Health Insurance
NZ’s public health system is good, but the waitlists are long and growing. Private health cover gets you treatment sooner, lets you choose your specialist, and protects you from elective-surgery costs the public system won’t fund.
How the cover actually works.
Surgical and specialist consultations in private hospitals, covering common procedures such as knee, hip, hernia, cataract and cardiac surgery, usually with a choice of specialist
Diagnostic imaging such as MRI, CT and ultrasound scans, arranged privately so you can usually get an appointment in days rather than facing the public-system wait
Cancer treatment, including some non-Pharmac-funded drugs depending on your policy, which can be the difference between accessing a newer treatment and going without it
Some policies let you add extras such as GP visits, prescriptions, dental and optical cover, so day-to-day health costs are covered alongside major surgical events
This page is for you if…
Anyone over 40 (when elective procedures start being needed)
Self-employed Kiwis with no employer health plan
Families wanting paediatric or specialist access without the public wait
People with a family history of conditions that need surgical intervention
Two ways to get health insurance sorted.
Going it alone
You compare policy wording and exclusions yourself, insurer by insurer.
No one flags it when your circumstances change and your cover no longer fits.
If a claim is ever declined, you deal with the insurer directly.
The cheapest premium today isn't checked against what it actually covers.
With a Smiths adviser
We compare health insurance across the providers we work with, in plain English.
We review your cover again as your circumstances change, not just once at the start.
If you ever need to claim, we deal with the insurer on your behalf.
You get one recommendation based on your situation, not a single insurer's product.
Talk to an adviser about this.
Thirty minutes with a licensed Smiths adviser, no obligation. Leave your details and we'll be in touch, usually within one working day.
Full audit of your existing cover, fund, and policy wordings
Comparison across the providers we work with
A clear written recommendation in plain English
Implementation paperwork handled by us, not you
Why this is easier with an adviser.
Compare surgical limits, specialist consultation allowances, and non-Pharmac drug cover across Southern Cross, nib, and AIA Health.
Match excesses and excess structures to your actual cash buffer.
Underwrite pre-existing conditions with the insurer before you apply, not after.
Coordinate with your GP for renewal and claim documentation.
The providers we work with for this cover.
Health insurance
Our advice covers the providers shown here, not every insurer or KiwiSaver provider in New Zealand. The panel can change, and we'll always confirm it when we give you advice.
Common questions about health insurance.
For acute emergencies, yes. For elective surgery (knee, hip, hernia, cataract), wait times often stretch to 6–18 months or you’re declined entirely on threshold scoring.
Surgical limits, specialist allowances, non-Pharmac drug cover, and exclusions vary substantially between insurers. The lowest-priced policy is often the one that won’t cover what you actually need.
Insurers underwrite based on health at application. Pre-existing conditions can be excluded. Switching after you’re diagnosed with something is usually too late.
It can. Providers may apply an exclusion, a loading, or decline cover for a condition you've already had, so it's worth disclosing everything upfront rather than after a claim.
Most providers let you cover a partner and children under one policy or as linked individual policies. We compare how each provider structures family cover before you choose.
Other services in this area.
Talk to the team.
Book a free review with Craig, Guy or Henry. No fees, and we're there if you ever need to claim.