A couple who welcomed the arrival of their second child two months ago have received a hospital bill for nearly $32,000.
The healthy 3.2kg baby boy arrived via C-section at Dunedin Hospital on June 27, three days after his parents’ work visas – and their access to New Zealand’s publicly funded healthcare – had expired.
His father Shalveen Sen, his mother Swastikha Chand, and his older brother, aged six, arrived in the country three years ago from Fiji.
Sen worked as a commercial cleaner, while Chand worked as a caregiver, but their work experience – and job offers – were not enough for Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to renew their work visas.
The couple had been trying to renew those visas, initially issued for three years, over the past year. The stress over their immigration status was compounded by the news they had a baby due in early July.
Chand also experienced pregnancy complications, which led to medical advice for her not to travel in the third trimester.
The couple’s midwife informed them a birth that wasn’t covered by the public system would cost around $9000.
INZ advise those who were not eligible for publicly funded healthcare must bear the costs themselves. Those in that position “must show you have a minimum of NZ$9000 to pay for your maternity care,” the agency says.
Chand, who delivered her son via C-section, was in Dunedin Hospital for three days and two nights, with both mother and son doing well – but the bill ended up totalling $31,815.50.
An invoice from Te Whatu Ora Southern, dated August 24, noted that the two night stay on the inpatient ward cost $3375.66, while the C-Section cost $24,289.99, along with GST of $4149.85.
Sen said it had been a stressful time for the family, who were now unable to work, as they did not have valid visas.
“We are out of options,” he said. “We’ve been struggling for two months now.”
The family was overstaying and had to leave New Zealand. They were awaiting the arrival of their baby’s passport from Fiji, and were set to return to the island nation on Sunday.
Sen said he set up a fundraiser to help pay the hospital bill, as the family would struggle to manage it on their own when back in Fiji, which they had left three years ago after selling their assets.
“That is impossible for us to pay,” he said.
It was a particularly difficult situation for their older son, Sen added, as “he doesn’t know anything about Fiji now”.
