New Zealand's healthcare system is a universal public system. It is one of the top 20 healthcare systems in the world, on a par with the United States and the United Kingdom. With the 1938 Social Security Act, New Zealand brought into law universal and free healthcare.
If you're an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can get the same publicly-funded medical treatments as New Zealanders.
Is healthcare in New Zealand free? Most health services in New Zealand are free, or at least heavily subsidised. It'll be free for you to access public hospital services, get health advice over the phone, and receive specialist care – though you may be put on a waiting list.
Documents you need if you're a New Zealand citizen
You need to provide documents that prove your identity and residency. You can enrol in Medicare if you're a New Zealand citizen.
You will always be received as a patient if you need acute or emergency care and go to a hospital. The following publicly funded services are free of charge for eligible people: inpatient and outpatient treatment at a public hospital.
Hospital treatment
New Zealand citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand (prior to arriving in Australia) who are temporarily visiting Australia can get free emergency treatment at an Australian public hospital under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement .
You will have to pay for healthcare for illnesses, and it is highly recommended you have travel insurance. If you have a work visa for more than two years, you may be eligible for other health subsidies and benefits. See the Ministry of Health's eligibility guide.
Medical costs in New Zealand
New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal healthcare agreement, meaning that Australian travellers can access New Zealand's public health service in an emergency, and vice versa.
Overseas prescriptions cannot be filled in New Zealand.
In some parts of the country, such as Rotorua, there are free doctors' visits for young adults. Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners president Tim Malloy said the cost of a basic consultation for an adult patient would generally be somewhere between $50 and $75.
The monthly cost of living in New Zealand
The cost of living in New Zealand, for one person in a major city, is between NZ$3,000-NZ$4,000 per month. A family of four can expect to need NZ$5,000-NZ$6,000 per month to live.
Healthcare System Performance Ranking
Key findings: “The top-performing countries overall are Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia. The United States ranks last overall, despite spending far more of its gross domestic product on health care.
Citizens and permanent residents of Australia (who do not have certain criminal convictions) may visit, live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can visit, work and live in New Zealand. You do not need a visa before you travel to New Zealand. If you are an Australian permanent resident you will need an NZeTA.
You'll need to prove you're from Australia and eligible for Medicare when you're in another country. To be covered under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia, you'll need to meet the agreement conditions.
If you're a New Zealand citizen living in Australia you may be eligible to get Centrelink payments or concession cards.
If you're moving to Australia on or after 1 July 2017, there may be changes to your New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension payment. You can continue to get your New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) or Veteran's Pension payments for up to 26 weeks (inclusive) after you leave New Zealand.
Dual nationals have the right to hold a passport from both countries, and get the full benefits of citizenship such as social security payments, health care, and voting rights. New Zealanders becoming Australian citizens do not lose any rights, but gain additional rights.
New Zealanders who are 65 or older and live in Australia may be able to get both an Australian age pension and New Zealand superannuation. This depends on the amount of their working life they spent in each country.
Most children aged 13 and under who are enrolled with a general practice will not be charged a fee for a standard visit with a doctor or nurse, or: an after-hours fee at participating clinics or pharmacies.
Australian residents are covered by the New Zealand/Australia Reciprocal Health Agreement if they: are on a temporary visit (up to two years) to New Zealand AND. in the opinion of the provider of medical treatment, they need immediately necessary medical treatment while in New Zealand.
The survey also revealed that the average New Zealander has monthly spending on health insurance of just under $200. In Auckland, the cost rises to $213, while those aged over 70 are spending a hefty $362 on average each month.