Date: 7 November 2022
International Travellers – COVID-19 Care in the Community Aotearoa New Zealand is in the process of reconnecting to the world. As you are aware, at 11.59pm on the 12th of April visitors from Australia were able to enter Aotearoa New Zealand quarantine free and without needing an exemption. From 11.59pm on the 1st of May this was extended to visa waiver countries. The New Zealand Government announced a complete border reopening at 11.59pm on the 31st of July 2022. With this reopening, the COVID-19 Care in the Community team were required to adapt to supporting both national and international visitors across the country who have COVID-19. There have been a few questions about how to support these visitors through the COVID-19 Care in the Community hubs and the method for claiming. Information for international visitors can be found on the COVID-19 Health Hub website. The following FAQ guidance is provided to enable patient care. Can international travellers access free healthcare when they have symptoms consistent of COVID-19 ? • Yes, covid- 19 symptoms assessment and testing remain free. How do international visitors enter COVID-19 positive results? • When self-tested, International visitors can advise positive results through the 0800phone number (Healthline). Information can be found at Unite Against COVID19 website. At a hub level International visitors will come up as unenrolled and therefore receive initial assessment phone calls, how do we claim for this at the covid care co-ordination hubs? • At a hub level Initial COVID-19 clinical assessments remain free of charge for international visitors and therefore the claiming for the initial assessment remains the same as you would for other unenrolled patients. How can international visitors access COVID-19 clinical care if required in the community? • Treatment services and any ongoing care needs can be accessed through Healthline referral, direct contact with Care in the Community Hubs (refer to COVID-19 Health Hub website), urgent care clinics, General practices or hospital services as appropriate. Usual payments will apply in Primary and secondary care setting. • If you are an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident or are a citizen of the United Kingdom, there is a reciprocal health agreement that means you pay what New Zealanders pay for healthcare. For visitors from outside of the UK and Australia, the patient will need to be advised that they will be charged for treatment (or their Travel Insurance provider). Information can be found at Unite Against COVID-19 website. Can international visitors use funded COVID-19 Alternative Isolation Accommodation? • No – unless they are deemed to be in serious/significant hardship. In the first instance they should seek to stay where they are or organise another