Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and Disability Services

Guide to Eligibility Criteria for Publicly Funded Health and Disability Services

The Guide to Eligibility provides information on eligibility for publicly funded (free or subsidised) health care in New Zealand. It describes the groups of people who are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services in New Zealand, and the eligibility criteria.

If you require further information please email eligibility@moh.govt.nz

Related information

The Eligibility Direction

Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services is provided by the Eligibility Direction, a Ministerial direction (Gazette notice 6367) under section 32 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. Maternity services for partners are provided by a separate Ministerial direction to District Health Boards.

Checking people's eligibility

Checking people's eligibility is the responsibility of all health providers who administer publicly funded health and disability services. The Eligibility Direction sets out the eligibility criteria for publicly funded health and disability services in New Zealand. Only people who meet the eligibility criteria defined in the Eligibility Direction can receive publicly funded personal health and disability services.

Eligibility is not applied retrospectively

Health services used before a person becomes eligible are not publicly funded.

Publicly funded services may be fully funded or part subsidised.

Health service providers will advise which services they are providing, and whether there may be a part charge for those services.

Travel insurance that includes health cover

People who are not eligible for publicly funded health and disability services should get travel insurance that includes health cover. This includes people who have cover for acute conditions under reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom, as these agreements do not include follow up care, rehabilitation or repatriation expenses, or ongoing treatment or medicines for existing conditions. Under New Zealand law there is also very limited ability to sue for injury.

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Page last updated: 28 November 2008