which do not have a reciprocal agreement with New Zealand in this regard, the secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr J. G. Laurenson) said yesterday. Mr Laurenson was speaking at a meeting of the board to a plea by Mrs R. M. Macfarlane that the board should publicise the circumstances under which hospital benefits did not apply “A lot of folk think social security covers everything, and they are liable to get very worried and worked up if they discover they have been wrong,” she said.

Mr Laurenson said cases where hospital benefits did not apply fell into three categories: workers’ compensation. accidents where negligence had been established as a ributable to some person other than the oatient. and visitors from countries with which reciprocal agreements had not been cor eluded There were usually no difficulties with cases in the first t~ r o categories, as the fees were mostly oaid by insurance companies. Where difficulties arose, the patient was generally from overseas

Where a patient was liable for payment, a medical-social worker was sent at an early stage to give this information. but not in such a way i as to make the patient take fright and leave hospital before time. Medical considerations took precedence over finance, and the board had power to write off all or part of a bill Nevertheless, it was desirable, he thought that current information on medical costs in New Zealand should be included in information tor tourists, who should be advised to take out insurance cover while to New Zealand just as prudent New Zealanders did when travelling overseas. Trouble had sometimes arisen because travel agencies hrd given incorrect information on New Zealand hospital charges Fees for the board's three major hospitals and its country hospitals were set at £6 a day and for the Coronation Hospital at £3 17s 6d a day The figures are subject to confirmation by the Minister of Health (Mr McKay)