[veronica]

had our first experience of NZ medical things last weekend. On Sunday I unfortunately looked up as I unrolled some metal doors and got something in my eye. It was very painful for the morning and I stuck it out until lunch time by which time my eye was so swollen I couldn't open it properly. Off we trotted to Moorhouse medical centre, where we filled in forms, was seen by a triage nurse and 15 mins later by a Dr. He removed the offending bit of grit which was stuck under my eyelid in about 10 seconds and we were home in just over an hour. total cost $10 as it comes under accident and the ACC covers it.

[Tara Sage]

Poor you hope your eye is better :?

Thanks for sharing info though, was wondering how/if it all worked.

not much faith in medical systems after the NHS!!??

[Moorf]

Veronica - hope the eye is okay now... out of interest, what did you pay the $10 for?

Do you need to be employed to get this cover - for instance, we shall be over on a visitors visa so, if the same happened to us, what course of action could we take??

Cheers
Moorf

[veronica]

I'm not sure if the cover includes visitors but we are covered because we work for ourselves and pay a levy at the end of the year to ACC. I think the $10 was just an admin thing but if anybody knows better correct me. This wouldn't have applied if we had been ill and visited the doctors, just accident.

[Timbo]

Visitors are covered by acc for accident and emergency, but it is best to have travel insurance as well to cover all of the angles, as I think acc has limitations.

[karltsmith]

ACC covers pert cost of treatment for accidents. It allows you acess to cheaper private treatment via giving you subsidised GP visits, physion etc. Typically a GP visit cost about NZ$40-50 but if it's an ACC claim this readuces to NZ$30-35 per visit, physio costs private would be be NZ$40 assesment visit plus NZ$30 per visit privately, but under ACC this reduces to NZ$20 and NZ$16 respectively. You can also claim back reasonable travel costs to and from work e.g 80% of the cost of a taxi will be funded by ACC but check with your taxi company first to ensure they do ACC work! Any one traveling, visiting, studying, PR's etc is covered by the ACC system.

Karl

[bliksembokkie]

Come and live in the Winterless North. GP visits $18 or $10 over 65 years! :nice1