Healthcare – Part 1 of 2, The Basics

One of the questions we got from nearly everyone in the US before we left was about healthcare: what kind of insurance, how is the healthcare system, etc. We looked into this before we decided to apply, it’s a socialized system like Canada where everyone gets basic health coverage for free. There are waiting lists for surgeries, and there is a private health insurance industry whereby people who own private policies can get care much faster through private hospitals. That’s pretty much what we knew.

Upon our arrival and landing in Nelson, the immigration service sent us a bunch more information.

What is free:

• Most maternity services
• Treatment in a public hospital
• Flu vaccines for those over 65 and some others with chronic illnesses.

What you pay for general practitioner (GP) visits, whose fees are set on a commercial basis just as any other service or trade:

• Kids under 6, to visit the GP, the government subsidizes $35 of the fee (most of the time, for kids, this ends up meaning the visit is free)
• Kids over 6 pay $15 less than the adult rate.
• Adults, fees vary but range around $50 or so. Don’s paid $53 to see his doctor.

What you pay for prescriptions:
If you are given a prescription, you will have to pay for it. Most drugs are subsidized, so you pay a charge for the prescription irrespective of the actual cost of the drug charged by the manufacturer. Some drugs are not subsidized and can be expensive. If you are prescribed a non-subsidized drug, you have to pay the extra costs.

Subsidized drugs cost:

• Adults: $15 max for each item
• Kids under 6: free
• Kids over 6: $10 max for each item
• Community Services Card (low-wage earner): $3 max

What you pay for hospital treatment:

• Public hospitals are free
• Private hospitals – you will pay the full cost, unless you are covered by a medical insurance. You may need to be approved by the insurance company prior to treatment.