Other Subsidy Cards

High users of a health practitioner's services may qualify for a High Use Health Card. To get this card, the person and the health practitioner must apply together to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

This card is valid for the person only (i.e. not other family members). A person must have made 12 visits in the past 12 months for one or more on-going health conditions. The card will start on the day after the person's 12th visit and will expire on the same date in the following year.

An individual or family unit pays the co-payment for the first 20 prescription items that are prescribed in any "pharmaceutical year" (defined as 1 February to 31 January).

Note this applies to every new prescription and does not apply to repeat supplies on the same prescription.

After 20 pharmaceutical items have been purchased by an individual or family unit from the same pharmacy, the pharmacist issues a Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card.

Once a Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card is issued that individual or family unit will not have to pay the co-payment for the rest of the pharmaceutical year.

There may be other charges that people must pay, including those who hold a Community Services Card, Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card and/or High Use Health Card. These charges could include:

• a part-charge, if the cost to manufacture the item is more than the government subsidy
• pharmacy fees that are not subsidised (e.g. packaging, printing and faxing)

Note the Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card is also known as a Prescription Subsidy Card.