Primary Health Care

High Use Health Card

What is a High Use Health Card (HUHC)?

The HUHC is also known as the High User Card, Health Card, Exemption Card or Discount Card. The HUHC was introduced to help people who do not have a Community Services Card, but who have ongoing health problems that mean they visit a doctor often.

Since 1 July 2007, the HUHC no longer gives a subsidy for visits to your regular doctor as successive funding roll outs have reduced the cost of doctor visits and prescription charges for all New Zealanders who are enrolled in a primary health organisation (PHO). The HUHC subsidy now only applies when the cardholder is seen on a casual basis by a practice at which they are not enrolled or for after hours medical care.

What do I get from a HUHC?

When used for a casual visit to a practice where the cardholder is not enrolled or after hours, the HUHC gives the following subsidy:

Adults 18 years and older receive a subsidy of $15 per visit;
Children aged 6-18 years receive a subsidy of $20 per a visit;
For prescriptions the government prescription charge is reduced from $15 to $3 per item (but when the medicines themselves are only partly subsidised there will still be additional charges).

(Note: all children under 6 years of age receive a subsidy of $35 per visit, regardless of whether they have HUHC or not)
If you already have a Community Services Card, there is no advantage in having a HUHC because the subsidy is the same.

The card does not give subsidies for visiting alternative health providers, unless they are also registered GPs.

Who is entitled to a HUHC?

You can apply for a HUHC after you have made 12 or more visits to a doctor in the previous 12 months. Phone consultations for repeat prescriptions do not count towards the 12 visits; it has to be a face-to-face visit.

Unlike the Community Services Card, the HUHC is not income tested. The HUHC can only be used by the cardholder and does not give benefits to the rest of the family.

For more information see the website of Work and Income, a service of the Ministry of Social Development.

Where and how can I get a HUHC?

Your doctor's clinic should be keeping a record of your visits. If you are eligible, the doctor makes the application for you and the card will be sent to you by an agency called HealthPac.

If you go to a different doctor from your usual doctor, ask them to let your usual doctor know so that your records can be updated.

It might take a week or so for your card to be sent out. If you go to the doctor before you get your card, pay the full amount, but keep all your receipts for the visit to the doctor and for prescriptions. When you get your card, you can take it with your receipts to a WINZ office to be reimbursed for the value of the subsidy.

The HUHC is valid for one year. Your doctor will need to reapply after the first year.

Does it cost me anything to get a HUHC?

No, the doctor should not charge for this service.

What should I do with the card?

Take it with you when you visit a doctor where you are not enrolled and to collect a prescription so you can get the extra subsidy on the spot.
Download this information about the High Use Health Card (PDF, 17kB)

Page last updated: 13 March 2008