Health insurance
Health insurance gives you more choice about when and where you’re treated. We help you find cover that fits your budget, and make sure you don’t lose cover you already have.
Health insurance pays for private medical treatment, such as specialist appointments, scans and surgery, so you can be treated sooner than on a public waiting list. Policies range from surgical-only cover to comprehensive plans with day-to-day extras. Conditions you had before joining are usually excluded, at least at first.
Reviewed by Kyle Hasson, Insurance and KiwiSaver Adviser (FSP1010252) · Updated October 2026
How we help
- Match cover to what matters: surgery, specialists, cancer treatment or everyday care.
- Keep it affordable: using excesses and focusing on the big costs.
- Protect existing cover: we check before any switch so you don’t lose cover for existing conditions.
- Review over time: premiums rise with age, so regular reviews help.
What’s usually covered?
- Private surgery and hospital stays
- Specialist consultations and diagnostic tests like MRI and CT scans
- Cancer treatment, including some non-Pharmac medicines, depending on the policy
- Optional extras such as GP visits, dental and optical
Surgical-only or comprehensive?
| Surgical and specialist | Comprehensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | The big costs: surgery, specialists, tests | Big costs plus day-to-day care |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Often suits | Families wanting protection from large bills | People who use day-to-day services a lot |
Be careful before switching
If you’ve developed a condition while insured, a new insurer may exclude it. Cancelling your existing policy before your new one is confirmed can leave you without cover when you need it. Always get advice before switching.
Why New Zealanders take out health insurance
The public health system provides excellent urgent and emergency care, but non-urgent surgery and specialist appointments can involve long waits. Health insurance lets you be treated privately, sooner, and choose your specialist and hospital. To give a sense of scale, Partners Life alone paid $83.4 million in private medical claims in the year to March 2025 (Partners Life, This is Partners Life 2025).
Cancer care and non-funded medicines
Many health policies cover cancer treatment in private hospitals, and some include cover for cancer medicines that aren’t funded by Pharmac, up to a set limit. These medicines can be very expensive, so it’s worth checking how much each policy covers.
Excesses and keeping premiums affordable
An excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays the rest. Choosing a higher excess lowers your premium, and is a common way for families to keep the essentials, such as surgery and cancer cover, while keeping costs down.
Waiting periods and pre-existing conditions
New policies usually have a stand-down period before some claims can be made, and health conditions you had before taking out cover are usually excluded. That’s why it’s important to think carefully before cancelling a policy you’ve held for years, as a new insurer may not cover conditions your current one does.
Health insurance through work
If you have health insurance through your employer, check what happens when you leave. Some group schemes let you continue cover on a personal policy without new health questions, but only if you apply within a set time.
Kyle Hasson is an Insurance and KiwiSaver Adviser at Moneyplant in Papakura (FSP1010252), with a New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5). Meet the team
This is general information only and isn’t personalised financial advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so please talk to one of our advisers before making decisions about your insurance.
Health insurance questions
Can’t see your question? Give us a call or send us a message. See our public disclosure for details of our fees and commissions.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Usually not at first. Insurers typically exclude conditions you had symptoms of or treatment for before joining, though some may be covered after a stand-down period.
How can I make health insurance cheaper?
Choosing an excess, focusing on surgical and specialist cover and dropping extras you rarely use can lower premiums noticeably.
Is health insurance worth it for young families?
It depends on your budget and how you’d feel about public waiting times. Many families start with surgical and specialist cover and add more later.
Should I switch health insurers?
Only with care. Switching can mean losing cover for conditions that developed while you were insured. We’ll compare what you’d gain and lose first.
Does health insurance cover GP visits?
Not usually on a surgical-only policy. GP visits, prescriptions and other day-to-day costs are typically covered only by comprehensive policies or a day-to-day add-on.
What is a health insurance excess?
It’s the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays the rest. A higher excess means a lower premium.
Is health insurance worth it if I’m young and healthy?
It can be. Premiums are lower when you’re young, and conditions that develop after you take out cover are usually covered later. If you wait until you have a health issue, it may be excluded.
Can I keep my work health insurance if I change jobs?
Some group schemes let you move to a personal policy without new health questions if you apply within a set time. Check before you leave your job.
You might also need
Let’s make sure your family’s protected
Leave your details and Kyle will call you back within one working day. No cost and no obligation.
Request a call