Aged Care Pricing

We know it can be difficult to understand the costs associated with your care, so that’s why we’ve simplified everything and answered some of the most common questions below, in order to make it easier for you to make the important decisions.

How much does aged care cost?

Care fees are set by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora rather than an individual site, so all Care Centres within a region will charge the same amount for a standard room.

Rest Home care is give or take around $1450 per week – depending on the region you are in. Hospital and Dementia care does cost more than Rest Home care, however the Ministry of Health ‘tops up’ these amounts, so the maximum fee you will pay for a standard room at any level of care is this Rest Home fee of approximately $1450.

WINZ revises the care fees in July each year. Find out the current care fee set by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora.

Who pays for care?

Everyone pays for their own care however, some people pay the full amount privately, and for others the costs are subsidised by Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora. A financial means assessment done by Work & Income (WINZ) determines if you are eligible for a subsidy. The means assessment considers all your incomes such as pensions, dividends and interest, and all of your assets such as your house, vehicles, savings, investments, trusts etc. If the total value of your assets is below the threshold amount, you may be eligible to receive a Residential Care Subsidy. You will contribute a portion of your incomes, including your superannuation towards the cost of your care, and the subsidy will cover the rest of the Daily Care Fee. Residents with total assets and/or incomes above the threshold will need to pay privately for their care.

If you’re moving into care but your partner still lives at home, you can choose between two asset thresholds to suit your personal situation.

WINZ revises the asset thresholds in July each year. You can find the current asset threshold amounts on the WINZ website.

If you are eligible for a Residential Care Subsidy, most of your Superannuation payment will be used to cover the cost of your care. You will receive a weekly allowance to spend as you wish, as well as a yearly clothing allowance. You can find out what these allowance amounts are on the WINZ website.

If you have to fund your own care privately, you will continue to receive your full Superannuation payment.

View the infographic by clicking here.

What’s covered by the Daily Care Fee?

When people move into a Care Centre there are often a few questions around what the standard fees cover and what things need to be paid for or arranged privately. The PDF document below is a helpful guide, but for more details you may want to ask your Care Centre Manager.

To see what’s covered by the Daily Care Fee please click here.

Aged care room options and their costs

There are three types of rooms available in an Oceania Care Centre, and each have different features and fees. Some Care Centres have just one type of room, and others will have a mixture of all three, so it’s best to check with your Care Centre Manager to find out what options are available.

Standard Rooms
These are regular rooms that carry no additional costs on top of the Daily Care Fee.

Premium Rooms
Bigger rooms or rooms with extra features, such as an ensuite bathroom or outdoor access, often have a Premium Accommodation Charge (PAC). This is an additional fee that you pay on top of your Daily Care Fee. The PAC amount depends on the room features and varies from Care Centre to Care Centre. Click here to see our premium room rates.

Care Suites

Our Care Suites offer a luxury option for those requiring Rest Home and Hospital care, and each Care Suite comes with its own ensuite, kitchenette and lounge area. Care Suites are purchased under an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA), which means you pay an upfront capital sum to secure the room. You will still need to pay a Daily Care Fee in a Care Suite, but you will not have to pay a Premium Accommodation Charge.

If you are transferring to a Care Suite from an Oceania apartment or villa, we will allow you to use the equity in your unit to fund the purchase of a Care Suite. You don’t need to find additional funds whilst you’re waiting for your apartment or villa to sell. This way, you know you’ll always be able to afford a Care Suite if you’re coming from an Oceania village.

Residential Care Subsidy

How do I apply for a subsidy?

Most people will have a Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora needs assessment to determine the level of care they require (Rest Home, Hospital or Dementia care). If the Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) team decides it is best for you to move into a Care Centre, they will provide you with the paperwork to apply for a WINZ Financial Means Assessment, which will determine if you are eligible for subsidised care. You can also contact WINZ directly on 0800 999 727 to get a copy of the Residential Care Subsidy application form.

When does my subsidy application need to be completed?

It is important that you submit the subsidy paperwork to WINZ within 90 days of Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora having completed your needs assessment, or within 90 days of securing a room in a Care Centre.

Even if you can’t fully complete the WINZ Residential Care Subsidy application form straight away, it is best to submit it to WINZ as soon as you can and the WINZ team will contact you about any missing details.

What happens if I move into care before I am approved for the subsidy?

It often takes several weeks before subsidy approval comes through and during this time you may have already moved into a Care Centre. It is best to speak with the Care Centre Manager or administrator about your personal circumstances to figure out how best to manage payments. If your subsidy is approved, we will refund you any subsidised amounts you have paid privately towards your care fees.

Looking for more information?

Our Care Centre Managers are happy to help with any other questions you have around costs. Find the contact details of your local Oceania location or call us on 0800 333 688.

The Te Whatu Ora and WINZ website also have helpful information.