Studying in New Zealand: Health Insurance Guide
New Zealand’s universities — including the University of Auckland, the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Canterbury — attract international students with high teaching standards, a high quality of life and a welcoming culture. As a student visa holder you must keep appropriate medical and travel insurance for your whole stay, because international students are generally not eligible for publicly funded health care.
Dual Protection: ACC + Private Insurance
New Zealand has a unique system that gives international students dual protection:
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ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) — Automatically covers everyone in New Zealand for accidental injuries. If you break your leg skiing, have a sports injury or are in a car accident, ACC helps pay for your treatment. No enrolment and no premium for you — the scheme is funded through levies paid by employers, workers and vehicle owners.
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Private Health Insurance — Mandatory as a visa condition. It covers illness, GP visits, hospital stays for non-accident conditions, prescriptions, travel and repatriation. This is what you buy or what your university enrols you in.
Code of Practice Requirements
Your insurance must meet the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. Education providers must ensure, as far as practicable, that international learners enrolled for 2 weeks or longer hold appropriate insurance that covers:
- Medical care in New Zealand
- Travel to, from and within New Zealand
- Repatriation
- Death
The intent is that you are covered from the day you leave your home country until you return home.
Student Insurance Plans at a Glance
| Plan | Price | Key features |
|---|
| Studentsafe Inbound University | NZD 899 (2026) / NZD 999 (2027) per 12 months | Default plan at several universities; pre-existing conditions only after a medical assessment |
| Uni-Care NZ Student Plan | NZD 724/year | Unlimited medical cover, no excess on medical claims, ages up to 60 |
| OrbitProtect Prime | NZD 786/year | Unlimited medical cover, luggage up to NZD 10,000, OrbitPay card |
| OrbitProtect Lite | NZD 669/year | Unlimited medical cover, no automatic luggage cover, OrbitPay card |
Healthcare in New Zealand
Primary care in New Zealand runs through general practitioners (GPs), and specialist appointments usually need a GP referral. Because student visa holders are generally not eligible for publicly funded health care, you pay the full fee for GP visits, prescriptions and non-urgent hospital care and claim it back from your insurer — some campus health centres bill the insurer directly. Hospital emergency departments treat urgent cases; patients who are not eligible for public funding are billed afterwards.
Tips for International Students
- Check which plan your university uses before you buy anything — many enrol you in Studentsafe automatically
- Get any alternative policy approved by your education provider before your course starts
- Make sure your cover starts on the day you leave home
- ACC covers accidents automatically — keep your private insurance for illness
- Keep receipts for GP visits and prescriptions so you can claim them back
- Mental health support is available through university counselling services
- Emergency number: 111 (ambulance, fire, police)
Compare Student Health Insurance Plans for New Zealand
To meet New Zealand’s Code of Practice insurance requirement, we’ve reviewed compliant student health plans that you can use as an alternative to your university’s default plan (subject to its approval). See all New Zealand student health insurance plans →
Top picks:
- Uni-Care — NZD 724/year; unlimited medical cover with no excess on medical claims and unlimited evacuation and repatriation, for student visa holders up to age 60.
- OrbitProtect — Lite NZD 669/year or Prime NZD 786/year; the OrbitPay card pays approved GPs and pharmacies directly.