You probably don’t have to look far to find a story of someone being helped by their health insurance.
Maybe your friend was able to call on their health insurer to help them avoid a long public hospital waiting list, or your coworker had an appointment with a specialist at a significantly reduced cost to themselves.
But have you really thought about all the benefits of having health insurance?
Here are five key ones.
Financial protection
Financial protection is a big factor for many people.
The cost of medical and healthcare treatment that isn’t funded by the public system can be high. One health insurer’s claims data indicates that a hip replacement can cost up to $32,000.
The public system will usually cover them, but the problem is often that these sorts of non-acute conditions can have a long waiting list. And while you’re waiting, your quality of life is often reduced.
Many people opt for private treatment so that they can try to get back to normal life more quickly – but without health insurance, that’s a significant financial commitment.
Access to quality healthcare
New Zealand’s public health system offers good care for most emergency and acute conditions.
But the private system can often offer more options, and, as some commentators have pointed out, sometimes a few added extras if you require a hospital stay.
When you have private cover, you can often obtain an appointment with a specialist more quickly and may have some more flexibility in terms of when and where you receive your treatment.
Preventative care and early detection
That easier access to specialist checkups can also help with the provision of preventative care and early detection of health issues.
When it is relatively easy to obtain an appointment with a specialist, it makes it more straightforward to have things checked before they become a more significant problem.
One tragic case recently highlighted the importance of this – two brothers were both diagnosed with prostate cancer but one was able to access prompt private healthcare and be treated more quickly, achieving a significantly better health outcome as a result.
Improved health outcomes
As well as the benefits from more timely care, it may be also easier to have more regular specialist follow-up appointments with private healthcare, and some treatments are available in the private sector before they are available more widely in the public health system.
That can mean that people with access to private care can achieve improved health outcomes.
Peace-of-mind
One of the biggest benefits of health insurance is that it offers peace-of-mind.
When you have appropriate cover in place, you do not need to worry so much about what unexpected health expenses could be just around the corner. You have the reassurance of knowing that if something were to come up that needed swift attention, you have the resources to handle that.
Time to get sorted?
If you’d like to put some health insurance in place, or check on the cover you already have, get in touch with us. We can help you to understand what is on offer and what might be a good fit for you. Health insurance can make a huge difference.
Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.
