donnisons

Can anyone help re medical costs. I understand that if you visit the doctor there is a charge, but what happens if you need to see a specialist or visit the hospital.

We have PRs. My son used to see a few health professionals in the UK on an annual basis for check ups and I am trying to find out if we pay for this kind of thing as you go, ie per visit or is it something that could be best covered with health care insurance.

I'm sure I have read somewhere that if you visit the hospital after an accident, then you are covered by accident cover, but this doesn't cover illnesses.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Bo-Jangles

If you have PR it's not too different to the UK, except you pay for the initial consultation(s) with the GP. If the GP refers you to outpatients or a specialist at the local public hospital, you shouldn't have to pay anything more at the hospital, except maybe outpatient prescriptions. To all intents any treatment or surgery at a public hospital will be free for you and your family.

Make sure to take your passport on the first visit to make sure they log you in the system correctly as they might try to charge you or send you a bill.

Charismatic

The GP charge is pretty minimal ($25 visit?), more to stop people going along when they are not sick. Everything else is "free at point of use"* if you are willing to join the back of the line AFAIK.

*They recoup their dollars don’t you worry, nothing worth having is really free .

mickey_d

Yep, they all go to A&E, ask my wife

luvwelly

It's dumb because it means poorer kids often go without care they need and as Mickey says they also go to A&E instead. I love being able to easily get appointments though. Many also charge a lot more than the $25 you quoted.

I got charged even more before I had PR as well.

Charismatic

They should have a service charge which can be waved (i.e. only charged to those who are buggering about and not really sick).

Charismatic

Oh...well mine charges $25 for a basic service type thing (fluids, spark plugs, filters...). That said you know if he charged 10 times that I’d still be happy paying given straight up honest service that doesn’t beat around the bush .

I don’t worry about the small stuff when it comes to healthcare, a few hundred here and there is a pittance for something so fundamental. It’s the big things that worry me more like needing permanent care and being unable to work, that is the value in a good public health system for most of us.

pricklykina

Hubby had came a cropper on the Saturday (query fractured scaphoid, bruising, abrasions etc)
I took him to A& E clinic at 10, seen within 10 minutes
Took two hours all up inc Xrays ( that's longer than usual but I was still happy)
Consultation was $50
X-rays $40
Splint $17
Script for pain relief and antibiotics $18
Future visits covered under ACC (has been redressed yesterday and going back tomorrow to when the specialist has reviewed xrays)

I thought it was good value really
(My usual GP charges $36 per visit)

Genesis

I had to pay for some radiology scans AND we had to pay for an ambulance in a dire medical emergency with a 6 year old..so not everything is free. Amulances do charge over here.

Liz & Co

For $46 per year you can join the St John Supporter Scheme - Family. This gives you free ambulance cover for the year and covers every named person in your household. For an Individual it's $31 a year. Bearing in mind the cost for the Ambulance is charged at $55, it's well worth it.

Look here - http://www.stjohn.org.nz/donate/supporters.aspx

Charismatic

How often do you use the ambulance to justify that?

Liz & Co

At $46 for the year, to cover all the members, of your household - once!

Charismatic

I feel like I've underutilised their services having never been in an ambulance, much less once a year .

drrobert

I presume this is in a privately-run 'Emergency Clinic'? Hospital Emergency Departments don't charge.

Ambulance charges vary by region - they are free in Wellington.

Liz & Co

St John is a charitable organisation, so if you are lucky enough to never need to call them, at least you know you have made a donation!