HEALTH INSURANCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 229, 27 August 1937, Page 12

HEALTH INSURANCE

COUNTIES’ ATTITUDE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. The legislation for the establishment of a national health insurance scheme should not be introduced until more complete information is available, was the opinion expressed by the president of the New Zealand Counties’ Association, Mr C. J. Talbot, Fairlie, in his address to the biennial conference of that body at Wellington to-day. “The incidence of hospital rating has been a. burning question among county councils during the past two dec.adcs, as it has been felt that rural ratepayers have been paying more than their share of hospital rates, without receiving an equivalent in hospital benefits,” Mr Talbot said. “Itecent investigations made by the association have shown that the allocation of the hospital levy on capital value and population combined would not give the relief expected to rural ratepayers. “As sickness and disability are always present in every community, it seems to be the duty of a modern State, as guardians of public, health and national prosperity, to inaugurate a national health scheme, to promote and maintain the health of the community. As only 21 per cent, of those assisted in our hospitals pay their fees, modern opinion supports the principle of some compulsory sickness and hospital scheme in order to provide hospital authorities with some protection against those who want to shirk, or who cannot meet, their financial obligations. “Since last conference a meeting of delegates from the Municipal Association, the Hospitals’ Association and the Counties’ Association was held to discuss the thorny problem of hospital rating, and the following decisions were agreed to: (a) That the Government bo urged to promote a. compulsory national health insurance scheme for medical, dental and hospital treatment, (b) That the financing of such a scheme l>e met by compulsory contributions from employers and employees, subsidised by the Government, and that provision be made for the inclusion of workers on their own account, for example, farmers and small business men. “Although these decisions were arrived at in the absence of any tentativo scheme from the Government, it was felt that they were sound and in accord with the modern principle of securing revenue for the upkeep of our hospitals. “As an ordinary layman, I must confess that I am in agreement with the views of the 8.M.A., as up to the present national health insurance is quite nebulous.”