Health Insurance: What Perks Can I Get With My Policy?

Over one million New Zealanders – approximately 1. 4 million, according to the Health Funds Association of New Zealand – have a health insurance policy. Health insurance helps cover the cost of health services and elective treatments. Both ACC and the public health system provide Kiwis with health support, however, if you need specialist treatment, you’ll usually end up on a lengthy waiting list. This is especially the case for elective or non-emergency treatments.

Private healthcare allows you to receive treatment without the wait, but this comes at a cost. Health insurance can cover you for some, or all, of the cost of private procedures and appointments. There’s a decent amount of competition for customers between health insurance providers, hence their offerings of various incentives and bonuses. These perks can include things like discounted gym memberships, or even financial incentives for those who lead healthy lifestyles. Canstar breaks down what’s currently on offer.

Southern Cross

Even if you don’t need to make a claim, Southern Cross Health Insurance customers can take advantage of some of their perks, which include:

• Free eye test and digital retinal scan at OPSM
• Complementary diagnostic hearing test valued at $85 with Bloom
• Snap Fitness $149 gift voucher to cover your joining fee
• 10% off Pita Pit’s entire menu
• 15% off the entire Ecostore brand range
• Healthy lifestyle reward: you may be entitled to a 10% discount for up to two years from joining if you are an individual member or in a voluntary work scheme, and meet a healthy lifestyle criteria

AIA

AIA offers a health and wellbeing program when you get cover under an eligible AIA health insurance policy. There are also discounts that include:

• Up to 50% off Hoyts movie tickets
• 25% off Fitbit devices
• 25% off Jaggad athletic apparel
• Active Benefits discounts: reach your “personalised physical activity target” each week and you’ll get the choice between perks like Airpoints and New World Dollars, $5 iTunes vouchers, and $5 donations to the Mental Health Foundation, the Heart Foundation, or Trees That Count.

AA

AA has a number of member-only discounts and freebies when you sign up to a health insurance policy with them. To name a few:

• AA Members can get a free Specsavers eye test (valued at $60) every two years.
• You can get up to five spots at Skin Institute that you’re concerned about checked for free (worth $99) and save on full-body skin consultations.
• A free hearing check or screening at Bay Audiology and Dilworth Hearing. If hearing loss is identified, you’ll be entitled to a free full diagnostic hearing test.
• 15% off First Aid Training with the Red Cross
• Up to 40% off Event Cinemas movie tickets when you pre-purchase your tickets online with your AA Membership card

Accuro

Accuro offers a free wellbeing program for all of its members. It has activities, challenges, recipes and special discounts. Also on offer:

• Mental Health Navigator, which gives customers of its Specialist plans quick access to mental health professionals
• Free bowel screening kits as a loyalty benefit for members after three years of continuous cover
• Free access to the SkinVision app, which can help detect skin cancer at an early stage, when it’s most treatable.

Which health insurance company should you go with?

As you can tell from the details above, there are a number of options for consumers interested in taking out health cover in New Zealand. However, rather than just going with discounted pita breads, you should always compare a wide range of insurers and products to find the level of cover that best meets your health needs and pocket. It is also crucial to thoroughly read the product disclosure statement of any policy before signing up. 

For some extra guidance, you can compare health insurance companies in NZ with Canstar’s customer satisfaction ratings. Every year we survey thousands of Kiwis who have recently made a claim on their health insurance, and get their feedback on their provider and the service they received. For our latest results, just click on the button below:

 Compare health insurance