Prescription costs and dental care
Most people in New Zealand pay NZ$5 for each prescription item. Children, older people and some cardholders pay nothing. If you pay for 20 items in a year, you can get a Prescription Subsidy Card. Basic dental care is mostly free for eligible children and teenagers under 18. Adults usually pay for dental care themselves, but people on a low income can apply to Work and Income for help.
Key facts
- Standard prescription charge
- NZ$5 for each item. You pay for every item on a new prescription. You do not pay again for repeats on the same prescription.1
- No prescription charge
- Children aged 13 and under; Community Services Card (CSC) holders and the dependent children of CSC holders; people aged 65 and over; Prescription Subsidy Card (PSC) holders.1
- Prescriptions from specialists or non-funded prescribers
- NZ$15 if you are 18 or over, NZ$10 if you are 14 to 17. If you have a High Use Health Card or a CSC, the charge drops to NZ$5.1
- Prescriptions from a dentist
- Dentists are non-funded prescribers, so their prescriptions cost NZ$15, or NZ$10 if you are 14 to 17.5
- Prescription Subsidy Card
- Once you have paid for 20 prescription items since 1 February each year, you pay no more prescription charges until 31 January.1
- Counting the whole family
- Prescriptions for your partner and dependent children aged 14 to 18 can count towards the 20 items. Children aged 13 and under already get free medicines, so their items do not count.1
- 12-month prescriptions
- From 1 February 2026, some people with stable long-term conditions can get a prescription for up to 12 months and pay only once, when they first collect it. The pharmacy gives you up to 3 months' supply at a time (6 months for the oral contraceptive pill).1
- Visitors from Australia and the UK
- Usually pay the standard prescription charge of NZ$5 per item.1
- Dental care under 18
- The government pays for dental care for children and teenagers. For advice and appointments, call Talk Teeth on 0800 825 583 (0800 TALK TEETH).2
- Dental care for babies
- Babies are usually enrolled with the oral health service at birth. Their first check is at 12 months, then once a year.2
- Dental care for teenagers
- Eligible teenagers get a free dental check every year from Year 9 until their 18th birthday. This is free even if they are not at school.3
- Adult dental care
- After 18, you pay for most dental care yourself. Private dentists do not have set prices.2
- Work and Income dental help
- Up to NZ$1,000 in any 52-week period for urgent, essential dental treatment. You do not pay this back. Work and Income may also help with costs over NZ$1,000, but you may have to pay some of that back.4
- Teeth injured in an accident
- If you need dental treatment because of an accident, ACC will pay, but you may still have to pay part of the cost.2
Who is this for, and what are the requirements?
- Whether you pay a prescription charge depends on your age and the cards you hold. You pay nothing if you are 13 or under, 65 or over, a Community Services Card (CSC) holder or their dependent child, or a Prescription Subsidy Card (PSC) holder.
- Prescription Subsidy Card: paid prescription items for you, your partner and dependent children aged 14 to 18 are added together. You qualify once you reach 20 items since 1 February.
- Free dental care: eligible children and teenagers under 18.
- Publicly funded dental care for adults is very limited. People with disabilities or conditions such as mouth cancer may be referred to a hospital dental service. People on a low income with a Community Services Card may get emergency dental care (for example, pain relief or having a tooth taken out).
- Work and Income dental help: you must be 16 or over, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, normally live in New Zealand and plan to stay, and need the treatment urgently. Your income and assets (and your partner's) are also checked. You do not need to be on a benefit.
How do I do it? Steps and process
- Take your prescription to a pharmacy
After your doctor gives you a prescription, take it to any pharmacy. You pay the charge listed above, or nothing if you qualify. Give your regular pharmacist the names and ages of everyone in your family so they can count your prescription items.
- Ask your pharmacist about the subsidy once you reach 20 items
The pharmacist checks electronic records to see how many items you and your family have paid for since 1 February. Once you reach 20, you get the prescription subsidy and pay no more prescription charges until 31 January. Any pharmacy can check this for you. You do not need to keep receipts.
- Ask about a 12-month prescription if you take long-term medicine
If your condition is stable and you need medicine long term, ask your doctor if they can give you a 12-month prescription. You then pay only once, when you first collect it.
- Arrange free dental care for your child
Call 0800 825 583 (0800 TALK TEETH) to find out how to enrol and book. After Year 8, children move from the school dental service to a dentist or dental therapist who has a contract with Health NZ. Teenagers who have left school must enrol themselves.
- Compare prices for adult dental care
Private dentists set their own prices. Ask a few dentists how much the treatment you need will cost.
- Apply to Work and Income if you are on a low income
Ask your dentist to fill in the Dental Treatment information form. Then apply under 'One-off cost' in MyMSD and upload the form. A decision can take up to 1 working day. You can also apply by phone or at a service centre. If you are approved, the money is put on a Work and Income Payment Card, which you use to pay the dentist.
