Health Insurance: Why it’s Important for Kiwis in New Zealand

In New Zealand, we are lucky to have a public health system that provides essential medical care to all residents. However, despite the government’s efforts to make healthcare accessible to everyone, there are still many reasons why you should consider investing in private health insurance.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of health insurance in New Zealand and why it’s an investment that you won’t regret.

Top 5 reasons for having health insurance in NZ:

1. Access to Private Healthcare Services

While the public healthcare system in New Zealand provides excellent care, there can be long wait times for non-emergency treatments and procedures. With private health insurance, you can bypass these wait times and access private healthcare services promptly.

2. Choice of Specialists and Hospitals with health insurance

Another advantage of private health insurance is that you have the option to choose your specialist and hospital. This can be particularly beneficial if you have a specific condition that requires specialist care. Private health insurance can also provide access to more modern and advanced treatments that may not be available in the public healthcare system.

3. Financial protection

One of the most significant benefits of private health insurance is that certain policies allow you to cover the cost of certain medical treatment not covered by the public system – particularly cancer treatment not on the PHARMAC schedule.

4. Medical insurance gets you better access to non-emergency treatments

In the public healthcare system, there can be long wait times for non-emergency treatments and procedures. With private health insurance, you can access these treatments sooner and potentially prevent your condition from worsening.

5. Getting you back to work and doing what you love.

Untreated health conditions can stop you doing what you love or stop you from working and earning. Health insurance allows you to get the health care treatment when and where you want. Being treated quickly, means less time off work. Health insurance is different to disability protection insurance like income protection and mortgage protection insurance. 

In conclusion, while the public healthcare system in New Zealand provides essential medical care, investing in private health insurance can provide many benefits. With private health insurance, you can access private healthcare services promptly, choose your specialist and hospital, protect yourself against unexpected medical costs, access non-emergency treatments sooner, and get you back to doing what you love sooner. If you’re interested in private health insurance, it’s essential to do your research and choose a plan that’s right for your needs – not all policies are created equal. Talk to us to find out more.