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The problem |
Medical inflation is currently running at 8-9% pa. At this rate it means real costs could double roughly every 10 years
This means a minor $12,000 operation today could cost $24,000 (in today's dollars) |
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in 20 years $48,000 |
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in 30 years $96,000 |
But medical inflation will probably get worse!!! |
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What's causing medical inflation? |
Aging population - we are facing a "retirement tsunami" |
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Currently 1 in 8 Kiwis over the age 65 |
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Projected to become 1 in 4, possibly as early as 2021 |
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Many of us have unhealthy lifestyles |
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By how much? |
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Demand for services increasing compared to funding resource |
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| Cost / pool pressure |
Technology and research & development, are very expensive, a return on investment is required.
NZ is a small market. We have got to start paying our health professionals better (we have reportedly lost 80 specialists to foreign shores in the last year!) |
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What are my options? |
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Take the risk, rely on the public system |
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Fund private treatment myself |
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Use medical insurance |
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