General policy statement
This Bill provides SuperGold cardholders with an entitlement to 3 free doctor’s visits per year. The intent of this Bill is to prevent older people from ignoring a minor ailment that could deteriorate, requiring subsequent hospitalisation.
The 3 free visits will encourage SuperGold cardholders to get 3 free health checks every year.
If these health checks prevent 1% of those SuperGold cardholders from being admitted to hospital, the policy is fiscally neutral.
Preventing hospitalisation is a huge financial cost saving for our health service and has far-reaching benefits in terms of social, emotional, physical, and psychological wellbeing, especially for older people.