[beeline]

Hi all,

My partner and I arrive in Wellington in two weeks (eek!) where I will be working. I am on an 18-month work visa and I have a question about health insurance. The insurance broker I talked to told me that without PR, "It is essentially impossible to get coverage for regular medication of an existing condition through insurance in NZ when you are a visitor," and that all we qualify for is traveler's insurance.

Is this really the case? I have some ongoing health needs, nothing serious but enough to warrant regular trips to the doctor and monthly medications. Any suggestions for real health coverage, or are medical costs so low I can really go without?

Thanks!
beeline

[Oregonkiwi]

How weird! I just asked (sort of) the same question! (see health section.)

Unless you have a 2 year work permit, you're not eligible for public health. The worst case scenario is an illness needing hospitalization (heart attack, say), in which case you end up with a very large bill for the full cost of your care.

This company looks good
http://www.uni-care.co.nz/inbound.html
but I haven't looked at their pre-existing condition clause.

the other question, which maybe one of the forum pharmacists could answer, is whether you would get drug subsidies or would have to pay the full costs of your prescriptions. And I don't know if GPs would charge you more than residents.
But for myself (eligible for public health), I would say yes, health costs are low enough that you don't generally need insurance.

[beeline]

thanks oregonkiwi -- what funny timing! at least you posted yours in the right section :)

not sure exactly what you are looking for, but the insurance the broker pointed me to is Southern Cross Travel Insurance. It's really more travel ins than medical, but if it's just urgent/unexpected stuff the medical component seems sufficient (though i think there is a somewhat high deductible -- oh wait, i mean excess -- per claim :) It's not all that cheap, but it does allow for relatively long-term coverage.

https://www.scti-online.co.nz/visitnz/public.aspx

what I wanna know is why they couldn't just make my work permit for the darn two years! must be more cost on their end or something.

[Oregonkiwi]

Thanks, I didn't know about the Southern Cross plan. It looks pretty similar to Uni-care, I guess I need to read the fine print :( and decide between them.