A real benefit arises from means-testing
NEWS that healthcare for children is to become more affordable from next week will be welcomed by many families. Although there are strengths in a healthcare system which charges at the point of delivery for primary care services, rather than the public entitlement that a National Health Service-style model would offer, there can be no doubt that many islanders put off going to the doctor because they will struggle to afford the £50 or so that trip will cost them.
When a child is ill the affordability issue is magnified. And so the opportunity to take a child to hospital or to the GP at a cost of just £25 will undoubtedly help many.
The ability for the States to make these moves – and to include a free annual dental check-up – comes about as a result of finally means-testing family allowance. A flat rate support which was, until next week, available to the families of every child in the island, with its current rate set at £14.80 per child, per week. Many families used this as a savings nest egg for their children, while islanders who could have really benefitted from greater support had nowhere to turn.
Means-testing was a buzz in the summer when the States were considering how to get more revenue from the public, and also considering how it could possibly spend less.
The idea of means-testing was raised, and largely discredited. Two problems emerged – one, means-testing had been looked at in some detail not so many years ago; and two, arguably the wrong targets were being mentioned. Some people may not need £200-something a week to top up the pension they were fortunate enough to accrue during their working life, but it was something they contributed towards and, it would be more than awkward for the States to take away such a contributory benefit after 40 years of paying in.
Reference to means-testing in Policy & Resources’ tax review last summer appeared rather opaque as to whether it was really backing the idea or not.
One suspects that means-testing has rather gone away for the time being. But examples such as next week’s new development show that, handled correctly, it can represent real value for the islanders and the taxpayer.