Community Services Card Assists Those Who Qualify

From the early years of the twentieth century to today, New Zealand’s health care system has undergone dramatic change. One hundred years ago it was strictly a public system for everyone. Today health care in New Zealand  mixes both public and private elements, with major modifications occurring primarily in the last thirty years.  As officials develop proposals aimed at making health care affordable for everyone, one public program that benefits the low to moderate income population continues to provide assistance.  The Community Services Card is issued by the Ministry of Health to citizens who qualify to pay less for health care services and prescriptions.

Who Qualifies?

Qualification is based on income, age and family status. The income requirements are on a sliding scale with the maximum allowable income increasing as the family size becomes larger.
In order to qualify for this card, a person must be at least 18 years of age (or at least16 years old and independent), a New Zealand permanent resident, and earn a wage that is no more than the maximum amount of the chart posted on the Work and Income website for his or her family size.  The definition of a family is one or two parents with dependent children under 18 years of age, or without children.  A New Zealander living overseas can also qualify to receive a Community Services Card, but only if a Portable New Zealand Superannuation, or veteran’s pension, is being received.

How to Get a Community Services Card

Work and Income is a governmental department that serves as the administrator of the Community Services Card program for New Zealand’s Ministry of Health. There is an application on line at  the Work and Income website in PDF format.  This online application, which is 12 pages long, includes instructions and should be sent directly to the Ministry of Social Development when completed.

What are the Benefits?

Those who qualify for the Community Services Card benefit by paying less for prescription fees, as well as fees for seeing the doctor outside of regular hours.  If you need to visit another doctor who is not your primary care physician, costs are also reduced.

Optical and dental care are also included.  Children under 16 years of age in need of glasses receive them at a lower cost if their parents have a Community Services Card.  Also covered are dental emergencies dental  that needs to be done at a hospital or by an approved dentist at the office.  Check with your dentist to find out if he or she in on the approved list and honors the Community Services Card.

If it is necessary to travel outside the area for medical care – and “outside” is defined as 80 kilometers for adults and 25 kilometers for children – then transportation and the cost of an overnight stay will be charged at a reduced cost for those with a Community Services Card.  Conversely, a patient requiring medical help at home can also receive a lower cost.

In some cases, a person or family will automatically receive a Community Services Card without needing to  going through the application process.  For instance, if you receive a child disability allowance, independent youth benefit, veteran’s pension or widow’s benefit, you will be given a Community Services Card.  To see all the other instances in which the Community Services Card is automatically issued, visit the Work and Income website.

Some Words of Caution

As with most services to which a person applies, it is important to carefully read the requirements and  fill out the application completely.  When stating income, include all sources such as wages, pensions, student allowances, interest and dividends from investments, income from a family trust, and child support.  Benefits received from sources that provide free services must also be reported as income.

Additionally there are specific and fairly stringent proof of income requirements, especially for the self-employed who have to provide the “latest full set of business accounts and tax summaries with your application,” according to the website.  Requirements are different for those who are  self-employed with dependent children. In that case, the Ministry of Health requests that you “attach a copy of your Personal Tax Summary or Working for Families Tax Credits Certificate of Entitlement [only]. You don’t have to send your business records.”

While the Community Services Card program is very much alive, alterations to the health care system in New Zealand continue to take place.  Permanent residents of that country with low to moderate income can apply for help with health care costs.  However,  those hoping to qualify need to understand the Ministry of Health’s definition of income and submit all requested documentation.

photo credit: www.wellington.govt.nz

International Volunteer: Do You Have What it Takes to Become One?

Becoming an international volunteer can be a life-altering experience. Young adults with an independent streak and the ability to completely immerse themselves in another culture will benefit immeasurably from aiding others around the globe. However, college students thinking about giving their time to help a non-profit organization overseas must consider the commitment required of them and do a bit of soul searching before signing up for an extended stay in another land.

Health workers in Sefwi-Bekwai - Enjoying a drink in the "city" with the rest of the GHEI volunteers and two community health workers

Time and Financial Commitments

A U.S. non-profit organization that opens up an international office to provide support for a town, a village, or a community must first dedicate staff and volunteers to understanding the area’s social and political realities.  They must learn the language and understand the culture before any help can be rendered. Volunteers must be willing to make a time commitment that will allow them to be effective in their role.  That may mean spending six months or longer prior to the assignment learning the basics of the language and how members of the community live.

Depending upon the organization through which you are volunteering, you may or may not have living expenses covered.  Be prepared that any per diem allowance will be minimal, just enough to cover your basic needs.  In fact, you may be called upon to donate both your time and money to the cause.  The international volunteer makes a financial commitment, as well, by stepping away from the comfortable level of freedom he or she may be accustomed to at home.

Assess your willingness to make these commitments when you are looking for an overseas cause to support.  If you cannot make a long-term commitment, then some international volunteer programs will not be right for you.

Take the Lead

The international volunteer needs to know how to make something happen, to solve problems that arise with the resources available instead of waiting for instruction.  When you factor in the experience of feeling out of place and perhaps a bit disoriented in the beginning of your service, it may be difficult to summon the personal strength to be a self-starter and a resourceful team member.

Nonetheless, it is important to focus your attention on the community you are serving and the tasks you are assigned.  Shifting your concentration in such a way will help you be a valuable international volunteer.

Exercise Your Independence

Another trait shared by those who really benefit from being an international volunteer is the desire to chart your own course and be independent.  Of course there are times when volunteers miss their friends and family back home.  But if you already make your own  decisions about where and how to live in your home country, chances are you will be able to exercise that independent spirit and self-reliance when helping others overseas.

Be Open to New Cultures

The international volunteer has an expanded world view that embraces cultures outside of his or her own.  It is necessary to be open to and comfortable with mores and customs that deviate from the known in order to truly make a meaningful difference within the culture you are volunteering.  If you are open to the experience, then you will become even more culturally aware and open-minded by the time you return home.

Seek to Learn

The successful international volunteer strives to learn, knowing that becoming fluent in the language and learning everything possible about the practices and customs of the people served will promote his or her personal development. Volunteering in your chosen career field will do more to boost your understanding than any textbook.

Your personal development will extend beyond the methods and tools of your career.  Your self-reliance and leadership ability will also grow as a consequence of the experience as an international volunteer.

If you can make the financial and time commitments and are willing to take the lead in a new situation, consider becoming an international volunteer.  The benefits gained from living in another land and by different traditions are priceless.  The international volunteer gains from both a deeper self-knowledge and an expanding world view.

For more information about volunteering abroad, look for these five books on Amazon:

An Insider’s Guide to the Peace Corp: What to Know Before You Go by Dillon Banerjee.  ISBN 014200071X

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World  Travel by Rolph Potts.  ASIN B000FBFMKM

How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega and Zahara Heckscher.   ISBN 0 7865 3459 1

Poverty and Promise: One Volunteer’s Experience of Kenya by Cindi Brown.  ASIN B0019QZEKA

Environmental Volunteer’s Guide to More Than 300 International Adventures to Conserve, Preserve, and Rehabilitate Wildlife and Habitats by Pamela K.  Brodowksy.  ASIN B0030CVR8Y