Michael Kooge says he wishes he'd taken out health insurance in his early 20s. An Auckland radio personality suffering from an aggressive form of brain cancer says he and many other Kiwis will die due to the unaffordable cost of treatment. Currently, the newsreader and creative director, is in the "precarious situation" of needing an unfunded cancer treatment, Avastin, to extend his life which comes with a hefty price tag of $34,000 for six months. "I'm not an advocate for health insurance at all, but I do urge everyone to get it even if you are young, because it could save your life. There are currently applications to Pharmac for Avastin to also be used for ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer.

Source: Stuff September 29, 2019 21:08 UTC