Join Southern Cross Health Insurance
Health Cover that helps you Feel Good!
Experience health cover designed around real people, real stories, and the reassurance of being in good hands.
NZ’s most trusted health insurer for 8 years [1]
Why choose Southern Cross Health Insurance
Our top priority is our members’ health and wellbeing, and it has been our guiding principle since we were founded in 1961. Southern Cross is a not-for-profit, member-owned insurer, meaning more of your premiums go back into supporting your health and wellbeing. In 2025, every dollar received in premiums, we returned 94 cents in claims to members.
- Children under 21 years - only pay premiums for your first two children. Additional children on your policy will be included at no extra charge.[2]
- Add your baby before they're three months old, we'll cover their qualifying pre-existing conditions.
- Child rates apply until they’re 21 years of age.[3]
- Claiming is stress-free with MySouthernCross App or using Easy-Claim.
- Benefit from added-value services, including online GP consults, wellbeing tools & partner discounts.
What you get with Southern Cross
- Fast access to treatment – Skip long waiting lists and get the care you need, sooner.
- Cover that protects your finances – Support for surgery, cancer care, diagnostics, and unexpected medical costs
- Wellbeing and preventative support – Free of charge online GP consults, online mental health sessions, and annual health checks
- Member-first approach – as a mutual society, we reinvest in members – not shareholders.
Health insurance plans that suit your needs
Whether you need individual health insurance or family health insurance, Southern Cross offers options that can help you manage both major medical costs and everyday healthcare expenses. Our plans include cover for surgery, specialist consultations, diagnostics, and optional modules for day-to-day medical needs.
We offer a range of health insurance plans and wellbeing modules; each designed with different benefits so you can choose the level of cover that fits your lifestyle and budget. You can also add family members to your policy to protect your whole family under one plan.
Day-to-day cover
HealthEssentials
Provides basic everyday healthcare support, helping with routine costs like GP visits and prescriptions.
Surgical Cover Plans
Wellbeing One and Two
Tiered surgical cover offering a range of modules and excess options.
UltraCare
A premium surgical and day-to-day plan that includes cover for eligible healthcare services.
Shared cover plans
KiwiCare and RegularCare
A shared‑cost model that keeps healthcare affordable by sharing costs between you and Southern Cross.
How to join
- 1. Get a Quote – Start online or speak with a consultant
- 2. Choose Your Plan – Tailor cover to your needs
- 3. Underwriting Review – We assess your application
- 4. Start Your Cover – Access health support right away (per policy terms)
Member discount and offers
We’re committed to making sure our members get real value - here’s a quick look at some of the many great benefits currently available to our members.
Real member stories
We’re with Southern Cross members when it matters most. Helping members with their health is at the heart of everything we do. Here’s what some of them have to say.
Carole
Lightning never strikes twice, except for Carole, who beat breast cancer and then bowel cancer.
“I just called Southern Cross and said this is what is happening, and they took care of it. It was amazing to have things done so quickly.”
Lily
At only 26, Lily had her first health scare, but with Southern Cross in her corner she had the support she needed to get through it.
“I was comfortable to make decisions that were best for me without weighing up cost. It would have been over ten thousand dollars all up.”
Dylan
Dylan’s life used to be all about physical activity – he had a young family to care for, a demanding career in building, and a dream home in South Auckland in the works. But everything changed when he started suffering from severe back pain.
"Southern Cross is there for Kiwi families like ours... I definitely feel like I have a better quality of life now. To have that – it’s priceless."
Ready to get started?
Take the first step toward peace of mind - your health coverage journey starts here, now.
FAQs about buying health insurance
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Is health insurance worth it?
- Health insurance complements the public healthcare system and can help you and your family get back to health quickly with less disruption to your lives. Having health insurance can help you:
- get seen more quickly when you need care
- have greater choice over how and when you receive treatment
- reduce the financial burden of some or all treatment costs during a stressful time
- get peace of mind knowing you’re covered if needed
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Do you have plans that cover dental treatment?
Our HealthEssentials and UltraCare 400 plans include a dental benefit, or you can add the Keeping Well or the Vision and Dental module to your Wellbeing One or Two plan.
Benefit limits apply, so you may need to contribute towards the cost of treatment. Please contact us or your independent financial adviser if you would like to discuss your individual needs.
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Does my policy cover my pre-existing conditions?
Pre-existing conditions are normally excluded as health insurance is primarily intended to provide cover for the treatment of health conditions that occur after the policy has been taken out. You can choose an UltraCare plan which may cover eligible pre-existing conditions after 3 years of continuous cover on the plan. Pre-existing conditions will not be covered under the Chemotherapy 100 or Chemotherapy 300 upgrade options but may be covered to the ‘chemotherapy for cancer (base)’ benefit in your plan.
You may also be entitled to cover for pre-existing conditions if you’re a member of an employer work scheme. There’s no cover for pre-existing conditions under the policy unless we agree in writing to offer cover for certain pre-existing conditions. Your membership certificate lists the pre-existing conditions that we’re aware of, and the status of their cover. This gives you peace of mind by making it easy to understand what’s included in your cover.
To confirm the status of cover for any pre-existing conditions, please see your membership certificate on MySouthernCross. Contact us or your independent financial adviser if you would like to discuss your individual needs.
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Do I need to complete a medical examination when I apply?
You don’t need a medical examination, but we require you to complete a medical declaration that asks several questions about your medical history. If we have any more questions, we’ll be in touch.
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How long does it usually take to approve my application?
Your application will take 5-10 working days to be processed. If we need any other information from you, we will be in touch.
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Can I upgrade or change plans later?
Yes, you can. However, upgrading or downgrading your policy can affect your cover for pre-existing conditions, annual limits, excesses, loyalty period and premiums, so it’s important you understand fully the implications of changing your policy.
The best way to make sure you’re on the right plan is to contact us and have a chat with our friendly team or your adviser.
- Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Health Insurance Brand, 2017-2025.
- The Free Child Discount is not available on the HealthEssentials plan or Cancer Cover Plus. The Free Child Discount full terms and conditions apply and are subject to change.
- One rate applies for children aged 0 to 21. Subject to standard annual premium changes. Not applicable to the HealthEssentials plan