weebossyboots

I saw the dentist query the other day but what about the rest of the body?

My 4 yr old and I wear glasses - should we stock up on spare pairs before we head out to NZ? My 4 yr old gets free specs just now - and not these awful pink plastic ones I was forced to wear - will she get free specs in NZ?

Also will we have to pay for eye tests? If so, how much?

Daughter attends the eye clinic every couple of months, does NZ have a comparable NHS system in operation as the UK? Is it just visits to the doctor and prescriptions that you pay for and hospital treatment is free?

There seems to be a discrepancy between prescription charges too - is there a set fee as we have here in the UK?

What if, in the future I need hospital care or surgery - is there waiting lists like in the UK?

So many questions and so little time (supposed to be working! )

All medical answers very much appreciated

Am Loolah

Can't help much as avoid the doctors like the plague!

Dentists - we all got check ups before we left the UK. 2 eldest both have braces and its taken us 2 months to get an appointment here with an orthodontist. Plus we were told they didn't need to bring any records with them from the UK - this is NOT the case. They should have brought their records, xrays and even moulds - ewww?

Glasses - one daughter and I got new glasses before we left the UK, infact mine got delayed so Boots Opticians gave me a 20% refund and posted them out to NZ for me - I was very impressed! I have enough contact lenses for 6 months and daughter had to get more contact lenses here which turned out to be cheaper than in the UK as they are from Oz!

garryhg

hi jacky g here
as i,ve said, have been to both doctors and dentist since being here...

dentist,great treatment,better than uk but more expensive....for example ...root treatment $1.500....would n ot have cost that back homeeven if i had gone private....

doctors not so happy with...my first visit to doctors with cough,they gave me inhaler and steroids oh and anti hystamines....doctors back home would not hand out inhalers or steroids that easy....especially since there is no history of asma in my family....took 3 visits before they gave me anti biotics..

as for hospitals,we got health insurance...emergency treatment ifs free.but x rays and ultrasounds are all chargable...so you are better to cover yourself..
we used southern cross ,they seem to have quite a good name..for family of 4 we are about $170 a month,but oh works in health service so that is discounted rates..

saw a sign for opticians today,
eye test,frames and lenses $199 don,t know if thats good or bad..

wimsy

I have just paid $75.00 for an eye test
And $600 for the lenses and frames, they are designer glasses though

TeamEmbo

Haven't actually needed to go to optician yet but was told by local real estate woman in Tauranga on our recce that eye check up and glasses would be in the region of $800.

I think it costs $50 or so each visit to doctor (GP) or thereabouts, but again, that's only what I've been told - not had to go yet ourselves.

Kids have free school dentist. But Orthodontic work - braces etc can cost thousands of dollars.

Am Loolah

Oh Joy, have 2 off to the orthodontist tomorrow ...

happynz

Buy your eyeglasses online. You will get excellent eyeglasses at a fraction of the price of what you would pay the optician. I wear progressive lenses and I was quoted a price of over NZ$700 for frames and lenses. Ridiculous, I thought. I did a search online and ordered my eyeglasses online and paid a total of US$68.75 including shipping. The wait was only about ten days, the same as what the optician's would have made me wait.
So yeah, avoid the middle man and go to the source. The retail mark-up on eyeglasses is ridiculous. Save your money.

pixi-dust

thats brilliant! you wouldnt happen to have the link would you ?? thanks

teambwr47

Doctors visit costs to go down?

Littletoe

I'd recommend health insurance, the only reason for getting it is to jump the queue really. I was referred to the hospital, two months later, I'm still waiting and so I am in quite a bit of discomfort while I wait. Had I have had insurance, I could have been in and out in less than a month. My daughter will need grommets, without insurance we're looking at anywhere near six months wait, with insurance - less than two weeks. This is just my recent experience. Hope it helps!

Gill and Rob

That's almost too good to believe.
Couldn't get over how expensive glasses are here, and no 2 for 1 offers

Gill

garryhg

jacky g here

just got our policy through for health insurance yesterday,to be honest its not really worth it,we took the wellbeing two cover with southern cross,which is the better cover

it doesn't seem to cover you for all expenses,you only get up to a maximum amount per consultaion,and its not much...

your x rays and diagnostic procedures ,they only pay out a certain amount per year,so if you have an x ray in a year..god help you if you need another one

there seems to be a lot of clauses that they can catch you out on,
were thinking about cancelling,if we were back home we would have to wait for any hospital treatment there anyway....

any procedures you need done through a&e your not covered for
be better putting money in bank and saving it up....

weebossyboots

Do you have to pay for A & E treatment?!

My 4yr old attends the eye clinic at the local hospital in Glasgow - would we have to pay for similar in NZ?

Joshlin

I have had braces fitted since being here - top and bottom, 18 months worth of work, appointments every 8 weeks, all hardware covered -$5700 - able to pay it on a monthly scheme though

garryhg

a&e is free but i think x rays are not included,you have to pay..i think?

oh works in health service ,he can't seem to find out whats free and whats not,no one seems to know

our insurance does not cover any dentistry,beginning to think its a bit of a joke..