The only groups that automatically qualify for the same COVID-19 healthcare as New Zealand citizens and residence-class visa holders are:
- Australian citizens or residence-class visa holders; and
- citizens of the United Kingdom.
Travellers are encouraged to check (before they travel) their insurance covers them for the treatment of COVID-19, and the cost of changing flights, or self-isolating in suitable accommodation.
Currently, visitors who are not citizens or residence-class visa holders and who are not covered by any reciprocal healthcare agreements will only be eligible for publicly funded COVID-19 healthcare including COVID-19 antiviral medicines if they meet the requirements of the Health and Disability Services Eligibility Direction 2011. The assessment of an individual’s circumstances will be made at an operational level.
Any private care provided under the Health and Disability Services Eligibility Direction 2011 should be billed to the Ministry of Health in the same way as funded care provided to overseas visitors.
People who are not eligible for publicly funded COVID-19 health care including COVID-19 antiviral medicine may purchase Paxlovid privately from some pharmacies.
To purchase Paxlovid privately will require paying the full commercial price for the medicine and any services required to access the medicine, such as a consultation with your doctor or pharmacist.