Assistance with health costs
There are a number of different forms of assistance available to help with health costs.
Assistance from the health and disability sector
For general health and disability information go to the Ministry of Health website.
Healthline
Healthline is a free, 24 hour a day, telephone health advice service. It lets you talk to a registered nurse any time, and it's confidential. Call Healthline on 0800 611 116
Hearing aids
Hearing Aid Funding Scheme - funding to cover the wholesale cost of hearing aid/s is available to people who meet certain criteria.
Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme - all other people eligible for Ministry of Health funded services will be able to receive a hearing aid subsidy of up to $511.11 (inc.GST) per hearing aid.
For more information regarding funding please contact Accessable, the national provider for the management of hearing aid services.
Equipment and modification services
These services include vehicle and housing modifications, and are funded by the Ministry of Health. You will need 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. More information is available on the 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).
Primary Health Organisation (PHO)
GP visits and prescription charges will generally be cheapest if you are enrolled with a PHO. For more information call 0800 252 464.
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 lower costs for 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 more information contact 0800 999 999 or visit the Seniors website.
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. For more information talk to your pharmacist or visit the MOH website.
High Use Health Card
This card offers the benefits of a Community Services Card, but 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. For more information talk with your GP or visit the Ministry of Health website.
