tease

Hey people

I should know this having lived in NZ before but..........

I know how the GP system and chemist system works but as we get older :-)

What is the situation with hospital visits / operations and costs

My wife has a heart condition and may need "work" done in the future.
I also will need to have sphenopalatine ganglion pulsed radiofrequency (SPG PRF) procedure


Many thanks

Tease

MrsFychan

from what I am aware of there does not seem to be any leeway on costs to older people, you pay the same as anyone else. Now when it comes to what and how much that is like asking how long a piece of string is.

Bo-Jangles

Treatment delivered in the public hospital system for accidents and urgent medical matters are generally free; although some medicines are not funded and there is always some some controversy or another around what is and isn't funded compared to other 'first world' nations but we won't go there.

What can be very expensive is the interim period between you realising that you have a bit of a problem and reaching a diagnosis or conclusion that confirms that you have a problem that requires treatment in a public hospital and that you really do need to something done. Unless life threatening you will likely get pushed around the private sector for a while and be left to fend (and fund) for yourself. Most allied health / diagnostics and therapy stuff you have to pay for yourself; if you need any kind of therapy following an accident then ACC will cover some of the cost for a period of time. e.g. A Physio or Osteopath might visit cost you $85 per visit as a private patient, or $55 if under ACC (ACC will only fund certain amount of visits).

tease

Looks like the best thing is to take all the paperwork we have from the specialists this end

many thanks