Pregnant women are eligible for free and subsidised maternity-related services if they:

• are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services in their own right OR
• their husband, civil union partner or de facto partner is a/an:
  
  • New Zealand citizen OR
  • New Zealand resident or permanent resident visa holder OR
  • Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident visa holder who has been living, or who intends to live, in New Zealand for two years or longer OR
  • refugee or protected person, or is applying or appealing for refugee or protected person status, or is a victim or suspected victim of a people trafficking offense OR
  • work visa holder able to stay in New Zealand for 24 consecutive months (time spent lawfully in New Zealand immediately before the start of the work visa counts toward the two year requirement) (work visas start on the person’s first day in New Zealand) OR
  • interim visa holder who was eligible immediately before the interim visa was issued OR
• are pregnant with a child that is found to be a New Zealand citizen by birth.
• Partners of NZ Aid Programme students studying in New Zealand are eligible in their own right.

To ensure you receive free maternity care make sure you bring your passport to your first visit with your LMC and to the hospital you deliver at. For more information go to: http://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/eligibility-publicly-funded-health-services

You may be charged for:

• A negative urine pregnancy test
• Care provided by a private obstetrician
• Additional room services provided by a maternity facility or an extended stay in a maternity facility.
• Some tests in a private laboratory
• Ultrasound scans
• Antenatal classes
• All your care, if you are not a New Zealand citizen or do not have permanent residency and if your baby’s father is not a New Zealand citizen or does not have permanent residency or is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is living in New Zealand and intends to stay for two years or longer.

If your LMC recommends any tests or treatments ask if there are any charges.