Eligibility for zero fees general practice services All children aged 13 and under, and who are eligible for publicly funded health services, are eligible for zero fee daytime general practice care.
Children under 14 can get: free visits to the doctor they're enrolled with — nearly every GP offers free visits, but it's wise to check first. free prescriptions — there's no $5 charge, although you may have to pay for some medicines or extra services.
It's free to enrol
General practices normally charge a higher fee, often called a casual rate, for patients that aren't enrolled with their practice. If you enrol with a general practice, your care will be subsidised – so you'll pay a reduced consultation fee.
If you're an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can get the same publicly-funded medical treatments as New Zealanders.
Public healthcare is free or low cost if you hold a work visa valid for two years or more, are a citizen, or a resident. You also have the option of taking medical insurance for private healthcare, although many New Zealanders choose not to.
The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) we have with New Zealand may cover some of your medical costs in the New Zealand public health system.
If you need more prescription-only medication in NZ, you will need to see a local doctor. Overseas prescriptions cannot be filled in New Zealand.
Getting an Australian benefit or pension in New Zealand
The benefits and pensions that can be paid into New Zealand under the Agreement are: Australian Age Pension. Disability Support Pension. Carer Payment for the partner of a person who is in receipt of Disability Support Pension.
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.
Most hospital treatment is free for those eligible for healthcare services. There are some exceptions, like some kinds of cosmetic surgery. Nobody can be refused emergency care if they are unable to pay. But if you are not a New Zealand resident, you may have to pay for some services.
If you get NZ Super or a Veteran's Pension, you can apply for government help to pay for: housing, health or travel expenses. something that is essential, such as glasses, house repairs or a fridge. an emergency that you cannot pay for, like medical or dental treatment.
The average doctor salary in New Zealand varies with the seniority, for example a resident can expect to earn up to $100,000 a year (in a public hospital, approximate salary package). A registrar, though, could earn at least $145,000 a year.
Physicians working for a District Health Board (DHB) are also top earners. Depending on seniority and hours worked, physicians typically earn between $155,000 and $219,000. Registrars working for a DHB earn a great entry-level rate of between $72,000 and $182,000 a year. Diagnostic radiologists are another top earner.
Many medicines in New Zealand are subsidised by the Government. From 1 July 2023, people will no longer have to pay the standard $5 prescription charge (prescriptions are already free for children aged 13 and under). This applies to $5 co-payments for prescriptions by approved providers.
Citizens and permanent residents of Australia (who do not have certain criminal convictions) may visit, live and work in New Zealand indefinitely. Upon arrival, Australian citizens are exempted from the requirement to hold a permit and Australian permanent residents are granted a residence permit.
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.
You can stay for up to 2 years on a Visitor Visa if you are over 66 years old and have NZD $750,000 to invest in New Zealand. You also need an additional NZD $500,000 to live on and an annual income of NZD $60,000 or more.
Summary of NZ Super Rates
If you're aged 65 and over and meet the qualifying criteria, you will receive up to $25,811.24 per year after tax.
If you're a New Zealand citizen living in Australia you may be eligible to get Centrelink payments or concession cards.
But when the Australian Bureau of Statistics is reporting the average wage across the ditch was A$94,000 - equivalent to $102,500 - last November and Statistics New Zealand says the average weekly earnings equates to an annual wage of $77,844 in the year to December 2022, the pay gap is surely tempting.
If you're using your Australian card in New Zealand, make sure you're opting to be charged in NZD when you check out. You will generally be offered a very poor exchange rate if you opt to pay in AUD, so it's better to let your financial institution do the exchange rate conversion.
Information on the restrictions on importing controlled drugs is on Medicines Control's web page: Bringing controlled drugs into New Zealand. Over-the-counter medicines (OTC) can be imported, but they must be for your personal use, or for a member of your immediate family, and must not be sold or given away.
You need to provide documents that prove your identity and residency. You can enrol in Medicare if you're a New Zealand citizen. You'll need to give us both: a New Zealand passport for each person you want to enrol.