Changes to eligibility for free COVID-19 healthcare
From 13 February, you may need to pay for COVID-19-related visits to your healthcare provider.
With the Omicron variant circulating, most people can recover at home. This is due to very high vaccination levels and widespread natural immunity.
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
- people with certain disabilities
- those over the age of 65
- anyone else that meets the criteria for access to antiviral medicines.
If you have COVID-19
If you are isolating at home, you should call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you need advice or guidance on managing your symptoms.
You can also contact your local pharmacist or your doctor here at MHC if you need to see someone.
If you require hospital-level care, it remains free.
