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Eligibility

• Who pays for your Healthcare?
• Are you entitled to free health care?
• Are there any exceptions?
• What if I have an Accident?
• Compulsory Treatment
• If you’re not eligible, who pays?
• Proof of eligibility

Who pays for your Healthcare?

Overseas visitors will be charged for taxpayer funded health care.

The Government of New Zealand provides free health care and disability services to people who are ordinarily legally resident in New Zealand. Very few services are provided free to people who do not have some type of residency status.

District Health Boards are required by the Government to ensure only people who are eligible are provided with free health care.

As a result, Capital & Coast District Health Board staff will ask all patients who were not born in New Zealand to produce proof of eligibility.

Anyone needing emergency care will receive appropriate treatment. However, patients not eligible will be charged for their treatment and asked to pay on discharge from hospital.

Are you entitled to free health care?
Yes, if you are one of the following:

• A New Zealand citizen (including those NZ citizens who live in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau)
• A child under 18 years who was born in NZ before 1 January 2006
• A child under 18 years who is under the legal guardianship of an eligible person
• A holder of a current NZ Residence Permit and has been in NZ for two years
• A holder of a Returning Resident’s Visa
• A pregnant woman with spouse/partner who is a NZ resident (maternity care only)
• A foreign worker with a work permit(s) for two years or more
• An Australian or UK resident requiring “immediate necessary treatment”
• A refugee with proof of status

Are there any exceptions?
Yes, all overseas visitors are entitled to free treatment under the following circumstances, no matter what their eligibility status.

What if I have an Accident?
All overseas visitors are entitled to free acute (emergency) care following an accident. However they must apply to ACC for approval to undergo any ongoing treatment.

Compulsory Treatment
Free care is provided for any patient who has been admitted to hospital under a compulsory treatment order issued under:

• the Tuberculosis Act,
• the Mental Health Act, or
• the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act.

If you’re not eligible, who pays?
Insurance Company Payments: It is the responsibility of the patient to arrange for all payments to be made to C&C DHB. If an insurance company has accepted liability and C&C DHB is guaranteed payment, C&C DHB will invoice the insurance company.

Personal Payment: In other instances (where insurance does not apply) you will be personally liable for the cost of treatment.

Payments for treatment can be made at:

• Emergency Department Reception
• Main Outpatients
• Cashier, Finance Department
• Womens Health Service Outpatients

General Specialist Treatment: Any ineligible patient who seeks general specialist treatment at a hospital will be prioritised alongside eligible patients if there is spare capacity for the treatment. The estimated cost must be paid in advance and any additional costs must be paid at the end of treatment.

Proof of eligibility
The following legal verification is acceptable:

• NZ Passport
• Residency permit
• Work permit for two years or more
• Refugee status
• NZ citizen living in Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau
• Child under 18 years living with a legal guardian who needs to show proof of eligibility

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