Migrants ineligible for publicly-funded health services in New Zealand are rightfully asking whether they will need to pay for their prospective medical treatment of Covid-19.

Given that many insurers tend to exclude a pandemic from their policies, vulnerable temporary stayers seek for clarity in regards to their possible medical bill.

Normally, if a visa holder was to fall ill and require hospital admission, they would need to personally fund that treatment or make a claim on their health insurance. However, there are some special instances where migrant workers will be entitled to
free healthcare.

Covid-19 is now registered as an infectious or quarantinable disease under the New Zealand Health Act 1956.

This means that all people in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status, are eligible for publicly funded services to treat Covid-19. Even though all acute care relating to Covid-19 in New Zealand will be managed by the public health system, there is currently no provision for this type of care in the private sector.

For further information please refer to the Ministry of Health website.