As a resident of New Zealand, you can rely on the public health system for emergency care and treatment for serious conditions.

However, as good as the public health system is, there will never be enough money to cover everything that might be required in the time frame you expect. Relying on the public system can have its disadvantages and might mean you wait longer for treatment and don’t get to choose your specialist. Also, if your condition is not related to an accident, you won’t be able to rely on ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) to pay for treatment. 

How much will it cost without health insurance?

Accessing treatment through private health insurance gives you control over when and where you’re treated, the surgeon who treats you, and helps you pay towards the cost of your treatment – which otherwise might be unaffordable or significantly impact the lifestyle you’re used to.

Here are some examples of common medical expenses:

Cataract surgery $4,300 - $5,200
Removal of the cloudy lens from the eye affecting vision

Angioplasty $17,300 – $27,400
Insertion of a catheter to unblock artery with a stent or balloon

Single valve heart operation $48,000 – $60,000
Surgery to repair or replace a heart valve

Heart bypass $35,000 – $50,000
An operation to rechannel blood flow to the heart

Mastectomy $12,000 – $15,000
Surgical removal of the breast

Spinal fusion $20,000 – $60,000
Surgery to join two or more vertebrae together

Hysterectomy $13,000 - $19,300
Surgical removal of the uterus

Appendectomy $6,000 – $10,300
Surgical removal of the appendix

Hernia repair $7,000 – $18,000
Surgical repair of weakness in the abdominal wall

Total hip joint replacement $20,000 – $27,000
Replacement of the hip joint with an artificial joint

Total knee joint replacement $22,000 – $30,000
Replacement of the knee joint with an artificial joint

What are my options?

Private hospital cover, cover for day-to-day expenses, or both! Pick what suits you and get cover for the things you need now and not for those you don’t. Choose your level of excess to reduce the premium and how often you want to pay to tailor towards your needs.

Without private health insurance, you can either face a long wait for non-urgent treatment or the expensive task of funding treatment yourself. 

So why take the risk? For a relatively affordable regular premium, you can have the peace of mind that you and your family are covered. Talk to us about your medical insurance options today.

Source: nib