From 13 February, you may need to pay for COVID-19-related visits to your healthcare provider.

If you are at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19 you will still get free healthcare.

With the Omicron variant circulating, most people can recover at home. This is due to very high vaccination levels and widespread natural immunity.

Additionally, with easy access to testing and self-isolation, we can focus on those who are more vulnerable.

People eligible for free healthcare

If you are at higher risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19, you are still eligible for free healthcare from your doctor.

This protects those who are most at risk of getting very ill from COVID-19, including:

• people with certain high-risk medical conditions

• Māori

• Pacific peoples

• some disabled people

• those over the age of 65

• anyone else that meets the criteria for access to antiviral medicines

• refugees and asylum seekers

• people experiencing homelessness or who are in transitional housing

• people living in certain remote and rural locations who do not have easy access to healthcare services.

For more information click here