Health insurance

dan boy said:

I am wanting to move to NZ i wanted to know how much health insurance cost for my family which consist of myself (35) wife (28) sons (10/8) daughter (3 months)
as i know NZ is different to the UK health system (i.e) don't pay for visits to doctor etc, just so i can get a understanding of how much it will cost to live in NZ would be grateful for any help.. thanks Dan

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Hi 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.

dan boy said:

hi top cat

thanks for getting back to me very helpful info,i wanted to no because i heard you have to pay if you go to doctors like for cold,pains,just don't feel well etc,and it could cost $20-$30 for each visit and with 3 kids could work out a lot of money over the year thanks again Dan...

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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.