Te Whatu Ora provides funding for laboratory testing services. Those who are not eligible will be required to pay at the time of sample collection.
As the referring medical practitioner, you are responsible for confirming your patient can have free tests.
| Who | Criteria | Funded |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand citizens and residents | New Zealand citizens (including those living in the Cook Island, Niue or Tokelau) and residents | YES |
| EXCLUSIONS | ||
| Any person applying for immigration / emigration reasons | Testing for immigration / emigration or visa purposes | NO |
| Referrals from government agencies | Such as WINZ, CYPS or similar | NO |
| Wellness for a trial or study screening programme | Tests that are requested on a well person devoid of symptoms and with no identifying risk factors e.g. blood group, wellness testing. Tests that are for, or part of, a research project, study or trial. Screening campaigns or ongoing programmes – ministry, DHB, or other funding (e.g. cervical, breast, bowel screening – or more targeted screening for high risk groups such as throat swabs for strep throats / rheumatic fever) | NO |
| Travellers | Screening tests prior to travel e.g. Hepatitis immunity, rabies antibodies | NO |
| Tests for employment, pre-employment, education and work experience | Screening tests for education or work experience e.g. Nursing medical, health and safety testing e.g. lead levels, drug testing | NO |
| Self referred or referrals from health practitioners who are not approved referrers | For example Naturopaths, Dentists, Podiatrists, Dietricians and similar. Limited range of funded tests for Midwives, Smear taker, Nurse practitioner | NO |
| People obtaining a medical certificate, insurance or superannuation policy | Where a certificate is required e.g. pilot or diver’s medical licence and insurance testing | NO |
| Pregnant women | An otherwise ineligible pregnant partner of an eligible person is eligible for maternity -related services, on the basis that the child is likely to be born eligible. Should the partnership end during the pregnancy, but the child be born a NZ citizen, the maternity-related services continue to be funded | YES |
| VISITORS | ||
| Work visa holders | Holds a current work visa which together with the time the person has already been in NZ lawfully, allows for a continuous stay of at least 2 years | YES |
| Refugees and applicant refugees | With proof of refugee / applicant status | YES |
| Foreign Language Teaching Assistants | Funded by Ministry of Education. Partners and children of foreign language teaching assistants are NOT ELIGIBLE. | YES |
| Visitor and Student permit holder | Visitor and student permit holders who had been eligible since October 2003 are no longer eligible under the 2011 Eligibility Direction. They are no longer entitled to be enrolled unless they have become eligible under another criterion | NO |
| Australian citizens | Eligible for the full range of publicly funded health and disability services if they are able to demonstrate they have or intend to spend at least two consecutive years in New Zealand | YES |
| Australian residents | Testing required for medical conditions requiring prompt attention | YES |
| United Kingdom citizens ordinarily resident in UK | Testing required for medical conditions requiring prompt attention | YES |
| Foreign Diplomats | Foreign diplomats and their family | NO |
| All persons receiving compulsory health services including prison inmates | Services received under any of: Compulsory treatment under TB Act 1948, Health Act 1956, the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966, the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003 are funded regardless of a person’s citizenship or immigration status | YES |
| Funded Students | Funded by NZAID ODA and includes partners and children. Commonwealth Scholarship Holder does not include partners and children | YES |
| Student permit holders | Holds a current student permit holders who had been eligible since October 2003 are no longer eligible under the 2011 Eligibility Direction | NO |
For more information on test funding eligibility, please visit https://www.moh.govt.nz/eligibility