[nickbraddock]

Hi,
we are hopefully near to getting our blue stickers.
I was wondering how much prescriptions cost in NZ?? I take a few things myself, ventolin, becotide inhalers and bendrofluozide tablets etc so am wondering about costs.

Also, my wife has had her thyroid removed and needs to take thyroxine for life. This is free in the uk due to her needing it to stay alive, anyone know if you need to pay for it in NZ??

Thanks for any help
Nick

[JandM]

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/yourhealth-payments

This may help on the basics.

[JandM]

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/settlementpack/health/Prescriptions/

And another one.

[phatsharpie]

Pharmac is NZ health system's drug buying agency, and you can see what medicines it subsidizes using its online interactive schedule:
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/interactive/index.asp

Looks like all the drugs you mentioned are subsidized (and looks like all of them are fully subsidized thus your out of pocket should be very low):

Thyroxine:
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/interactive/scripts/search.asp?TYPE=beginning+with&GENERIC=thyroxine&Search+Now.x=18&Search+Now.y=10&search_type=schedule

Ventolin:
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/interactive/scripts/search.asp?TYPE=beginning+with&GENERIC=ventolin&Search+Now.x=18&Search+Now.y=10&search_type=schedule

Beclomethasone dipropionate (Becotide):
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/interactive/scripts/search.asp?TYPE=beginning+with&GENERIC=becl&Search+Now.x=11&Search+Now.y=12&search_type=schedule

Bendrofluazide:
http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/interactive/scripts/search.asp?TYPE=beginning+with&GENERIC=bendro&Search+Now.x=18&Search+Now.y=10&search_type=schedule

I don't know if your wife's thyroxine would receive additional subsidy due to her needing it to live, but here are a couple of additional subsidy programs provided by the Ministry of Health, you should contact them to see if you qualify:

High use health card:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/phcs-funding-huhc

Pharmaceutical subsidy card:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/phcs-funding-psc

-B

[oldest]

I just wanted to say, what a lot of useful links you have brought together here. Very helpful!

[nickbraddock]

Thanks for the replies, very useful links, I will have a good look through them all
Thanks again for your help
Nick

[missy+mrmagoo]

Hi.
Your bendroflurazide and thyroxine are fully subsidised by the government. If you register with a doctor and get your prescriptions from there they'll cost $3 each and you are usually given 3 months supply. I'm almost certain the becotide (or beclazone as it is here) is also fully subsidised. Ventolin isn't but the part charge on those is only $5 or $6 for each inhaler (I can't remember exactly how much). You can get a different brand (salamol) fully subsidised but alot of people say they clog up and most people pay for the ventolin.
Do register with a doctor as soon as though because otherwise a script from a hospital will cost you $15 for each item.

If your family reach 20 items (must be on new scripts from the doctor, not repeat meds held in the pharamcy-the doctor will give you 3 months supply of inhalers but the pharmacy can usually only give them to you a month at a time unless you are travelling or live a long way away. Most other meds, but not all, you'll get the whole 3 months in one go) you then become exempt. But this only lasts until 31st january each year. you then start paying again until you prescription count reaches 20 again.
Try to go to the same pharmacy and make sure they have all of your immediate family members linked on their computer as this will make sure you become exempt when you should.
I work in a pharmacy and every time I think I've got this all sussed something else confuses me. The NHS for all it's faults was so much less complicated. :)

Good luck and if you need any more help you can PM me. If I don't know the answer yet I can find out for you.

[cathgates]

My parents will hopefully be joining us in a few years, and are already (just) over 60. They currently get free prescriptions because of this (uk) does anyone know if they will be entitled to the same as an oap in NZ? I have looked on the health site, but can't see an indication of yes or no. They both have various medicines constantly, so would qualify for the high usage card, but if they got them free - bonus!! :nice1

Cath X

[jdbob]

Interesting...

The only perscription drug I use is Flixotide for asthma. From the pharmac site:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
rescription costs for 120 doses of Fluticasone (Flixotide)
Aerosol inhaler, 125 mcg per dose CFC-free

User Detail
Adult with No Cards - purchased at a Pharmacy

Cost to Patient $15.00
(Patient copayment of $15.00 plus Manufacturers surcharge of $0.00)

Cost to Govt $7.48
Estimate only because of regional variations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If I bought it locally it would be around US$120 for the same item. I buy my supply from Canada but it's still US$49