Assistance with health costs

Assistance from the health and disability sector

For general health and disability information refer to the Ministry of Health website 

Healthline is a free, 24 hour a day, telephone health advice service.

It now also includes the Well Child advice services. Healthline lets you talk to a registered nurse any time, and it’s confidential. Call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

GP visits and prescription charges will generally be cheapest if you are enrolled
with a Primary Health Organisation (PHO). To check if you are enrolled in
a PHO and for more information on PHO enrolment call 0800 252 464.

Information about how to enrol in a PHO is available at Ministry of Health website under PHO enrolment.

There are a number of different forms of assistance available to help with health costs. You may be entitled to cards that give you access to subsidised health care, including:

Hearing aids

From 1 October 2008, a hearing aid subsidy of $500 (GST inclusive) will be available for SuperGold Card holders who are 65 years and over. This replaces the former subsidy of $198. The hearing aid subsidy is available once every five years, and will be available for the purchase of new aids after your existing subsidy term has expired.

You will need to present your SuperGold Card to be able to get the increased level of subsidy. You do not need to visit a business that is listed in the SuperGold Card directory in order to receive this subsidy.

You must have your hearing assessed by either a private Audiologist or through the Audiologist at your local hospital. If you need a hearing aid, the Audiologist will apply for the subsidy on your behalf.

A pamphlet that includes information about the hearing aid subsidy will be available from your Audiologist, or you can contact Enable New Zealand on 0800 171 981.

In some cases you may be able to get more funding towards the cost of your hearing aids e.g. if you meet certain additional criteria, or qualify for funding assistance through ACC or Veterans' Affairs. Your Audiologist will be able to explain more about this to you.

Equipment and modification services (which include vehicle and housing modifications) are funded by the Ministry of Health. For these services you will have to be assessed by a specialised assessor to determine what you may need, and whether you will be eligible for Ministry of Health funded support before equipment or modifications can be considered for funding by the Ministry.

Information about equipment and modifications is available by referring to disability funded services at Ministry of Health website.

You can also contact:

• Accessable on 0508 001 002 (Auckland and Northland residents only)
• Enable New Zealand on 0800 171 981 (for the rest of New Zealand).

Health subsidy cards

You may be entitled to cards that give you access to subsidised health care, including:

Community Services Card

The Community Services Card is income-tested and provides lowers the costs of some health services. If you are eligible for a Community Services Card, this will be indicated on the back of the SuperGold Card.  You no longer need a separate Community Services Card. However, you will still need to apply to receive the Community Services Card entitlements. 

For information and enquiries about this card contact the Community Services Card Centre on 0800 999 999 or visit the Ministry of Health or Work and Income websites. 

Prescription Subsidy Card (also known as Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card)
(PSC)

This card provides assistance if you need a lot of prescriptions per year. It is available from your pharmacist.

Your pharmacist will issue a PSC once a family has paid for 20 subsidised prescription items since 1 February of any year. As a service, your pharmacist will automatically keep a prescription count for you. If you go to a different pharmacy from your usual pharmacy keep your receipts and show them to your usual chemist so they can add them to your PSC record.

For more information about this card, talk to your pharmacist or visit the Ministry of Health website. 

High Use Health Card

This card offers the benefits of a Community Services Card, but the eligibility is not based on your income. The card is available to people who have had 12 or more GP consultations in the last 12 months for problems related to an ongoing or a number of medical conditions.

This card can only be used by the cardholder and does not give benefits to the rest of the family. For more information on this card talk to your GP or visit the Work and Income or Ministry of Health  websites under High Use Health Card.

Health complaint contacts

For complaints or concerns about quality of care or health services contact:

• your local District Health Board (refer to your phone book)
• Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Services 0800 555 050.
• Health and Disability Commissioner 0800 11 22 33 or visit
  www.hdc.org.nz