Treatment and Hydrea costs in New Zealand

[ETOhio21]

I hope there are some Kiwis out there. My wife is a NZ citizen and we are looking to relocate there in a year or so. My question is what are treatment costs like in NZ (hematology visits, blood work, etc.) and what does hydrea run? I am a teacher with really good insurance so just want to be prepared. Thanks!

[Hidden]

Hi, I live in Wellington NZ. All my blood work is free at the local hospital. You can join manage my health and track your test results. Visits to see your, Haematolgist is also free at your local public hospital. As for Hydroxy not sure because I don't take it I imagine it is also free with a 5dollar pharmacy cost. That's all I pay per item. All good really. Lyn NZ

[ETOhio21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply, this is about what I thought and hoped it would be, very similar to here, except I have a copay, appointments are about $25 and my prescription about $4 per month, thanks for the reply!

[Dovme]

Hi

I had a quick look found this pharmacychecker- gives an indication of prices.

I would imagine you would be entitled to register for healthcare in NZ - perhaps contact the authorities in NZ to seek advice

pharmacychecker.com/hydroxy...

This site seems to provide info on healthcare provision in NZ

newzealandnow.govt.nz/livin...

[ETOhio21 in reply to Dovme]

Thanks, yes, I would be eligible since my wife is a citizen, just checking on things since she has lived here in the states for 17 years and us unsure if any changes, thanks for the links.

[plum27]

Hydroxyurea is covered, so only the pharmacy / prescription fee to pay. I am seeing a private haematologist, which is about $200 per visit and taking peg-interferon, which is not covered and low-dose aspirin, which is. Interferon is $700 for 4 * 180ug syringes, which lasts me about 3 months on my current dose. Much more expensive, but well worth it because the side effects of the Hydroxyurea were quite bad for me.

[ETOhio21 in reply to plum27]

Thanks for the reply, sounds like it would mostly be covered. Would private insurance cover you doc and meds? Here we can use insurance to see whoever we choose and it is covered, as a public employee, I have good insurance, my understanding was that some jobs offer that in NZ too.

[plum27 in reply to ETOhio21]

Some jobs provide medical and other insurance but many don't, and different plans provide different coverage. My expenses are largely covered by my wife's plan, for example, which is fortunate, but no job I have worked, including public and private organizations, provided medical insurance that would cover it.

[stillkicking]

Hi, I live in the South Island of NZ and I am on Hydrea and Anagrelide. Happy to report that both are free other than a $5 per item pharmacy cost. If you have a lot of prescriptions per year then you get a card and after the first 20 prescriptions ($100) and there is no more $5 pharmacy cost.

If I have my blood work done at the hospital or one of the labs in town there is no charge, but there is a $5 fee if I get it done by a nurse at my local GP practice.

You need to enrol at a local GP practice, and I suspect have permanent residency to obtain some of the health benefits here. The cost of going to a GP varies quite a bit depending where you live in NZ and if you are enrolled at a GP practice. It is worth shopping around.

Whilst GP care is relatively affordable... the cost of going to a dentist or optometrist in NZ can be quite high as these are not subsidised. The public hospital system does its best to provide free care to people, but some hospitals suffer from a lack of specialists and there can be very long waiting lists to get appointments with a specialist, to receive MRI scans or to have an operation so, if they can afford it, some people opt for private medical insurance and private care.

All the very best for your move to NZ, definitely something to look forward to! I hope it all works out really well for you.

Peter

[ETOhio21 in reply to stillkicking]

Thanks so much for the detailed response! I am trying to get as much info as I can and this really helps, we are looking forward to the move!