KiwiSaver approach to health insurance needed

New data shows thousands more people missed out on surgical assessments in the December quarter.

"Health has had massive funding injections from Government but the system can't cope by tax funding alone. People are falling through the cracks in the public system, while we have a private health insurance system which is massively underutilised, with just 29% of people covered," chief executive, Roger Styles said. 

He said fringe benefit tax should be removed for employers who subsidise health insurance cover for their staff.

Then further incentives could be considered. "We could look at some of the techniques used with KiwiSaver to build higher coverage among working New Zealanders."