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Expats in New Zealand are not covered by the country’s public health system unless they are citizens or permanent residents. To stay protected during your time in the country, you will need to secure private health insurance, either from a local provider or an international insurer.
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Whether you are relocating or visiting for an extended stay, private health insurance ensures access to quality care, covers unexpected medical costs, and may be required for certain visa types. This Pacific Prime article outlines the key options available, from public accident coverage to comprehensive international plans.
We will explain the different health insurance options in New Zealand, as well as how foreigners can get public health insurance coverage for accidents. We will also discuss the top international health insurance plans available for expats in New Zealand.
Health Insurance System Overview in New Zealand
New Zealand offers both private and public health insurance in New Zealand. The country offers free universal healthcare access to citizens and permanent residents, while expats and foreigners have the option of private health insurance through local or international providers.
Public Health Insurance for Residents in New Zealand
Only citizens and permanent residents are eligible for New Zealand’s national health insurance scheme. Those who are eligible for this public health insurance will have free access to public hospitals and clinics, with inpatient and outpatient coverage.
The New Zealand government believes that they are responsible for the health of their citizens and residents, and so they have long held universal healthcare access. Those who do not qualify for this public healthcare have the option of purchasing private health insurance.
ACC Injury Coverage for Expats in New Zealand
While expats may not qualify for the national health insurance scheme, they can qualify for New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) program. This program offers coverage for medical fees incurred by accidents in the country, even if you caused the accident.
Expats and foreigners can access this coverage by filling out a form given to them by the hospital or clinic they visit after their accident. The ACC program covers a wide array of accidents, from vehicle accidents to other circumstances.
The ACC is an excellent option for those traveling to New Zealand, but it will never adequately replace a comprehensive health insurance policy. With a private health insurance plan, you can have access to care wherever you go and with whatever provider you choose.
Private Health Insurance Plans for Expats in New Zealand
Private health insurance can be purchased in New Zealand through local and international providers. Local health insurance will only cover you while you are within the country’s borders, while international health insurance providers will cover you wherever you go.
International health insurance is a popular choice with expats because of its global portability that you can take with you on all your adventures, customizable benefits, and access to 24/7 customer support hotlines with multilingual support.
Top International Health Insurance Providers for Expats in New Zealand
The best private international health insurance plans will have extensive and customizable benefits and multilingual support. Some of the top private international health insurance plans are offered through leading global insurers as listed below:
Each of these insurers offers different plans with varying coverage limits, so there is an option for every budget. To begin comparing quotes from these insurers, visit Pacific Prime’s website and use our free quote tool.
Cost of International Health Insurance in New Zealand
An annual premium in New Zealand varies depending on what plan you’ve chosen, with prices landing somewhere between a few hundred to over a thousand US dollars per year. Premiums depend on a number of factors, such as age and level of coverage.
Your age affects the cost of your policy for both international health insurance policies and travel insurance policies. This is because as we age, our risks for accidents, injuries, and illness generally rise, making us more of a risk to insurance companies.
The level of coverage you choose will directly affect your health insurance premiums as well, as more comprehensive policies with a wide array of benefits will cost much more than more basic, in-patient-coverage-only policies.
Tips to Lower Health Insurance Premiums
You can help keep your premiums low by choosing a high-deductible plan and only choosing the coverage you need. A high deductible plan means that you will have a higher limit to hit before your insurance pays most of your fees in their entirety, which means your premium will stay low.
By choosing only the coverage you need, you can keep your premiums lower than what they would be in a more comprehensive plan. If there are benefits you can do without, don’t add them to your policy.
Benefits of Private Health Insurance for Expats
Foreigners and expats need private health insurance coverage in New Zealand to protect themselves against high medical bills, offer them timely access to medical services, and fulfill visa requirements for those on student and working holiday visas.
Another necessary feature of private health insurance is the choice of healthcare providers. With private health insurance coverage, you will be able to choose any provider you like and will not be forced just to use healthcare providers in the public sector.
