Hi, In New Zealand we have a free public health system which in theory is available to everyone that is the way it commenced in 1935. Unfortunately over the years the population has tripled and the cost of hospital care has skyrocketed so that today although public hospital is still free they all have long waiting lists so that often to get say a hip replacement a person may have to wait for up to three years.
Many of us have medical insurance in our case for my wife and myself covering 80% of all doctors and hospital care it costs NZ$2500 a year. If you have private medical insurance you can have it done privately immediately.
If your family income is under $30000 a year you are eligible for a community card . With a community card doctors visits cost $10.00 Without a community card we pay $25.00 children under five are free
All prescriptions are subsidised by the government . With a community card $5.00 without a card it costs $10.00. For a frequent user after so many prescriptions .the rest of the year is free.
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Des Hooker
