It is a lot less likely there will be stories pointing out the major beneficiaries from the previous government’s removal of the fee were the big foreign-owned pharmacies that hadn’t been charging customers.
It is even less likely that any stories will have my view that more people should be paying the $5.
Exceptions to those being charged are:
Exceptions to those being charged are:
- those aged 13 or under;
- Community Services cardholders (or a dependent child of a cardholder);
- those aged 65 years or over;
- people who hold a Prescription Subsidy Card (PSC).
I’d exclude everyone over 65 who isn’t eligible for a Community Services and/or Prescription Subsidy Card.
I defend universal superannuation because means testing would be a disincentive to thrift.
But any extra taxpayer funds on top of superannuation should be means-tested, including the $5 prescription fee.
The prescription fee has been reinstated to pay for cancer drugs. More for that is far better use of the money than letting wealthy pensioners off the $5 fee they could easily, and many would happily, pay themselves.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
I defend universal superannuation because means testing would be a disincentive to thrift.
But any extra taxpayer funds on top of superannuation should be means-tested, including the $5 prescription fee.
The prescription fee has been reinstated to pay for cancer drugs. More for that is far better use of the money than letting wealthy pensioners off the $5 fee they could easily, and many would happily, pay themselves.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
1 comment:
The maximum prescription fee per year is set at $100. i.e less than $2 per week.
Reducing all benefits by $2 per week and making all beneficiaries prescriptions cost free would free up far more money, both in administration and civil "servant" wages and would surely make more sense.
I have no idea what a Prescription Subsidy Card is but I'd charge all holders $100.pa to have one.
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