Prescription charges

Many medicines in New Zealand are subsidised by the Government. You make a small contribution to the cost of the medicines you receive when you pay a prescription charge.
The prescription charge for each subsidised prescription medicine is usually $5. This standard charge does not apply to children aged 13 and under. Fees for medicines that are not fully funded by PHARMAC remain the same.

Pharmacies may charge for extra services such as medicines delivery or packaging.
Prescriptions from specialists like dentists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists are $15.
There may be an additional cost if a prescription medicine is not fully subsidised.
Once patients and their families have collected 20 new prescription items in a year, they can get a prescription subsidy, which means they won’t have to pay any more prescription charges until 1 February the following year. 
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What is a prescription subsidy?
​The subsidy is aimed at reducing costs for families and people who are prescribed a lot of medicines.
You become eligible for the subsidy once you have paid for 20 new prescription medicine items from 1 February each year. Once you're eligible, you do not have to pay any more prescription charges for the rest of that year (to 31 January).
You can reach the 20-item threshold by combining prescription items for your partner and dependent children aged from 14 up to 18.
Just tell your regular pharmacist the names of all the people in your family to help them keep track of how many items you've paid for.
This information is gathered electronically so you no longer need to keep your receipts.
Please note, as there is no prescription charge on items for children aged 13 and under, these items can’t be counted as part of the 20-item threshold.