New Zealanders can reduce their medicine costs through the Pharmaceutical/Prescription Subsidy Scheme.
Once you have paid for 20 prescription items for from 1 February each year, you become eligible for the subsidy. You do not have to pay any more prescription charges for the rest of that year (to 31 January).
You can reach the 20-item threshold by combining prescription items for your partner and dependent children aged from 14 up to 18.
Just tell your regular pharmacist the names of all the people in your family to help them keep track of how many items you've paid for. Your pharmacist will check the electronic records to see how many prescriptions you (and any eligible family members) have paid for since 1 February and if the total is 20 or more you’ll qualify for a prescription subsidy. Any pharmacy can check your eligibility.
Please note: not all medicines are funded, discuss any questions you have about prescription charges with your pharmacist.
Learn more about the Prescription Subsidy Scheme on the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website.
Updated: 3 Apr 2024