FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers to the Frequently Asked Questions about health insurance below are based on our best intentions at the time of writing. They must not be relied on in isolation for any decisions you may reach regarding health insurance. Always make independent enquiries or discuss any questions or concerns with your authorised Insurance Broker.
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How does your service work?
It’s easy. Simply send us some basic information by completing the short form on this site. Next we go to work and research the top five health insurance companies in NZ on your behalf. These include AIG Life, Southern Cross, ING Life, Tower & Sovereign. Then, we’ll send you a detailed email report, outlining each health insurance quote. We also make common-sense recommendations based on your needs including the premium to pay and the type of cover required.
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Why is your service free?
If we provide you with a free quote, and you end up accepting our help to put a policy in place, we’ll get paid by the insurance company. In the same way that that Mortgage Brokers get paid by the banks, we get paid by the insurance companies.
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I don’t want to be pressured into buying. Is your company ‘hard-sell’?
Absolutely not! Our job is to provide you with the facts, your job is to decide. We see ourselves as being in the ‘fact finding’ business not in the sales business.
In fact, what you do with the health insurance options and our recommendation is none of our business! Of course we want to organise it all for you, that’s how we get paid. But if that does happen, it will be because it’s the best, safest and easiest thing to do – not because we’ve pressured you to do it.
Learn more about our “No-Hard-Sell Policy”.
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How are you different?
We are a New Zealand operated business with over 15 years experience in the Health Insurance Industry. We provide an independent and free service by shopping around on your behalf for the best deal based on your situation. You’re in control and get to make any decisions giving you better peace of mind and removing any risk.
Note: Our recommendations are NEVER made on the basis of the amount of commissions we may receive from an insurer. They are based on what we believe is the best value for you, based on your circumstances.
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Who are the main Health Insurers in New Zealand?
There are five dominant and highly reputable, insurers. These five insurers between them provide nearly all of the health insurance cover in New Zealand. They are Southern Cross Healthcare, Sovereign Insurance, AIG Life, Tower Insurance and ING Life. Southern Cross is a society owned by its members and the others are large Corporates, some multi-national.
Learn more about the top 5 health insurers.
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Can they all be relied on, financially, to pay claims?
By insuring with one of the big 5 you can be confident you are dealing with a company that can meet their obligations.
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What type of cover is recommended?
All policies cover Hospital and Surgery costs as standard but most people add the specialists and diagnostic testing benefit as many claims can be considered under that benefit. Tower and Southern Cross can offer additional options for dental, glasses and GP costs but these are not popular options given their high premiums.
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Who does Consumer NZ consider a good option?
The Consumer Magazine publishes regular recommendations. Their latest recommendations (based on an excess of $250/$300 and cover for Hospital, Surgical, Specialists and Diagnostic tests) were;
- Young family; ING and Sovereign
- Couple in 40’s; Sovereign, ING and Southern Cross
- Young woman; Southern Cross, Sovereign and ING
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What about their Customer Service levels?
All insurers provide good levels of customer service however based on feedback from Insurance Brokers we have spoken to, Sovereign and Southern Cross are consistently rated very highly by their clients for the commitment to handling claims.
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Do insurers pay for non-government (Pharmac) funded treatments?
ING are the only main insurer to state categorically that they include cover for non Pharmac funded, but Medsafe approved, treatments as a standard part of its major medical cover, this includes about 2000 treatments including Herceptin for 12 months if recommended as appropriate by your specialist, they have just paid their first claim recently. Other insurers take it on case by case basis.
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What if I have pre-existing conditions?
Generally, pre-existing conditions will be excluded unless the insurer can determine there is no likelihood of a re-occurrence. On some occasions a premium loading may be offered. If you have a condition requiring ongoing treatment, or is not diagnosed at the time of application, then cover for that will be excluded. There are policy types available for exclusions for the first 3 years and then it may be covered after that but it does depends on the nature of the condition.
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Do I pay more to buy the same policies through you?
No. In fact most of the insurers only distribute through brokers (Southern Cross is the main exception as they do sell directly).
