[nickbraddock]

Hi again,
I am wanting to know how work visas and PR affect your rights in NZ, eg if we move on a work visa or PR do we get the same rights as an NZ citizen?? Would we get hospital treatment etc the same as NZ citizens?? My wife has had thyroid cancer recently and worrys that if it came back, because she had it before moving to NZ that she would not get any help/cover on the NZ NHS system, can anyone help??
Thanks
Nick

[Lukas]

...yes you are covered by the public health system...but on the first 2 years you are not eligible to social assistance...doll... apart from very serious cases

[Avalon]

My wife has had thyroid cancer recently and worrys that if it came back, because she had it before moving to NZ that she would not get any help/cover on the NZ NHS system, can anyone help??
Thanks
Nick

Nick,

you need to look into this very carefully. There was a big hoo hah juts last year over funding for cancer treatments in NZ. If I remember rightly (hopefully someone can confirm or correct this - there may even be a thread about it) - the problem came down to whether Private Medical insurance would pay out for the high costs of Chemo / Radiation therapy. The Insurance companies stance is that the public health sector will cover the costs of these treatments - and so the HI company doesnt do so. However there was some concerns that the public sector were not delivering the care in a timely manner. I know for example that if you want insurance for cancer care - you really need to take out extra health insurance.

Also, the health system here will not fund all types of cancer drugs anyway - as far as Im aware this tends to extend to the newer drugs such as herceptin for breast cancer and another drug for brain tumours, but it probably needs further looking at.

Your "rights" would be the same if you have PR. I have no idea about work visas or WTR im sorry. But in any case - please check out whether you would in fact be better off here. If you have been through cancer treatment once before - you and your wife will know what should happen, and what level of care you should be getting. Is it possible to find out - perhaps direct from hospitals here- what the care and treatments would be like, and if they are in fact totally free - also about waiting lists?. I have a feeling that in some cases - it may be better to head back to the UK for treatment in the event of this recurring.


Im sure there are people on here with more experience of thsi - and there are people on here who waork in the health service - hopefully they can give you a better idea of what to expect. If not - feel free to bounce any further questions and I can at least try and find out some more concrete info for you both.

Hugs to you both

[anna_c]

It's pretty much been said, but if you have PR you have the same healthcare (but not necessarily incapacity benefits) rights as a citizen, if you have a Work Permit you're entitled to virtually nothing (although you can get accident compensation). Be aware that the public healthcare system in NZ is far, far less comprehensive than that in the UK.