Your Options for NZ Medical and Health Insurance

The standard of medical treatment available in New Zealand is generally excellent, but there are long waiting lists for many surgical procedures. 

Benefits of Choosing to Have Medical Insurance 

• Before you get on the waiting list it may take months to get specialist appointments, leaving you in pain and perhaps even unable to work.
  
• As a result, many people have medical insurance so that they don’t have to wait for access to specialists and surgery as and when required. This care is usually provided in private medical facilities.

Basically there are two types of medical insurance policy:

Hospital Cover / Surgical Cover – These are cost effective policies. They are intended to provide a health safety net, and primarily covers surgery costs but can also include visits to specialists, tests and private post-operative care. Day-to-day medical expenses such as visits to GPs, X-Rays and prescriptions are not covered. 

Comprehensive Cover – In addition to surgical treatment, these policies can cover day-to-day medical treatment such as GP visits, dental care, optical care, physiotherapy, radiology and funeral grants. Some policies also include regular check-ups and preventative health care. 

Different insurers offer different levels of cover within these two broad definitions, and some even offer discounts if you have a low level of claims or commit to a healthy lifestyle. 

What Does it Cost? - Health Insurance Premiums 

Health insurance premiums are set depending on: 

• Age
  
• Medical history
• Lifestyle factors.

You must answer these questions fully and honestly, or your cover could be compromised. In most cases there is no need for medicals. Some employers subsidise or pay for their employee’s health cover under group schemes.

Medical & Health Insurance Exclusions 

All medical policies have exclusions and maximums, and it is important to understand what these are before you purchase cover, especially when you have a pre-existing condition. Some also have excesses, where you pay a set sum towards any health care you need and your insurer covers the rest. This can considerably reduce your premiums, so can be well worth considering. 

It is advisable to have at least hospital and tests’ private medical cover as this will pay for the more expensive medical procedures and cut out the waiting time for an operation, getting you back to health as soon as possible.  

This article was supplied by Broadbase International Ltd (www.broadbaseinternational.com). Information contained in this article is of a general nature and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice based on your individual circumstances. Disclosure statements are available on request and free of charge.