MedicAlert ask Donors to help others access lifesaving service

Ffion Heale

February 25, 2025

MedicAlert Foundation NZ is seeking 10,000 donors to put forward $65 each a year to support vulnerable people struggling to pay for their ‘lifesaving’ MedicAlert membership, through its Pay It Forward campaign.

The organisation worked to make the medical information of people with severe allergies, disabilities and other health conditions more accessible to first responders in an emergency.

Members were provided with an official Medical ID bracelet displaying their up-to-date essential information, helping to ensure they receive the correct treatment and reduce risks.

“It really gives them confidence that when they can’t speak for themselves, the bracelet will speak on their behalf,” said MedicAlert’s medical director, Dr Andrew Dunn.

The programme was entirely funded by donations and membership fees. In the past year, about 9000 members had struggled to cover those fees, with many additional at-risk people unable to afford to enrol altogether.

According to Dunn, the demand for the service was far greater than the foundation had the resources to support. It does not receive government funding.

A ‘Pay It Forward’ campaign has been set up on MedicAlert’s website, giving the opportunity for the community to help relieve financial pressure on the most vulnerable people in society.

A donation of just $65 can support a person for 12 months, said MedicAlert’s chief executive, Murray Lord.
‍
“If we can find a way to help these people protect themselves from harm through MedicAlert, as a community, we are not just helping one individual, we are helping our society.”

Lord referred to the many cases where people had suffered serious health problems and even lost their lives due to the lack of personal medical information available to first responders.

According to PwC, MedicAlert delivered $56 million per year in public and private benefits through reducing avoidable harm.

The research also showed that while only 2.05% of the country’s population had registered with MedicAlert, 22% could benefit from a Medical ID.

Lord said while they had already had a positive reaction to the campaign, gaining more than 150 donations after just a few days, they really needed to be in the thousands to meet demand.

The Pay It Forward donation option is available on MedicAlert’s website. Donors have the option to donate $65 to cover someone’s annual membership, or any amount of their choosing.

“Any contribution helps ‒ increased donor generosity could significantly boost the number of people protected from harm. There’s no question about it, your donations will save lives,“ Dunn said.

-The Post
MedicAlert asks donors to help others access lifesaving service | The Post