You’ve worked hard your whole life. You deserve to see a doctor when you need one.
But, right now, too many New Zealanders are being forced to make hard choices: do I pay for a doctor’s visit, or do I put food on the table?
Under Christopher Luxon’s Government, one in six New Zealanders can’t afford to see their doctor when they’re unwell, need a prescription, or are managing a long-term condition. It’s putting pressure on our hospitals, which are busier than ever.
One person told us, “I don’t go to the doctor unless it’s really urgent – I’d rather go straight to the hospital. It costs me $54 out of the little money I have left for food.”
No one should have to worry about whether they can afford to see a doctor. Labour will fix this. Under a Labour Government, every New Zealander will receive a Medicard, giving them three free doctor’s visits a year.
These will be paid for through simple, targeted changes to the tax system that make sure those profiting from property pay their fair share.
It will only apply to profit made after July 1, 2027 when a commercial property or residential property (excluding the family home) is sold. Any gain from before that date won’t be taxed.
Nine out of 10 New Zealanders do not own more than one property, or a commercial property, so they won’t pay the tax.
But every New Zealander will get three free doctor’s visits a year.
We’ll make sure this doesn’t mean longer wait times, by freeing up 4.5 million extra appointments a year. We’ve worked with doctors on a plan to make sure they have the tools and training they need to efficiently triage patients and spend far less time on paperwork.
The Medicard is a clear promise to every New Zealander: when something goes wrong, or a loved one gets sick, you can get the help you need without worrying about the cost.
Labour will ensure New Zealand has a strong, growing economy that rewards hard work and pays for the services we all rely on, like healthcare.