Reducing The Costs Of Medication

For those who need medication on a regular basis, there are several options available to help make prescriptions more affordable:

Prescription subsidies
Community Services Card (CSC)
SuperGold Card
Disability allowance
Subsidised medications

Prescription Subsidies

Community Services Card (CSC)

The Community Services Card (CSC) is provided by Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ), as a tool for helping to reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on people with incomes below a certain threshold. This threshold depends on your personal and family circumstances, and is calculated by WINZ.

The CSC reduces the amount your GP will charge you for a visit, and can lower the cost of certain drugs prescribed by specialist doctors. For example, the card can reduce the cost of a $15.00 prescription fee to $5.00.

Applying for a CSC can be done through WINZ directly, either online or in person at one of their offices. You will need to fill out a form including details about your income and family situation.

SuperGold Card

Replacing the Community Services Card, the SuperGold Card is given to New Zealand residents who are at least 65 years old, as well as people who qualify for this country's pension system or who have a veteran's pension. The card also entitle the holder to discounts on other expenses, such as public transportation.

Disability Allowance

The disability allowance is a benefit provided to those who have a persistent health condition or disability lasting for a period of at least 6 months. It is managed by Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ), and is offered to those with New Zealand citizenship or permanent residence. WINZ will assess your income level to determine if you qualify for this benefit. Those on a disability allowance receive a subsidy to help cover costs related to medical visits, medications, treatment, transportation, and any special clothing required for treatment or due to a health condition.

Subsidised Medications

For citizens, permanent residents, and those who have held a work visa for more than two consecutive years, the New Zealand government also subsidises the cost of some medications. Non-residents and those on tourist visas are not eligible for this benefit.

Subsidies can be partial, or cover the full cost of the medication, depending on the drug. Pharmac is the government organisation which determines subsidies for medications, and a complete list of subsidised medications can be found through the Pharmac Website.

In cases where the medication is fully subsidised, you are still responsible for a small "co-payment fee" of:

$15.00 per item if the drug is prescribed by a physician working through a private health care system
$5.00 per item if the drug is prescribed by a specialist doctor within the public health system
$5.00 per item if the drug is prescribed directly by your GP
$0.00 (free) for prescription items for children under the age of 13

In cases where the medication is only partially subsidised, you are responsible for paying whatever the subsidy does not cover (ie the difference between the selling price and the subsidy).

Not all drugs are subsidised, and you will be responsible for paying the full price of any unsubsidised drugs, as well as any non-prescription drugs you buy. Please note that a physician (GP or specialist doctor) can apply on your behalf to a Special Authority. This is a process for requesting a subsidy on an individual basis. If granted, it applies for a specific medication, prescribed to a specific person, for a specific condition.

The prescription subsidy programme exists to reduce medical costs for individuals and families who have ongoing medical expenses. It covers drugs which:

require a prescription (supplements or remedies not requiring a prescription are not covered)
are approved for subsidy by the government

To qualify for a prescription subsidy, you must have purchased 20 medications in the space of 12 months (starting from 1 February each year). After you have purchased your medications for the 20th time, you no longer have to pay for further medications for the rest of the year (until 1 February of the following year). The 20 purchases of medication may include prescription drugs for your partner, and for children aged 13-18. Prescription drugs for children under 13 years old are always free.

To ask for this benefit, speak to your regular pharmacist. They will have information on the programme, and on how many prescription drugs you have paid for. Make sure to give them the names of your partner and children, so that medicines in their name are included in your account. If you purchase medication from another pharmacy besides your regular one, save your proof of purchase and give it to your regular pharmacist to be entered into your account.