[Georgebulldog]

This may have been asked before so sorry if it has but we are not sure what to do
Do you all (those with PR) have health insurance cover?

We're just not sure if we need it or not or if eveything would be covered, I read a bit about subsidised costs but how much could that be & is this why people get it?
Any help much needed & appreciated :cheers

[mgbridges]

Have to admit to also still being rather confused how the health system works here. However we do have medical insurance for surgery and specialists and get the impression that most people have some sort of insurance.

There doesn't appear to be the equivalent of NI here so you will pay to see your GP and each GP seems to charge different amounts. However, I'm sure there is a scheme for discounted health care/prescriptions etc for low-income families.

However, if you have an accident and need emergency help I seem to think your covered by ACC (www.acc.co.nz) and won't have to pay. Accidents are anything from falling off a ladder to car accidents.

We're still trying to get our heads around how it all works so I'm hoping somebody more knowledgeable than me will be along soon to explain further.

Sorry if this has confused you even more! :o
Anneliese

[JandM]

Here's an official site that tells you what happens. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/settlementpack/health/

[peebles16]

We don't as yet and were just talking about this last night so will get OH to have a look see... Apparently he gets discount with Southern Cross through work so will probably go for it - anyone got any ideas roughly about costs??

Thanks :)
Karenx

[Familyofmonkeys]

OH gets discounted health insurance through work. We get 100% cover for surgery/hospital etc and can get a refund of 60% on Dr and dentist charges, prescriptions and things like blood tests/lab fees. Would be nice to get better cover, but for a large family it works out quite expensive and as the kids are all young their Dr/dentist appointments and medications are free at the moment anyway.

[AndyR]

I think i read that only a small percentage of Kiwis have medial insurance....I may be wrong though.

[Nick88]

No, you're right Andy. Most kiwis don't have private insurance. Unless you make alot of visits to the doctor it isn't really worth the expense. Things like major surgery are all covered already, but there may be a waiting list. Going private just enables you to jump the queue.

The insurance companies are having a hard time keeping younger people in the system, as they are the ones that derive the least benefit. What they do, of course is subsidise the claims of the older members.

[northernfive]

We looked into it a lot a few months back and decided it wasn't really worth getting - seemed expensive and we figured until we're a bit older it wouldn't be worthwhile - having been here 8 months and never been to the doctors I don't think we'll worry about insurance for another 10 years or so.
My three kids have been to the doctors a fair amount and the doctors we are with are great as they don't charge, we have had two trips to A&E and both times we found the staff to be fantastic (and not the same waiting time as in the UK!!!).
I think the health service where we live is brilliant. Although I've heard it can vary depending on where you live.

[wanderingoregonian]

We don't have health insurance... all accidents have been covered by ACC (e.g., sports injury). I have PR so all health related things are subsidized. So if I visit my doctor about a non-injury thing I pay about $30 per visit.

From an American point of view I am loving the system here in comparison. That said, I am thinking of getting some health insurance at some point soon (after over a year of living here). Its pretty cheap, and means less of a wait for non-urgent surgeries - for example if you want to have a plastic surgeon versus your local doc cut out a cyst on your neckline (if you prefer not having a scar) or to have V-veins removed or want to speed up the wait for a surgery on your big toe.

Every one has their own comfort zone, but I wouldn't personally worry about having health care sorted before you hit the ground here.

ALso FYI there is an 0800* health line here on the Ministry of health's website that lets you call in and sort out what do to do about that sick kid/spouce/self. What I find best is that they can tell you the address of the nearest open urgent care place (or emergency room if its that bad) no matter where you are visiting.

*Free 24-hour health advice - call Healthline on 0800 611 116

[Carol]

Yeah we do - just major medical though.

It's been good for the occasional unexpected op and the planned ones too I guess.
Not cheap but not outrageous - for the 5 of us it works out around $25 per week.