hi top catHi there
If you want to look at private health insurance, try Southern Cross Healthcare Group.
However, unlike many countries, it isn't essential to have insurance. The health service here is similar to the UK (some variations, but generally the ballpark cost to you will be the same). And like the UK, non-urgent treatment will take longer than if you went privately.
Some will beg to differ with me - but we've had to use the health service here for both urgent (heart attack) and non-urgent (minor hernia) treatments, and have been very pleasantly surprised. But we do live near Auckland - in more out of the way places there will be differences.
hi thanks for info i will have a look at the link would the insurance cover doctors visits thanks Dan......^ differences in definition of 'healthcare'; yes there are public hospitals, but visits to a GP cost - I was paying $70 per visit in Wellington 4 years ago but costs have decreased since the introduction of Primary Health Organisations (PHO) as I see the practice I used to attend on the list attached; add $15 (2008 rate, unsure now) for a prescription from the GP, then the pharmacy charges, a dose of flu can add up.
I found this link from Wellington District Health Board, dated 19 January 2012, giving the fees - and showing the variances - for GP visits in that region
GP practice fees in the C&C DHB district
Note rates for children under 6 vary from zero to $30 per visit; $65 appears to be top rate for an adult.
thanks for reply i don't think i have to worry to much about it then judging by the reply's i can worry about something else now lol.Hi there
Yes you do pay for doctors visits - but prescriptions are much less. Hubby is paying $3 NZD for a 3 month supply of one drug - a bit different to the #7.90 GBP (or whatever it is now). What I also like is you can 'mix-n'match' private with public - e.g. I had an ear problem so I paid for a private hearing test then on the back of the results from that Iwas moved up the queue for a consultant appointment on the public health system.
