Our plans

Widest range of health insurance plans

We have the widest range of health insurance plans in New Zealand.  We regularly review our plans to ensure that benefits are relevant to the healthcare needs of New Zealanders.  Before you choose a plan, it helps to get some background:

There are three main types of cover:

•  surgery only;
• surgery + specialist visits + high cost diagnostics and imaging;
• surgery + specialist visits + high cost diagnostics and imaging + day to day medical costs.
• Some plans are modular, which means you can pick and choose from various options to build a plan that fits your needs and budget.
• Generally the larger the range of benefits and level of reimbursement in a plan, the higher the premiums.
• Trim costs by:
  • having an ‘excess’ option, which means you will pay a fixed amount per claim form submitted
  • alternatively, choose a ‘shared cover’ plan, which means you will share the cost of treatment
  • seeing if your employer has a work scheme with Southern Cross. Often this is the most cost-effective way to get health insurance.  

Things to consider

How much cover you need will depend on your stage in life and your general state of health. As people age they tend to claim more. If you're single and healthy, your health cover needs will be very different to those of a family with three young children, or a couple in their senior years. Think about whether you just want cover for major medical things (surgery, hospital treatment) or want to claim for day-to-day things like doctor, dentist and optician appointments. Balance your cover with cost.

Identify which plan or plans can deliver what you want.

Get quotes ► for each of the plans. Look into excess and cost-sharing options that can lower the premiums.

Read the Melville Jessup Weaver report ► on health insurance products and policies. Melville Jessup Weaver is a leading New Zealand firm of consulting actuaries (an actuary is a statistician who calculates insurance risks and premiums).

The Health Funds Association of New Zealand (HFANZ) has an excellent website that shows ballpark costs for many of the main surgical procedures carried out in New Zealand. This will give you a good indication of how realistic an insurer’s cover limits are. Visit the HFANZ website ►

Our plan choices

Here’s a quick summary of Southern Cross’ health insurance plans and why you might select them. For more information, click on the plan or call us on 0800 100 777.

Our extensive cover plans

Wellbeing

This is a good option if you are fit and healthy, but want cover for unexpected and costly medical needs (like surgery). And if you think you might want day-to-day (e.g. doctor) or preventative healthcare included, you can add on modules for this.
More detail here ►

UltraCare

If you want cover for almost every eventuality, this is our most extensive plan.
More detail here ►

Our shared cover plans

If you have one of our shared cover plans, you share the treatment costs with us, in return for a lower premium than our other plans.  For example, if you require surgery, you would pay some of the costs yourself. 

SuperCare

Consider this plan if you want health insurance for a range of healthcare, with limited cover for surgical procedures because you’re not so concerned about larger medical expenses (like surgery) – and are happy to share some of your medical costs so that your premium is lower. More detail here ►

RegularCare

This is an all–round healthcare plan that includes day-to-day healthcare (like doctor visits) as well as surgery. To keep premiums affordable, it’s a ‘shared cover’ plan, which means you’ll pay part of your treatment costs. More detail here ► 

KiwiCare

If you want cover for some of the costs of private surgery, and are happy to meet your own day-to-day medical expenses. To keep premiums affordable, it’s a ‘shared cover’ plan, which means you’ll pay part of your treatment costs. More detail here ►

Plans offered through some work schemes

The following plans are only available through some specified employer work schemes:

HospitalCare

HospitalCare is a plan for those who want to safeguard themselves and their families against the high cost of surgical treatment, but whose day-to-day expenses are not high enough to warrant a comprehensive healthcare plan. It includes benefits for specialist consultations, tests and imaging, providing they are within 4 months of related surgical treatment.

Hospital & SpecialistCare

Hospital & SpecialistCare provides the same benefits as HospitalCare but extends benefits to include specialist consultations, tests and imaging, whether or not they are related to surgical treatment.

SureCare

SureCare provides similar benefits to Hospital & SpecialistCare. However, it suits those who prefer to keep their premiums lower by agreeing to pay an excess. A $50 excess or a $600 excess may apply, see the policy document for details. 

Plans available through selected advisers

We have two plans available through our advisers, as detailed below.

VIP 

The modular approach of the VIP family of plans allows you to choose a level of cover to fit your particular needs. The base module ensures cover for the problems that are least predictable and have the highest potential cost, namely surgery and medical treatment in hospital. Then, depending on your needs, you can add modules that cover specialist and diagnostic costs, GP and prescription charges and 75% reimbursement for dental and optical charges. 
With VIP you can choose excess options, where you agree to pay a part of your treatment costs and, in return, your annual premium is reduced. More detail here ►

First Cover

First Cover includes cover for surgery and medical treatment in hospital, then lets you add cover for specialists and tests. You can also add some cover for day-to-day expenses. I First Cover plans reimburse up to 80% of the costs you incur up to stated policy limits, helping to keep the premiums affordable. More detail here ► 

Quick quote

If you’re thinking about joining Southern Cross and want an approximate cost, get a quote now ►

An alternative to health insurance

HealthAssist

A financial boost in addition to health insurance

Critical Illness plan

Critical Illness is complementary to health insurance.  Our Critical Illness plan pays a one-off lump sum to give you a financial boost if you are diagnosed with a qualifying critical illness event (such as cancer or stroke).  This can help you deal with anything else you have on your plate aside from just medical bills. More detail ►

More information and help with choosing the right plan for you

Talk to us on 0800 100 777 (8.00am-5.00pm, Monday to Friday) or send an email if you:

• are ready to apply now, or
• want more information about health insurance, different types of cover and costs.