Health / Medical Insurance Brokers

Health / medical insurance today gives you greater choice and more immediate
attention when you need hospital care or an operation.  While the New Zealand public health system looks after urgent problems, treatment for non-urgent medical conditions can involve a long, uncomfortable wait.

Limitations of the public health system 

New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to provide universal health care. The New Zealand Government began funding hospitals in 1938. The public health system endeavours to look after people as best it can, but it has limitations.

Emergency care comes first

• While New Zealand residents have no difficulty accessing emergency (urgent) care, there are often long queues for a variety of elective (non-urgent) procedures. In contrast, there are generally no waiting lists for surgery in private hospitals.

Startling statistics

• New Zealand residents have the highest levels of anxiety about health care of any OECD country surveyed: 42% of New Zealanders feared they wouldn’t be able to afford medical care in the event of illness, 38% worried they would be forced to wait too long for non-emergency care, and 38% believed they wouldn’t get advanced care if they became seriously ill.¹
• In May 2005, nearly 28,000 people were waiting for elective surgery; almost 8,000 of them had been waiting for longer than six months.²
• Health insurers pay for around 72% of surgery performed in private hospitals. They reimburse for the actual costs of health care services charged by the market.

1. Commonwealth Fund 1998 International Health Policy Survey.
2. Ministry of Health, May 2005

Waiting lists for non-urgent treatment

According to the most recent information: 

• 119,106 people are waiting to see a specialist
• 16,384 of them have been waiting for more than six months
• 27,722 are waiting for surgery.

source: Ministry of Health May 2005

Making health / medical insurance affordable

To keep health insurance affordable, most health policies focus on cover for the big expenses rather than regular expenses like GP and dentist visits.  You can also reduce costs further by choosing a higher excess.

Costs tailored to your budget

• By choosing a higher excess, the monthly premium will be reduced.
• The excess represents the amount you will pay towards your treatment.
• Insurance premiums are linked to your age. If you’re younger, you can expect to pay less.

The following checklist may help you when comparing health insurance with products.

• Does the plan offer 100% reimbursement? 
• What is the maximum cover for general surgery per year?
  Can you add specialist cover?
• Will the plan pay for urgent surgery, if surgery at a public hospital is delayed?
• Can you adjust the excess to reduce premiums?
• Are you covered for sterilisation procedures

Cost guide for non-urgent surgery

This chart shows the estimated cost of surgical treatment for a range of common non-urgent health problems.

Children under 6 year

Older children

Adults 

Conditions Procedure Estimated Cost*

• Eye surgery Cataract removal $2,600 - $3,000 (one eye)
• Bowel problems Colonoscopy $1,200 - $2,500
• Heart check Angiogram $3,000 - $3,200
• Breast cancer Mastectomy without reconstruction $7,000 - $10,000
• Heart disease Cardiac bypass $40,000 - $50,000
• Heart valve disease Valve replacement $45,000 - $65,000
• Coronary artery surgery without stents Angioplasty $14,000 - $18,000
• Coronary artery surgery with stents Angioplasty $26,000 - $28,000
• Osteoarthritis in hips Hip replacement $28,000 - $29,000
• Osteoarthritis in knees Knee replacement $24,000 - $26,000
• Prostate cancer Prostate brachytherapy $24,000 - $26,000

If you would like to review your Health Insurance, talk to one of our life insurance brokers today on 03-348-0745 or contact us online.