The health system is a bit like public transport. Something you take if you have to, but something you'd rather avoid. And just like the bus, it can be a pain to catch, sometimes it's right on time, most of the time it's full or you just plain old miss it.

Today's health system is markedly different from what it was even 5 years ago. It's starting to look like it's being rationed rather than provided as a free public service.

These articles highlight the plight of those subject to waiting for the public health system:

• March 18th 2014 Dominion Post No room on surgery wait list
• June 27th 2014 Bay of Plenty Times Painful wait as woman denied surgery
• November 11th 2014 Malborough Express MRI waiting list puts pressure on health board
• July 28th 2015 Seven Sharp growing week cautionary tale anyone waiting treatment-video.
• March 2016 HFANZ on MoneyBlog HFANZ: Referred Elective Surgery Need Just the Tip of the Iceberg
• March 2016 Money Blog Assessing demand for elective surgery
  
• May 20th 2016 NZ Herald Pain threshold on increase as hundreds await ops

It's no longer a case of waiting on the waiting list, even if surgery is required to solve your medical problem. Qualifying to be on a waiting list is now the real issue. Once you are on a waiting list, you're on track to get your surgery. Qualifying as these articles point out is the real issue.

And your medical insurance providers are frustrated with it to.

My own recent experience with our young son is an example, 8 weeks of GP visits and things not being right. Once we pushed for a private specialist referral, things turned around real quick. We were able to secure a specialist appointment the next day and surgery was booked and scheduled to happen the day after. Fantastic result for worried parents. Though to be fair, this was also unusually fast even for the private system.

Part of the challenge is GP's managing in the context of the public system. Private health insurance has dropped off in recent times adding to the pressure on the public health system. With about 25% of the population having health insurance, the GP's just don't ask the question, 'Do you have private medical insurance?' If they did a whole lot of people would get to their treatment quicker and more effectively.

I've talked at length about medical insurance and health insurance and getting access to the right treatment under this blog category. As our baby boomers scream into retirement, the tax base to fund health will reduce, and the added numbers of boomers over 60 needing care are going to put additional stress on an already staining public system. medical insurance is becoming a necessary consideration, especially for those areas not directly life threatening but impact on your quality of life. Things like orthopaedics for knees and hips, ear nose and throat for kids & ophthalmology for elderly.

Another area, that is primarily a concern for cancer patients at this stage, is the area of un-funded medications. This 24 year old is having to fund raise to pay for her treatment, with a non-Pharmac funding medical insurance plan this would be covered. She's not the only one in the news with this, just the latest. In the future with a pressured medical budget, other areas of medicine may find funding come under increased pressure. This will result in you, the patient, with a choice, pay for the medication or go without. Going without should not be an option.

If you are concerned about having to wait unreasonably, or even worse having to qualify for the waiting list before having to wait, or you want to ensure you can access the treatment you need when you need it, get in touch and we can have a chat about your medical insurance options, that won't necessarily cost the earth.

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