Southern Cross Health Insurance
When faced with serious illness, the cost of medical care can compound an already stressful situation – exactly the reason thousands of New Zealanders invest in health insurance cover. Here, Canstar assesses how Southern Cross Health Insurance’s policies stack up against the competition.
What health insurance policies does Southern Cross Health Insurance offer?
Southern Cross offers customers four different health insurance plans which, it says, reflect the various stages, budgets and cover that Kiwis require. The health insurer also offers two shared-cover plans, which offer a contribution to medical expenses in certain situations. The specific policies include:
- Regular Care (shared cover)
- Kiwi Care (shared cover)
- Health Essentials
- Wellbeing One
- Wellbeing Two
- Ultra Care
Check out the link below to see how this compares against other insurers.
Compare Health Insurance with Canstar
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Regular Care policy?
Sharing the costs of healthcare between the customer and the insurer, Southern Cross’ Regular Care health insurance policy offers customers a contribution towards cancer care, surgical procedure and consultations, diagnostic imaging, tests, recovery and day-to-day healthcare treatment.
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ KiwiCare policy?
Southern Cross says its KiwiCare health insurance policy offers customers part-payment for healthcare received. This policy provides a contribution towards cancer care, surgical procedures and consultations, diagnostic imaging, tests and some recovery.
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Health Essentials policy?
Southern Cross says its Health Essentials health insurance policy is a “day-to-day health plan.” It covers 75% of medical costs including consultations with a general practitioner, dentist, optometrist, physiotherapist, dietitian/nutritionist, chiropractor and more for a maximum combined value of $1650 per year.
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Wellbeing One policy?
Described as a “broad surgical and healthcare plan” by Southern Cross, its Wellbeing One health insurance policy will reimburse expenses, up to the specified policy limit, for eligible healthcare services. Some of these services include:
- Cancer care
- Unlimited surgical procedures and consultations within six months of a related eligible surgical treatment
- Diagnostic imaging
- Tests and recovery within six months of related treatment
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Wellbeing Two policy?
Southern Cross says that its Wellbeing Two health insurance policy is a comprehensive surgical and healthcare plan which reimburses customers for expenses for eligible healthcare services. This plan includes:
- Cancer care
- Unlimited surgical procedures and consultations at any time
- Diagnostic imaging
- Tests and recovery at any time
- Obstetrics allowance (after one year)
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Ultra Care policy?
A premium surgical, healthcare and day-to-day plan, the Ultra Care health insurance policy offers reimbursement of expenses for eligible healthcare services. This policy includes coverage for pre-existing health conditions and includes:
- Cancer care
- Unlimited surgical procedures and consultations
- Choose your own specialist
- Qualifying pre-existing conditions covered after 3 years of continuous cover
- Diagnostic imaging and tests at any time
- Obstetrics allowance (after one year)
What isn’t covered by Southern Cross Health Insurance’s policies?
Similar to other health insurance providers, exclusions vary between each policy and centre largely around eligibility criteria for each level of cover.
What makes Southern Cross Health Insurance’s policies different?
Southern Cross says customers should choose them because it is New Zealand’s “most trusted health insurer” having earned a 4-star rating for customer satisfaction. The brand also says that its insurance is of better value because the company is not-for-profit and that its smartphone application simplifies the claims process.
About Southern Cross
With roots dating back to 1960s New Zealand, Southern Cross is the country’s largest not-for-profit health care organisation, formed by a collection of independent health-focused businesses. The group represents a number of brands including Southern Cross Health Insurance (which insures nearly 900,000 Kiwis), Southern Cross Healthcare, Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Pet Insurance and Life Insurance.
