Signing up with a healthcare provider
If you are new to Aotearoa New Zealand, find out why you should sign up with a healthcare provider, such as a GP.
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General practice and hospital doctors are different
Aotearoa New Zealand's health system may work quite differently from health systems in other countries. In New Zealand, there is primary and secondary healthcare.
Primary healthcare is what you receive when you visit your local or family doctor — often called a general practitioner (GP). It is professional healthcare that is probably close to where you and your family live and work. Primary healthcare also includes:
- dentists
- practice nurses
- midwives
- physiotherapists
- counsellors
- other community-based providers.
Your GP is generally your first point of call for medical treatment. They may refer you to a hospital or specialist — this is called secondary care.
Your GP can help you keep healthy and well and will be able to treat many injuries and illnesses. If you have a serious injury or illness, you should go to a public hospital emergency department.
Why you should enrol with a GP
Having a regular doctor is important to your overall health and wellbeing. Your local doctor can help you keep healthy and well and can often help you access other health services.
Enrolling with GP is easy and free, and it benefits you, your family as well as your community.
If you enrol with a GP:
- it is cheaper to go to the doctor
- each doctor's prescription is only $5.
You also get:
- to use free interpreter services if you need it
- appointment reminders, including cervical and breast cancer screenings and child vaccinations
- access to extra services such as support to better manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as advice on healthy lifestyles such as help to quit smoking
- to create a strong relationship with your doctor and care team — people that have an ongoing relationship with a family doctor can get a diagnosis quickly and spend less time in the hospital.
If you choose not to enrol, you can still visit any GP to get the care you need. However, you will not get benefits such as cheaper visit fees.
If you do not enrol but only 'register' or be a casual patient with a doctor you will be charged a higher fee, so it is important to enrol with the medical centre that you are happy with.
You can enrol any children in your care if they are 16 years of age or under. Ask reception at the GP to find out what you need to do.
If other family members are over the age of 16, they need to enrol themselves, unless you have Power of Attorney or you are their authorised representative. You can, however, take enrolment forms and information home for other adult family members.
You should enrol with the GP you use most often. This does not mean you cannot visit another GP, but you will not get benefits such as cheaper visit fees.
If you enrol with another GP, it will cancel your enrolment with the first GP.
International students are not able to enrol with a GP but can register.
You will also need to be covered by medical insurance to pay for the doctor's treatment and other health services. However, some services may not be covered.
You will need to know what your policy excludes, any pre-existing conditions for example. Check with your insurer before you use a health service.
In most areas, you will still have to pay to see your GP or nurse. But there are exceptions, such as if:
- you live in a poorer area
- you live in an area where there are high numbers of people with poorer health
- the visit is for a child under 6.
Check with the GP you are enrolled with or are looking to enrol with.
You can still use your Community Services Card for all the same services if you enrol with a GP.
Some enrolled people may find that they do not need their Community Services Card to get low-cost health care, but choose to hold on to it in case, for example, when they are out of town and need to see a doctor.
For more information about getting the Community Services Card you can contact Work and Income New Zealand toll free on 0800 999 999
Most GPs in New Zealand belong to a Primary Health Organisation (PHO). PHOs aim to deliver primary healthcare services to the people in its community at an affordable cost.
By having GPs, practice nurses, Māori health providers and other primary healthcare providers working together in a PHO, the health requirements of the community the PHO serves will better met.
PHOs are funded according to the needs of their population. Essentially this means that in poorer areas, or in areas where the population is much older or has higher health needs, the GPs and other health providers can offer cheaper visits and services because they receive more public funds.
How to enrol
You need to be eligible for publicly funded health services to enrol with a GP. When you enrol you may be asked to show proof. This could include a passport or birth certificate. You will be asked to sign an enrolment form.
Guide to eligibility for public health services
Find a GP in your area
In Aotearoa New Zealand, you can choose the doctor or general practice that you visit.
Not every GP accepts new patients — you may have to contact many GPs to find one that does.
It can take 3 months for the enrolment to take place
You should enrol with a GP before you are sick, so it is cheaper when you need to visit the doctor. This is because it can up to 3 months for the enrolment to be completed.
Your medical records
Your medical record is kept with the general practice you are enrolled with. But any health professional involved in your care can look at your record. You can ask to look at your record at any time.
You can leave or change your GP at any time
When you enrol with a new general practice, you will be asked to sign a form so your records can be transferred from your old practice.
Changing your general practice
Watch a video about the public health system in Aotearoa New Zealand:
New Zealand health and disability system (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Watch a chapter about a specific topic:
Overview of the New Zealand health and disability system (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Your local family doctor (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Public hospitals (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Where to go for healthcare (in Hindi) — Vimeo
If you need language support (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Where to get your medications (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Health funding schemes in New Zealand (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Services for children (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Looking after our teeth (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Your rights and how to plan your visits (in Hindi) — Vimeo
Useful links
Links to find healthcare services near you, and other helpful resources.
Find a doctor, GP and urgent care
GPs / Accident & Urgent Medical Care — Healthpoint
Find a midwife
Find a dentist
Find a dentist — New Zealand Dental Association
Find a physiotherapist
Find an optometrist
Eye care providers — Healthpoint
Healthline
If you or someone you care for is unwell, you can call Healthline for free, expert health advice from nurses and paramedics. Healthline is available any time of the day or night, every day of the week.
The team are happy to help you with even the smallest concern, there is no need to wait until things get very bad before you call.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Provides confidential information, advice and support for a wide range of issues including settlement.
They have volunteers that can help you in your language, or can connect with an interpreter to help communicate with you.
Health and Disability Commissioner
You have the right to be treated with respect by health and disability providers. Any concerns or wish to complain, contact the organisation or service that provided your care or the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Health and Disability Commissioner