What documents do I need?
- A prescription from your doctor or dentist
- Your Community Services Card (CSC) or High Use Health Card, if you have one
- For Work and Income dental help: the Dental Treatment information form filled in by your dentist, and a MyMSD account
What should I watch out for?
- Not all medicines are subsidised by the government. You may have to pay extra for medicines that are not fully subsidised. Pharmacies may also charge for extra services such as delivery or special packaging.
- For information about GP visits and prescriptions for children aged 13 and under, see our guide on enrolling with a GP.
- Some extra dental treatment for children, such as orthodontics (for example, braces), may cost money. Ask your local oral health service first.
- Work and Income dental help does not cover regular check-ups, cosmetic treatment, cleaning (unless needed for a gum infection), cast restorations, orthodontics, root canal treatment on molars, or dentures. For dentures, ask about other help, such as recoverable assistance that you pay back.
- Work and Income can only pay dentists who are registered suppliers with them. Ask your dentist if they are registered before you apply.
- Once your help is approved, you must pay the dentist with the Payment Card within 7 working days. If you cannot do this in time, call Work and Income before the deadline.
- For severe toothache or a tooth injury that looks serious, see an after-hours dentist. For serious injuries to the mouth, go to a hospital emergency department. If a child aged 0 to 13 (Year 8) has toothache, call Talk Teeth as soon as possible.
- If you have already paid for treatment of a tooth injured in an accident, you can ask ACC to pay you back.
- This page is a summary of public information. Pharmacies, dentists and Work and Income have the final say on what you pay.
What has changed recently?
- Some people with stable long-term conditions can get a prescription for up to 12 months and pay the prescription charge only once, when they first collect it. The pharmacy still gives you up to 3 months' supply at a time (6 months for the oral contraceptive pill).Source: healthnz.govt.nz ↗
Common questions
How much does a prescription cost in New Zealand?
Most people pay NZ$5 for each prescription item. You pay for every item on a new prescription, but you do not pay again for repeats on the same prescription. Prescriptions from specialists, dentists or other non-funded prescribers can cost more. Some people pay nothing, depending on their age and the cards they hold.
Do children have to pay for prescription medicines?
No, children aged 13 and under do not pay a prescription charge. Dependent children of Community Services Card (CSC) holders also pay nothing. Other children aged 14 to 17 usually pay the standard NZ$5 per item, or NZ$10 for a prescription from a specialist, dentist or other non-funded prescriber.
Is there a limit on how much I pay for prescriptions in a year?
Yes. Once you have paid for 20 prescription items since 1 February, you pay no more prescription charges until 31 January. Items paid for your partner and dependent children aged 14 to 18 count towards the 20 items. This is called the Prescription Subsidy Card.
What is a Prescription Subsidy Card and how do I get one?
A Prescription Subsidy Card means you pay no more prescription charges until 31 January, once your family has paid for 20 items since 1 February. Ask your pharmacist when you reach 20 items. Any pharmacy can check electronic records, so you do not need to keep receipts. Give your regular pharmacist the names and ages of everyone in your family so they can count your items.
Why did I pay NZ$15 for a prescription from a specialist?
Prescriptions from specialists and other non-funded prescribers cost NZ$15 if you are 18 or over. They cost NZ$10 if you are 14 to 17. Dentists are also non-funded prescribers, so the same charges apply. If you have a High Use Health Card or a Community Services Card (CSC), the charge drops to NZ$5.
Is dental care free for children in NZ, and until what age?
Yes, the government pays for basic dental care for eligible children and teenagers until their 18th birthday. Babies are usually enrolled at birth, with a first check at 12 months and then once a year. Teenagers get a free check every year from Year 9, even if they are not at school. Call Talk Teeth on 0800 825 583 to enrol and book.
Can I get government help with the cost of adult dental treatment?
Help is limited, as adults usually pay for most dental care themselves. Work and Income may pay up to NZ$1,000 in any 52-week period for urgent, essential treatment, which you do not pay back. People on a low income with a Community Services Card may get emergency dental care. If your teeth were injured in an accident, ACC will pay, but you may still pay part of the cost.
I have bad toothache but can't afford a dentist. Can Work and Income help?
Yes, Work and Income may pay up to NZ$1,000 for urgent, essential dental treatment. You must be 16 or over, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and pass an income and assets check. You do not need to be on a benefit. Ask your dentist to fill in the Dental Treatment information form, then apply under 'One-off cost' in MyMSD. A decision can take up to 1 working day.
Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.
Where can I check the official information?
- PrescriptionsHealth New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora · healthnz.govt.nz
- DentistsHealth New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora · healthnz.govt.nz
- Dental care for rangatahi (teens)Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora · healthnz.govt.nz
- Dental treatmentWork and Income · workandincome.govt.nz
- Prescription chargesGovt.nz · govt.nz
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