j19fmm

I've bought medicine that was 'prescribed' in the UK but is available over the counter here. Getting it on prescription would probably/possibly lower the cost but it's do-able.

wendy_woo

Ouch! Very heated discussion! We have just registered with a GP surgery that is a PHO ( like a primary trust in the uk). We will be paying $37 a visit, we are both pensioners and get no discount, we knew this when we immigrated, husband has high blood pressure and cholesterol and needs medication that was free in the uk, but now we have to pay, its the cost of being here and enjoying the lifestyle and joy of not being ruled by eurocrats. You have to make those choices, do your homework, list the pros and cons, make your bed and lie in it! We also got our supergold card, free travel on the bus and ferries, so not all bad!

j19fmm

mikelincs

They aren't always a lifestyle problem, there are many people who have a genetic predisposition to these things, and the problems can just be triggered. Don't tar everyone with the same brush, people with some types of hyperlipidaemia can die in their 30s becuase of the problem, and their only treatment is with specific drugs. Your comment would be very hurtful to people who have these gentic problems

I, however, thing the OP has been very remiss in NOT checking out health costs before moving, particularly as he has moved without a job to go to,. I suspect he has thought that NZ would have a health system like the UK, and there are very few countries that give you that help, and even those that do require to be paying into the system BEFORE you can access it.

Hazelnut

Putting the other side I had to pay out £12,000 four years ago to cover essential surgery as my GP wouldn't even refer me to a specialist, let alone recommend surgery. The private healthcare provider wrote to my GP practise after the surgery as she couldn't believe that treatment had been witheld.

I currently need two new fillings but have to wait for Christmas present money as I can't afford them this month even with the NHS subsidy. If I pay for private blood tests it's around £30 to £80 depending on what's being tested. It can be higher. Paying $8 sounds wonderful.

It's just something else to be factored in I guess. I do worry about major costs if developing cancer etc but I live in a place in the UK that has an abysmal track record for bowel cancer deaths due to the fact the GP tends to diagnose IBS or refuse to do any tests until a persons BMI is in normal range. Once diagnosed the treatment wait lists are so long that people are dying before treatment commences.

It's all swings and roundabouts.

MrsFychan

don't think OP is here and think he might of missed the boat anyway by pass posts

Tom1983

It's a tough one

We pay $42 to see our GP during weekdays business hours, off peak charges are $72.

I pay $118 for the Dentist at Lumino and my eye tests are free as i'm an AA member

I'm having to find $1800 for an MRI scan that's due soon, i'm a bit shocked that I cannot get it done on the public healthcare system. I'm seeing if I can as I know a few doctors who may be able to help but I don't understand the system after 2 years here. My health insurance may not cover it as if nothing props up - it'll be classed as a non-essential visit which they don't pay.

The quote about UK treatment is only classed if your a visitor. We asked about that but our 2 and a half year visas do not count for that. We did get free healthcare when the wife was pregnant as our visa was an acceptable one for that.

bourbon-biscuit

Here's some info about healthcare costs, which may help?

http://www.everybody.co.nz/page-0a41...7aac8de68.aspx

Yes, but then only the same 'deal' as a NZ citizen gets, and only for treatment that is deemed urgent; UK citizens visiting NZ don't get 'free' healthcare tantamount to NHS treatment in NZ, they get NZ publicly funded healthcare, basically in emergencies.
(from: http://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealan...lth-agreements , my bolding)