Living in New Zealand & the Healthcare System

New Zealand is a nation of immense appeal to many would-be expatriates because it is a safe nation with low crime, it is a nation that offers a high standard of living and it is a stunningly beautiful country where skilled expats in particular are made very welcome indeed.  If you’re considering moving to live in New Zealand then this article will be of interest to you…

In this article we’ll look at living in New Zealand and understanding the healthcare system because it’s not the same as the British NHS, or the European or American medical systems either - and it’s important you know what you may have to pay for, the level of care you can expect and where you will find any specialist medical services before you emigrate to New Zealand.

The first thing you need to know is that a certain level of care is offered free under the New Zealand public healthcare scheme to residents of the nation and also to those with a work permit permitting them temporary residency in New Zealand. 

The publicly funded services include: -

free treatment and prescriptions at a public hospital
free treatment at a public A and E, although there may be a charge for any prescriptions issued
subsidised GP referral visits to the likes of physiotherapists etc.,
free or subsidised treatment for those with chronic conditions
free lab tests and x-rays when carried out at a public hospital or clinic
all services free for pregnant women
subsidised care and prescriptions for children under 6
free standard dental care for school age children
free breast screening for women over 50…

Over and above all this, it’s worth considering that you do have to pay to visit a GP - but as a result and as you may expect, the queues are far shorter and your waiting time for an appointment and to be seen once you arrive at a clinic is far shorter.  Also bear in mind that for those who are attracted to the thought of living in New Zealand and getting far away from it all by living in a rural area, healthcare services are limited.  You may have to travel quite some distance for basic medical assistance and visit a large town or city for specialist health care services.

Apart from paying for GP visits you will have to pay for prescriptions most of the time and dental care – which can be very expensive indeed!  So much so that just for their dental bills alone, many expats who end up buying New Zealand property and relocating permanently find that some level of international health insurance makes sense for them.  This will ensure they are covered in the event of any emergency, that their day to day health needs are met and that they are well aware of the excess they will have to pay on any claim.

The main insurers in New Zealand are Sovereign, Southern Cross Healthcare and UniMed – or you can use an international provider like GoodHealth who offer free quotations on-line and who are in association with American Express ensuring the best, most competitive level of cover possible.