Health Insurance NZ
Health insurance NZ is similar to health insurance in most developed counties.
It essentially is an offer made by insurance companies, to prospective clients to pay for the cost of the health services as detailed in the insurance policy document.
The insurance company requires the prospective client to provide relevant details, then if the insurance company considers the person/s suitable, they will offer health insurance as detailed in their policy.
The insured person/s then have to pay the premium.
The cover period
This is usually for a year from the date of acceptance.
Premium payment frequency
Many policies have an option to pay either annually, quarterly, or monthly.
It’s a good idea to ask for what payment options the company offer, to compare which option is cheaper.
Usually the option to pay annually will be slightly cheaper, than twelve times the monthly payment, or four times the quarterly payment, to allow for the extra administration costs of the insurance company.
Although it’s easier for the insured person to budget for smaller regular payments, than the larger annual payment.
Health insurance NZ policies generally come under two main categories:
1. Comprehensive cover
This is the broadest cover, and therefore has the most expensive premiums. This type typically covers health care costs such as visits to the doctor, pharmacy prescription charges for prescribed medication and physiotherapy costs. As well as charges for treatment in a private hospital, including surgical procedures. There is usually a monetary limit on each policy that is detailed in the policy document. There is often a choice of what limit the insured person wants. The higher the cover the higher the premium that will need to be paid.
2. Specialist Care and elective Surgery
This category typically covers only treatments that require hospitalisation.
The insured person/s have to pay for the cost of any other services, such as visiting a doctor and any prescription charges, etc.
Some insurance companies offer additional options that may include cover for charges such as screening and diagnostic services, and/or dental treatments.
Both types of policy usually exclude treatment for problems, such as fertility treatment or cosmetic surgery.
Payment of claims
The health insurance NZ policy holder, typically has to pay for the health care services, and then make a claim with the insurance company for a refund of the money according to the policy document. The insurance company will require evidence for the claim. Although some company policies, have a pre-approval option, where the company will let you know, before a major operation if they will pay or not, as the case may be.
Partial cover
Many policies have clauses in the policy document that detail what percentage of the charges will be paid by the insurance company. This will mean that the insured person/s will have to pay part of the charges, which may be a small amount in the case of a visit ti the doctor, but may be a substantial amount in the case of major surgery in a private hospital.
What is often not covered
There are some treatments and services that are generally not provided by the private health care industry. These may include major trauma, accident care, intensive care and cancer treatments.
The public health system usually provides health care for these problems.
Although there is some specilised health insurance NZ, that offer policies that cover specific treatments that are not generally available in the public system, such as herceptin treatment for some forms of cancer.
Go to Health Insurance NZ from Health Insurance NZ