Treatment we can help pay for
We can help pay for a range of medical, health and treatment costs if we cover your injury. In some cases we'll only pay for part of these costs, your treatment provider will ask you to pay the rest.
On this page
Types of treatment we can help pay for
We can only help pay for your treatment when it’s:
- the most suitable option for your condition
- a generally accepted form of treatment in New Zealand
- given to you by a New Zealand registered and licensed provider.
Types of treatment and services we can pay for include:
- acupuncture treatment
- audiology services
- chiropractic treatment
- counselling services
- dental treatment and services
- general practitioner services
- hand therapy treatment
- hospital treatment, including surgery
- medical specialist services, eg orthopaedic specialist
- nurse services
- occupational therapy treatment
- optometry services
- osteopath treatment
- prescriptions
- physiotherapy treatment
- podiatry treatment
- radiology services, eg MRI and X-rays
- speech and language therapy services.
The flowcharts below will help you work out what we'll pay for treatments and services.
Print the flowchart of treatment we can help pay for - specified treatment providers
Print the flowchart of treatment we can help pay for - specialists
Print the flowchart of treatment we can help pay for - radiologists
Print the flowchart of treatment we can help pay for - dentists
Help with further treatment
Sometimes we can help pay for further treatment. This could be if you’re having side effects caused by your injury or having unexpected issues with your recovery.
For example, you’re injured in a car accident and get treated for this at the time. Later on, you start having flashbacks or mood swings.
Talk to us or your health provider about getting more help.
Help with serious injuries and disabilities
We can help provide support and services if your injury causes a long-term effect or disability.
If you're injured during treatment
If you're being treated for an injury we cover and you're injured further by that treatment, we can cover you.
Follow the same process you would for regular injuries. Your health provider will make a treatment injury claim on your behalf.
It can take a few days to nine months to investigate a treatment injury claim and make a decision. We'll let you know if we can't make a decision within two months.
Treatment we don’t pay for
We can’t pay for treatments or services that are:
- not related to your injury we cover
- for a pre-existing or underlying medical condition or injury that's not a result of your injury we cover
- given outside of New Zealand
- given to you by a provider who isn’t registered or licensed.
Paying for your treatment
If we cover your injury we’ll pay part of your treatment costs. How much depends on the type of treatment you need.
Ask your health provider how much you’ll have to pay
When you make an appointment with your health provider, ask them:
- how much of your treatment we’ll pay for
- how much you’ll have to pay
- if you have to make your payment all at once
- if you need to get approval from us before you get your treatment.
Your health provider will invoice us for our part of the treatment costs. They’ll then ask you to pay the rest.
The amount we pay for each type of treatment is set by legislation and changes each year.
If you visit the emergency department
If you go to the emergency department to get treatment for your injury, we'll pay them.
If you’ve already paid for treatment
You can pay the full cost of treatment yourself and we can pay you back our part. This includes paying for prescriptions.
To apply for a refund you’ll need to:
-
Download an application form
ACC249 Prescription reimbursement
ACC001 Request for assistance -
Include your invoices and receipts
Attach the invoices and receipts to your form. Keep copies for your records. -
Send us your application
Send it to us by email or post, or drop it at your local ACC branch.
Where to send your application -
We’ll let you know our decision
We'll make a decision about your application as soon as we can.
If we decline your application, we’ll let you know why.
Contact us
If you have any problems or want to know more about how we can help, talk to your recovery team or contact our claims team:
Phone 0800 101 996 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
Email claims@acc.co.nz
Send us your application
If you live in Northland, Auckland, Waikato or Bay of Plenty:
ACC Hamilton Hub
PO Box 952
Hamilton 3240
If you live in Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Wellington or the South Island:
ACC Dunedin Hub
PO Box 408
Dunedin 9054