Healthcare in New Zealand is renowned for having such great quality. People who live there do not experience difficulty when it comes to finding well-trained doctors, prompt emergency care, and fully equipped hospitals. The country’s government-provided health insurance scheme covers almost all accident-related injuries whether or not you have any kind of insurance in the country, so no one is left untreated. 

Yet, the healthcare system in New Zealand may be a little different from what you are used to, with the combination of public and private healthcare service coming across as confusing. So whether you’re an expat, practitioner, or a resident of New Zealand, you may want to know how healthcare and health insurance work in the country. 

New Zealand’s healthcare system has several characteristics you may not be familiar to. You need to understand that the line between public and private healthcare may often be vague which could result in misinterpretations— to be guarded, when you engage and ask for medical assistance, make sure that you ask ahead of time which type of service you are being referred to.  

Also, with their private health insurance, you can acquire treatment in a private hospital, and your insurance company will pay— they may reimburse you or directly pay the health provider. It only means that you won’t need to join a public hospital waiting list, and it can usually mean that you have an extensive range of treatment options, medical specialists available to you. 

The country’s healthcare system comes in three levels of care: primary, secondary, and tertiary: 

• Primary healthcare. This includes the family doctor, pharmacists, dentists, and allied health, which envelops podiatrists, physiotherapists, counselling, and other medical services. They are considered to be your first and most important direct contact with the New Zealand health system, other than emergency care. This type of care also refers to the initial general treatment of symptoms or medical concerns, including flu, skin rash, bone fractures, or acute medical conditions. You can find these services are provided in public hospitals and clinics and are free of charge, but try to verify your eligibility. 


• Secondary care. This type of care includes hospital services, both public or private, and specialist care. 


• Tertiary care. Nearly all secondary and tertiary care which covers cancer treatment, plastic surgery, and other course action—is offered by publicly-owned hospitals. 

With these three types of care, patients are still given the choice to access either public or private services, which can depend on preference or the availability of the services. In order to access these levels of care, you would normally need a referral from a GP. 

One great thing about New Zealand’s healthcare system is high-performing. Plus, it’s very cheap, and access to doctors and medical care is usually easy. But medical assistance may not cover some rural or remote areas. Considering that almost all doctors and professionals are located in larger cities, you may need to move a reasonable distance to access basic medical assistance. 

All in all, New Zealand’s population has a great health status, with the country covering only the general issues of other high-earning countries—chronic ailments, heart disease, obesity, and ageing obesity. 

New Zealand’s healthcare system provides some free services for prescriptions, x-rays, treatments, and some laboratory tests conduct at public hospitals or clinics. It can also incorporate service charges for pregnant women, dental care until the age of 18, and breast exams for women of fifty years of age or older. GP or General Practitioner referral visits are also covered, similarly with treatment for chronic conditions, and give a grant to prescriptions for children of six years of age or younger. 

Also, public health insurance also includes any accidents you may have. The government of New Zealand has a “no-fault” insurance scheme known as Accident Compensation Corporation or (ACC). This type of care covers the expenses of any accident you may have, whether or not you apply for public or private healthcare. You just have to let the receptionist and doctor identify that you can get a reasonable cost for a consultation. Co-partnership in payment may be relevant if the cost of the treatment is above what is covered by the ACC. However, dental care for adults or optometry is not covered by public healthcare. 

Commonly, you don’t have to take out private health insurance in New Zealand, similarly like almost all New Zealanders. But if you have private health insurance, you can enjoy the benefits of faster and more customized medical care and still benefit from public healthcare. If you are considering getting medical insurance, talk to reliable insurance brokers in NZ. Here two things you may want to consider: 

1. You want to stay away from long waiting lists for procedures that are not considered emergencies. 


2. You wish to have more freedom over the choice of medical professionals or where you will be acquiring treatment. 

Prior to taking out medical insurance, verify if your employer includes it as a possible benefit. You may want to check if your country’s health department has any mutual cover agreement with New Zealand. 

All in all, a great insurance plan would cover your entire major medical expenses except for excess, which is part of the hospital bill paid by the patient. Take note that it should cover GP charges, surgeries, hospital chargers, exams, and specialist care. It could also recompense for a list of “major diagnostic” tests such as MRI or CT scans or angiograms. 

Author Bio: Ivandrea Ollero is a daytime writer for Insurance Advisernet NZ, one of the largest and most trusted General Insurance businesses in New Zealand, providing leading insurance products, technology, and policy wordings. She is also a content crafter who researches and writes custom content about travel, fashion, finance, business, home improvements, health, and beauty, in order to provide helpful information and tips for her readers. Ivandrea graduated from St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2016.