This guide is written from ACC’s aids and equipment page (last published 14 March 2024) and its Medical Consumables operational guidelines (May 2023), read on 14 October 2026.
ACC or Health NZ?
ACC covers injuries. If your breathing problem is caused by an injury ACC has accepted, ACC may pay for the equipment and consumables you need. Long-term conditions such as COPD or sleep apnoea that aren’t injury-related are funded through Health NZ instead. See funded home oxygen and funded CPAP.
What ACC pays for
- Aids and equipment you need to recover from your covered injury. If you paid for some while waiting for cover, ask your recovery team about a refund.
- Medical consumables through a separate service. Respiratory products are one category, for example cough-assist masks, suction catheters and cannulas. You need an accepted claim, an entitlement, and an injury-related need confirmed by a specialist, GP, nurse or other health professional.
The consumables service excludes rehabilitation equipment, and consumables already paid for under publicly funded health services.
How to apply
You can apply any time after ACC accepts your injury:
- ask your doctor to send ACC a letter of recommendation
- contact the claims team (0800 101 996) with your claim number
- send the ACC001 form by email or drop it at an ACC office
- contact your recovery team, or use MyACC
ACC may ask for an assessment, which it pays for. It says it will tell you its decision within 21 days of receiving the report.
Timeframes
- Basic equipment: 3–5 days after approval
- More complex equipment: 2–3 weeks
- After a hospital stay, the hospital provides equipment for up to six weeks after discharge. Talk to ACC if you need it for longer.
When you no longer need the equipment, contact Enable New Zealand (0800 362 253) to collect it. You can take equipment overseas, but you pay any baggage costs.