Getting publicly funded health services
If you’re eligible, you can get free or subsidised health, maternity and disability services in NZ.
COVID-19 — publicly funded health services
For the latest on support with COVID-19 tests, see How to get a COVID-19 test — COVID-19 — Ministry of Health.
If you’ve recently arrived in the country, see Testing requirements after arriving in New Zealand — COVID-19 — Ministry of Health.
What you can get
If you’re eligible for publicly funded healthcare, you may get:
- free inpatient and outpatient treatment at public hospitals
- free hospital care if you have an accident
- free maternity care
- free support services if you have a disability
- subsidies on prescriptions
- free fertility services.
Being eligible does not mean that you’re automatically entitled to receive a service — many services have their own criteria you’ll need to meet.
Publicly funded health and disability services
If you’re having trouble getting pregnant
Who is eligible
You might be able to access free or subsidised health and disability services if you’re:
- a NZ citizen or permanent resident
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident who’s lived, or intends to live, in NZ for at least 2 years
- a work visa holder who’s eligible to be here for 2 years or more
- under 17 and your parent or guardian is eligible
- an interim visa holder who was eligible immediately before you got the interim visa
- a New Zealand Aid Programme student receiving Official Development Assistance funding
- a commonwealth scholarship student
- a refugee or protected person, or in the process of applying or appealing for refugee or protection status
- a victim of people trafficking.
Eligibility for publicly funded health services
Travel insurance
It’s a good idea to get travel insurance even if you’re from Australia or the UK.
If you’re not eligible
If you do not match any of the situations listed above, you:
- might be able to access some services for free
- can use any service but you’ll have to pay.
Eligibility for a limited range of publicly funded health services
If you need to prove you’re eligible
If your healthcare provider needs proof that you’re eligible, you can download a list of the kinds of things you can show them.