This can be a great benefit to those who prefer to seek out second opinions and value seeing a doctor that they feel understands them best.
Travel Insurance for Short-Term Visitors to New Zealand
Travelers in New Zealand who are only planning on being in the country short-term can benefit from travel insurance policy coverage, which offers not only medical emergency coverage but also protection against common financial risks associated with traveling.
These financial risks include:
- Baggage delays/loss
- Flight delays/cancellations
- Damage to rental vehicles
- Personal important document loss
- Accidents
- Trip cancellation
A travel insurance policy will protect you against the financial risks posed by these instances, keeping your hard-earned money safe in case of unforeseen events. Travel insurance also offers medical coverage, though it will be more limited in coverage than longer-term plans.
Depending on the provider, travel insurance can be purchased in single-trip or annual trip plans. Annual trip policies are a great choice for those who travel multiple times per year, such as global business travelers. Allianz Travel offers their AllTrips plans, which is an annual trip policy.
If you plan on staying in New Zealand for a longer term, you will want an international health insurance policy instead of a travel insurance policy.
How Expats Can Use Healthcare in New Zealand
Expats can access the New Zealand healthcare system by choosing their preferred provider and then having the process paid for by either direct billing or by submitting a claim and being reimbursed later.
Direct billing makes the payment process easy, as the provider will just bill the insurer directly, with no other action needed from you. Submitting a claim is the process of sending in your receipt and all necessary documentation to your insurer later, and they will reimburse you.
To see a general practitioner in New Zealand, foreigners can go to a medical centre. These can be found in every town and city and are generally known to be high-quality and affordable. Online and telehealth appointments are also available.
For medical emergencies, dial 111.
How to Choose the Right Health Insurance Plan
When choosing a health insurance plan, expats should consider factors like how long their trip will be, their budget, and their necessary level of coverage to compare plans. They should avoid choosing a plan just for the sake of its low price and instead choose a more inclusive policy.
- Consider the Length of your Trip: choosing the right policy for your needs means making sure that you have adequate coverage throughout the duration of your trip. If you’re going to be in New Zealand long-term, an international health insurance plan can cover you just fine.
- Consider your Budget: there are health insurance plans available for every kind of budget. If you have generally good health and have a small budget, inpatient-only coverage may be the right fit for you. If you would like more extensive benefits, you can check out other options.
- Consider your Necessary Level of Coverage: only you can decide what coverage and benefits are musts for you and what you can do without. If you are someone who values preventative care and wellness services, secure a policy that offers coverage for those optional benefits.
- Compare Plans: Don’t purchase the first plan you see. Instead, take the time to shop around and compare plans. Give yourself time to read through their plan documents and terms and conditions. Reach out to an insurance broker for additional help with this step.
Get Expert Help from Health Insurance Brokers
Having the proper coverage for your time in New Zealand is crucial, and the insurance brokers at Pacific Prime are ready to help. We understand that proper health insurance coverage in New Zealand will protect expats from serious financial burdens due to staggering medical bills.
We can help you secure your private health insurance for your time in New Zealand, as most visitors won’t qualify for the National health insurance scheme. We help clients from all over the world secure health insurance policies that work for them and their budgets.
If you’d like to learn more, reach out to our insurance experts online or visit our website and use our free quote tool to begin comparing plans yourself.
For additional reading on health insurance, check out our articles on Health Insurance in the UK and Health Insurance for Studying Abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are expats eligible for free healthcare in New Zealand?
Expats are eligible for free healthcare coverage if they suffer an accident during their stay through New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation program. However, the more comprehensive national health insurance scheme is not available to anyone but citizens and permanent residents.
Do visitors need private health insurance while in New Zealand?
You will be required to have private health insurance in New Zealand if you are staying on a student or working holiday visa. Still, private health insurance is generally highly recommended for all visitors. Private health insurance will protect you throughout your stay.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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