Accompanying medical treatment overseas

A Special Needs Grant for reasonable costs may be made to clients who are accompanying their child or partner overseas for medical treatment.

To be able to receive a Special Needs Grant:

• the patient's treatment overseas must have been approved and subsidised by the District Health Board
• the client must have cash assets less than $5000 and
• the funding provided by the Ministry of Health and other sources such as public appeal is insufficient to cover the client's cost

Payment can be made for reasonable costs for the client's airfares, accommodation and/or living expenses less:

• any amount received from the District Health Board or other source and
• the amount of the client's cash assets

Special Needs Grants for this purpose are non-recoverable.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for payment of the patient's expenses and should provide verification for the client.

For more information see:

• Cash assets