Private health care- giving you certainty, control, and access to the care you need
We have a great public health system by many countries standards. Why then do we need to have Private Health Cover? Unfortunately there are several reasons. When it comes to emergency ("acute") services our public health system is excellent. Unfortunately, you are extremely unlikely to receive the same level of urgency for your treatment when suffering from a "non- acute" (ie non emergency) medical condition. And if you believe things are improving because of waiting lists reducing, then you need to read the article "Waiting lists don't tell the whole story" that appeared in the Dominion Post in November 2014. Click here to go to the article in the Personal Risk section of the Articles page.
The simple reason is the public system is publicly funded, so resources are not limitless. For "non-acute" conditions this means you may have to wait for an inordinately long period of time before you can get treatment. It may even mean that you never get to the 'front of the queue'. And for those with "non-acute" conditions their health may deteriorate further while on the waiting list, potentially lowering their chance of survival.
The difference between "acute" and "non-acute" (emergency or not) is best illustrated by this example: if you had a heart attack and your survival depended on surgery, you would be treated immediately. But if you were diagnosed with a heart condition that was not immediately life threatening, but you would still require surgery, you could be placed on a waiting list. Other well known examples of "non-acute" treatments include hip replacement, cataract removal, hysterectomy, cancerous tumour removal and major diagnostics such as MRI scans.
There are other important aspects to bear in mind:
The simple reason is the public system is publicly funded, so resources are not limitless. For "non-acute" conditions this means you may have to wait for an inordinately long period of time before you can get treatment. It may even mean that you never get to the 'front of the queue'. And for those with "non-acute" conditions their health may deteriorate further while on the waiting list, potentially lowering their chance of survival.
The difference between "acute" and "non-acute" (emergency or not) is best illustrated by this example: if you had a heart attack and your survival depended on surgery, you would be treated immediately. But if you were diagnosed with a heart condition that was not immediately life threatening, but you would still require surgery, you could be placed on a waiting list. Other well known examples of "non-acute" treatments include hip replacement, cataract removal, hysterectomy, cancerous tumour removal and major diagnostics such as MRI scans.
There are other important aspects to bear in mind:
- while you wait for surgery your life is placed on hold. You may be unable to work. It could result in financial hardship
- you have no control over the time this may take
- sometimes the public system does not cover the treatment at all, for example drugs not funded by PHARMAC
- even with "acute" conditions you have no control over who provides the treatment
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This is where Private Health Care has the ability to bring enormous value to your life, or the life of a loved one, when "non-acute" treatment is required. Private Health Care can provide you with:
- certainty as to timing of treatment
- control over who provides that treatment
- access to non funded treatments such as non PHARMAC drugs
And when it comes to choosing a provider, check to see whether it includes "guaranteed policy wordings". Because (unfortunately) health does deteriorate with age, you will value a policy with a guarantee of renewal and benefits. What this means is that a provider cannot simply take benefits unilaterally away from you. If you would like to look at your Private Health Care options click here to email us, or call us on the numbers below.
So what are the chances?
Well, over 1.4 million people in New Zealand now have health insurance (2). That's close to 1 in 3 who have chosen to have their medical care funded privately rather than relying on the public system. They have chosen the path of being able to more easily determine when they want to be treated and by whom. And, just as importantly, have decided that they want better access to non PHARMAC funded drugs.
What does this mean to you?
Having the right cover in place can make an enormous difference to the treatment available to you and your quality of life, particularly after a serious illness affecting you or a family member. There is no reason to put the financial security, or quality of life, of you and your family at risk by not doing what so many others have already decided to do- taking out private health care. There are definite advantages in taking out Private Health Care when you are at a younger age or while still healthy, one of which is to avoid exclusions for what becomes known as "pre-existing conditions." If you would like help to see what you can do click here to email us, or call us on the numbers listed below.
(1) nib, June 2018
(2) Health Funds Association of New Zealand, November 2018
So what are the chances?
Well, over 1.4 million people in New Zealand now have health insurance (2). That's close to 1 in 3 who have chosen to have their medical care funded privately rather than relying on the public system. They have chosen the path of being able to more easily determine when they want to be treated and by whom. And, just as importantly, have decided that they want better access to non PHARMAC funded drugs.
What does this mean to you?
Having the right cover in place can make an enormous difference to the treatment available to you and your quality of life, particularly after a serious illness affecting you or a family member. There is no reason to put the financial security, or quality of life, of you and your family at risk by not doing what so many others have already decided to do- taking out private health care. There are definite advantages in taking out Private Health Care when you are at a younger age or while still healthy, one of which is to avoid exclusions for what becomes known as "pre-existing conditions." If you would like help to see what you can do click here to email us, or call us on the numbers listed below.
(1) nib, June 2018
(2) Health Funds Association of New Zealand, November 2018