Privacy Security and Electronic Communications

Privacy of information relating to you and your dependants covered under your policy is governed by the Privacy Act, and in relation to health information, by the Health Information Privacy Code. The information Southern Cross collects and holds about you and your dependants will be used:

• to consider your eligibility and the eligibility of your dependants for cover under this policy;
• to consider the specific terms applying to your policy (including the exclusion of any pre existing conditions);
• for administration purposes, such as billing and claims management;
• to consider whether any healthcare service is eligible for cover under this policy;
• to contact you from time to time with information about products and services relating to Southern Cross; 
• for market research and targeted promotions by Southern Cross;
• to process and investigate claims made under your policy; and
• for statistical purposes (although for this purpose neither you nor any of your dependants covered by this policy will be identified).

We collect information about you and your dependants directly from you (for example, from the Application Form).

We may also collect information about you and each of your dependants from your husband/wife or partner (provided they are covered by the policy), health services providers and medical authorities (including ACC and Ministry of Health), Southern Cross’ agents, contractors, suppliers and other business partners and any third party authorised by you, and you and each of your dependants authorises this collection and the disclosure of such information to such parties for any of the above purposes .

We may need to disclose information about you or any of your dependants to your husband/wife or partner (provided they are covered by the policy), the relevant healthcare services providers medical authorities or the third parties authorised by you, in relation to any of the above purposes and you and each of your dependants authorises us to disclose this information.

We may also disclose information about you or your dependants to Southern Cross’ agents, contractors, suppliers and other business partners in relation to any of the above purposes, and you and each of your dependants authorise us to disclose this information.

If you are a member of a group scheme, we may also collect information about you and each of your dependants (other than health information) from your group administrator, and disclose information (other than health information) to your group administrator, for administrative purposes. Your group administrator may also disclose information about you and each of your dependants to us (other than health information) for administrative purposes.

You and each of your dependants, authorises such collection and disclosure.

All communications from us relating to you or any of your dependants will be sent to you. This means that information about each of your dependants covered by the policy will be disclosed to you and each of your dependants authorises this disclosure.

We may also contact you and or your dependants within a reasonable time of you or your dependants ceasing to be covered by the policy with information about products and services relating to Southern Cross.

Southern Cross will endeavour to ensure that your and your dependant’s personal (and health) information that we collect, store, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date. Prompt notification of any changes to personal contact details will help us do this. We will also endeavour to protect your personal and health information from misuse or loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code.

Under the Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code, you and each of your dependants covered by the policy are entitled to have access to, and request correction of, any personal information (including any health information) held by us. If you or any of your dependants have any queries about privacy of information or wish to access any personal information held by us, please contact our Member Services Centre.

If any of the information requested on the Application or Claim Form (or as part of the application or claims process) is not provided, it may delay the processing of the Application Form or your claim, or may result in us not providing you and any of your dependants with cover. If any false or misleading information (including incomplete information) is provided to us at any time, the consequences are set out in your policy document(s).

You may advise us at anytime that you do not wish Southern Cross to collect and or disclose information to your husband/wife or partner (covered by the policy).

Electronic Communications – from time to time Southern Cross may send you marketing and other information electronically such as by email or text message. If you have provided your email address or mobile phone number we take this as your implied consent to us doing this. If you wish to withdraw your consent please contact our Member Services Centre.