Elderly advocacy groups say increasing financial pressure on the 65-plus age group is seeing more Western Bay residents forgo health insurance in favour of necessities.
Grey Power Western Bay of Plenty president Christina Humphries, who was grateful for her private insurance when she was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, said a tax rebate for those paying for private health insurance would ease the burden. She suggested the rebate fall in line with a rates rebate for elderly on fixed incomes of less than $30,000 per annum.
Age Concern president Angela Scott said she had given up her own health insurance in favour of personal savings, but not everyone could afford to do so.
"Because it's something that might not happen, you tend to think that that's something you might not need."
She said the public health system was equipped to deal with sudden illness, like stroke or heart attack, but affordable health insurance would mean not having to wait until issues requiring elective surgery reached a critical point.