As previously outlined, out-of-pocket expenditure on health accounts for ~13% of New Zealand’s total health care expenditure, estimated at NZD738 per capita and equates to 1.8% of final household consumption costs (OECD, 2015).

While NZ has universal health coverage as outlined previously, cost is a significant barrier to healthcare access for many individuals in NZ, with 20% of people not visiting a GP or nurse and 9% not filling a prescription because of the cost. This is further magnified by ethnicity, as even when controlling for social deprivation, Māori were more likely to report unmet need due to cost (Health Quality & Safety Commission, 2019).

References:

Health Quality & Safety Commission. (2019). A window on the quality of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health care. Wellington Health Quality & Safety Commission.

OECD. (2015). Government at a Glance 2015: New Zealand. Available from: https://www.oecd.org/gov/New-Zealand.pdf.