Number of injuries are increasing each year
Although the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 reduced injuries at the time, we’ve seen a return to the usual number of injuries since then. In the three years since our last consultation on levies, the number of injured people needing support from ACC has grown from 2.026m in 2019 to 2.104m in 2021 (an increase of 1.9% per annum).
![This visual illustrates the growth in the number of injured people who need support from ACC. A light blue box at left has the image of a broken arm in a sling with the words ‘2.026 million people’ below. Under the box it states ‘2019’. There is a dark blue box to the right of this box with the same image of a broken arm in a sling with the words ‘2.104 million people’ below. Below the box it states ‘2021’. Above the box is a pink circle stating ‘1.9% increase’.](/assets/ACC-levy-consultation-graphics-square_v13_10__ResizedImageWzI3OSwyNzJd.jpg)
Forecast increase in injuries in the Work, Earners' and Motor Vehicle Accounts
![This is a bar graph showing forecast injuries for the Work, Earners’ and Motor Vehicle Accounts. The figures shown for forecast work injuries are 188,405 (2019), 170,793 (2020), 191,949 (2021), 194,595 (2022), 197,294 (2023), 198,644 (2024), 199,728 (2025) and 202,239 (2026). The figures shown for forecast road injuries are 30,864 (2019), 24,923 (2020), 29,106 (2021), 31,237 (2022), 31,720 (2023), 32,091 (2024), 32,793 (2025) and 33,456 (2026). The figures shown for forecast non-work injuries for workers are 717,027 (2019), 660,657 (2020), 758,920 (2021), 749,795 (2022), 776,217 (2023), 804,936 (2024), 832,736 (2025) and 851,270 (2026).](/assets/300dpi-ACC_Levy-Consultation_Graph-two.jpg)
To help keep levies as low as possible, we work with businesses and communities to reduce the number of people injured each year.
Minimising injuries each year has many benefits, not only to the injured person, but also to:
- the person’s whānau who may have to care for them
- their employer who suddenly loses the skills of an employee
- the wider community, such as a sports club or a charity, which can also be impacted when a member or colleague is injured.
There can only be a meaningful drop in injuries and their costs when all of us are playing our part.
Investing in injury prevention
We’re investing in new ways of thinking about injury prevention such as our Preventable campaign which asks us all to take a moment to think about the consequences of doing something before acting.
In 2019/20, we invested $100 million in injury prevention programmes and we’re achieving a reduction in injury costs of $1.80 for every $1 we spend.
You can see examples of our injury prevention work on our website. These efforts are seeing results. However, the overall volume and costs of injuries are still increasing.
Examples of our injury prevention work
Increasing costs to support injuries
The increasing number of injuries combined with anticipated price increases has resulted in the expected costs to support injured people, over the next three years, increasing by between 4-6% per annum.
This year we’re expecting $4.63 billion will be needed from levies to support the lifetime costs of injuries that are estimated to happen in 2021/22. By 2024/25, this is estimated to increase to $5.2 billion.
![This visual illustrates how much funding is needed to support the lifetime costs of injuries next year and what this will increase to in three years. At the bottom is a pink circle stating ‘Injuries estimated to happen’ with an arrow attached to it, pointing right, stating ‘Lifetime costs of injuries’. Above the arrow is a yellow circle stating ‘2021/22 $4.63 billion funding’. Above that circle, to the right, is another yellow circle stating ‘2024/25 $5.2 billion funding’.](/assets/ACC-levy-consultation-graphics-square_v13_11__ResizedImageWzI4NiwyNzdd.jpg)
Expected New Year Claims Costs
![This graph shows the expected cost of supporting new injuries (the New Year Claims Cost). It includes the same information shown in the table immediately below the graph.](/assets/300-dpi-ACC_Levy-Consultation_Graph-one.jpg)
Cost of supporting new injuries (New Year Claims Cost)
Costs to support |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
Injuries at work |
$1,115m |
$1,168m |
$1,224m |
Injuries from road crashes |
$872m |
$905m |
$946m |
Other injuries to workers |
$2,734m |
$2,884m |
$3,043m |
Total |
$4,721m |
$4,957m |
$5,213m |
Improving the Scheme
We’re always seeking ways to be more efficient in how we deliver better health outcomes for our clients while managing our costs.
Over the past three years, ACC has invested in an online option – MyACC – for clients with less complex needs to manage their recovery. This can provide them with faster access to services and help support a quicker recovery.
To support people to get well sooner, we’ve also:
- modernised how we support the co-ordination of services around injured people and their families
- continued to work with providers of health care services to make it easier for them to work with us and to support their client’s recovery.
![This visual illustrates what ACC is doing to help reduce injury costs. There is a big circle with the words ‘MyACC’ on a computer in the middle of it (portraying the online platform where clients can manage their recovery). Then there are three wedges in the circle. The top wedge shows an image of a person with a broken arm in a sling. Just outside the wedge are the words ‘Modernised how we support co-ordination of services’. The wedge below this, to the left, shows an image of a man lying on a bed and a healthcare worker beside him. Just outside the wedge are the words ‘Improving how we work with healthcare providers’. The wedge to the right of this shows the image of a person on a bicycle. Just outside the wedge are the words ‘Help clients manage their recovery’.](/assets/ACC-levy-consultation-graphics-square_v13_8__ResizedImageWzMyMCwzMTJd.jpg)
After all these benefits have been taken into account, we still forecast that the total number and costs of injuries will continue to increase.