Health insurance, in New Zealand, is a personal choice. Many Kiwis choose to invest in health insurance to ensure that they don’t have to endure the long waitlists of the public health system and can have quicker access to treatment and ultimately, recovery and a better quality of life.
However, when applying for health insurance, the provider will ask you whether you have any pre-existing health conditions.
The Benefits of Health Insurance
What is a pre-existing health condition?
A pre-existing health condition is a condition or injury that you have before the start of your policy. Generally, you can still get health insurance if you have existing illnesses or injuries, but there are some things to keep in mind.
Do Policies Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
Health insurance is typically designed to cover the treatment of health conditions that happen or arise after the policy begins. For example, if you had a heart attack in the last 12 months, your insurance provider will want to know the details of this and they will likely not cover treatment for this condition.
However, for those with those health conditions, you can typically still get health insurance in three ways. Insurance providers can offer these alternatives:
- Exclude the health condition from the policy.
- Charge an additional premium to cover the pre-existing condition.
- Cover the condition after a certain amount of time on the policy, typically after three years.
How Much Health Insurance Do I Need?
Compare to Know Which is Best
Not every insurance provider approaches pre-existing conditions the same way. It is important to do your homework and compare what is out there and what different policies and providers offer, especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Here at Money Compare, we are all about making sure Kiwis make an informed decision on their insurance policy. We have partnered with leading insurance providers from the Insurance Department to help you in your insurance decision. Get a free quote in seconds and speak to an insurance expert for free to get advice tailored to your specific needs and health situation.
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