Health Insurance

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stevenz

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#184018 6-Nov-2015 15:42

Has anyone got any recommendations for health insurance? I've got a Southern Cross plan at the moment which is leftover from a heavily subsidised deal a previous employer had, but at $76/month for a plan that is essentially for surgery and post-op rehab only, it's a fair bit of cash.

Is it even worth bothering with? Are there better\cheaper providers worth looking at?

@KnightNZ

Bee

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#1422505 6-Nov-2015 16:14

Start by getting a quote here?

https://www.lifedirect.co.nz/health-insurance/

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

wasabi2k

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#1422524 6-Nov-2015 16:53

What are you looking to achieve by having health insurance?

Are you wanting a safety blanket and the option to go private for surgical and specialist care, or are you happy to wait for the public system? Our public health system is pretty good for a lot of things.

Are you looking for something to subsidise/assist with regular doctor's visits?

Understanding what you want is the key to not getting ripped off.

I have Southern Cross for my family - WellBeing Two. It covers most specialists and surgical procedures (obviously with exceptions - always check the fine print).

This has allowed me to get surgery done privately significantly quicker than the public system and in a swanky private hospital. My wife was also able to get operations done privately and see specialists. X rays and oral surgery are also covered.

It doesn't help with doctor visits or the dentist.

Bean

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#1422526 6-Nov-2015 16:55

I am a Broker and there are a number of options including staying with Southern Cross. Some employer schemes ( group schemes) cover pre-existing conditions so moving away to another provider may have these items (if there any excluded) lost.

Most group schemes are not generally the top of the line covers, and employers generally provide an entrance level cover to there staff. So moving to another provider may cost more but will provide more coverage.

Coverage may include more events covered, higher sums insured and extras.

I hope this helps?

Sideface

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#1422542 6-Nov-2015 17:44

stevenz: ... I've got a Southern Cross plan at the moment which is leftover from a heavily subsidised deal a previous employer had, but at $76/month for a plan that is essentially for surgery and post-op rehab only, it's a fair bit of cash. ...

I'm paying Southern Cross a lot more for the same thing - but I'm probably older than you. I'd be very happy to pay only $76pm.

Premiums rise steeply with age - for a very good reason. Old people are medically expensive.

Sideface

Bean

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#1422587 6-Nov-2015 19:02

There are two components to medical insurance premiums. Age related increase ( the older you get the more expensive it gets) and Medical CPI ( medical inflation). With Southern Cross once you get to age 65 you are only exposed to Medical CPI. All other providers will charge you both up until age 70. Thats when most folks ditch it or take higher excess to reduce monthly premiums.

Lias

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#1422602 6-Nov-2015 20:30

One thing to consider is that Southern Cross is a non profit.. the rest are cold hard calculating for profit insurers... I know which one I trust to be more likely to pay out in the event I need it, and not try and weasel out.

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old3eyes

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#1422716 7-Nov-2015 08:55

Lias: One thing to consider is that Southern Cross is a non profit.. the rest are cold hard calculating for profit insurers... I know which one I trust to be more likely to pay out in the event I need it, and not try and weasel out.

Southern Cross still charge an arm and a leg when you get into your 60s. I canceled mine when I got to 65 as it went up by a couple of hundred a month my wife who is in her 50s also canceled. We saved about $650 / month by doing so. That was just hospital and specialist. Now bank that money..

Regards,

Old3eyes

reven

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#1422722 7-Nov-2015 09:19

+1 to keep medical insurance, public system is free sure, but you have to wait ages, god forbid you get melanoma and have to wait, ive had that 3 times, had it dealt with within a week via private specialist and paid for by southern cross. one bill was $18k, so glad I didnt have to pay for that.

also you get 80% reimbursed for doctor visits/medications.

Geektastic

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#1434017 24-Nov-2015 17:12

Look at Partners Life. They have very good policies for all manner of things.

mattwnz

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#1434051 24-Nov-2015 18:38

old3eyes:
Lias: One thing to consider is that Southern Cross is a non profit.. the rest are cold hard calculating for profit insurers... I know which one I trust to be more likely to pay out in the event I need it, and not try and weasel out.

Southern Cross still charge an arm and a leg when you get into your 60s. I canceled mine when I got to 65 as it went up by a couple of hundred a month my wife who is in her 50s also canceled. We saved about $650 / month by doing so. That was just hospital and specialist. Now bank that money..

Many people self insure, so the money they would have spent, they save. The problem is those people who don't save it.