FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

One third of New Zealanders have Health/Medical cover to ensure they get treatment when they need it. Without Health Insurance you will wait in line for months or sometimes years or even be told your required surgery is not available unless you qualify as an acute admission. Insurance means you get your surgeon and a hospital bed without the long wait and numerous cancelled surgeries.

Why use a Professional Insurance Broker?

We are independent and offer only products we would use for ourselves and our families.

We use independent rating agencies as well as our vast experience to bring you the best products at the best price. Most importantly, an insurance policy that is fair and an Insurance Company that gives the best claims service in New Zealand.

We treat you as a person, not a number, and act on your behalf - not the insurance companies. We value our clients.

When it comes to claim time, we help you in your time of need. We understand that you might be unwell and uncertain of what to do. That is where we fit in. We know what to do and we will help you every step of the way.

Please refer to our references. Clients will tell you what they think about us at claim time. Please note that most claims go straight through but if they don’t we will be there. That is when you need a broker who knows what to do and can take away the stress involved in this difficult time.

What if I need emergency treatment like a car accident or a heart attack?

The Public System will provide treatment for all emergencies in New Zealand. We have no private system for acute admissions in New Zealand. As your admission is an emergency, you will be assessed and if your treatment is acute you will get your surgery through the public system. If not, you will be placed on a waiting list to wait your turn. If you have Health/ Medical cover you can go through the private system with no waiting period.

What kind of cover do I need?

To avoid the waiting time of the public system you only need hospital surgical and non surgical cover. This is also the area of health that costs the most.

We do not recommend covering general practitioners’ costs as the bills are small and the cost of covering yourself is very expensive. Therefore we can not recommend this option.

I already have some health problems. What does that mean?

Most of us have had things go wrong with our health at some stage. They get fixed and we move on until the next health issue comes along. Most of these issues will not impact on your cover so please do not worry about this. Go ahead and complete the application and we will contact you should we need to discuss these health issues further.

What are pre-existing conditions?

All policies are underwritten from the medical information you supply in the application form. To make this process simple, we contact you to discuss your medical issues and any pre-existing conditions you may have. With pre-existing conditions they may be accepted or given a stand-down period. These conditions may be excluded from our policy or they may incur a stand down period or you may be accepted on standard terms. If you are happy at this stage your policy will be submitted for completion and will start on the date of your choice.

I have health insurance through another Company.

Please feel free to compare premiums. Just remember this policy is recognized to be the best available. Let us know who your current provider is and we will contact you to discuss any medical issues involved with changing your policy once we have the completed application. We are experts and know our stuff so once we have your application we can best advise you. The choice is always yours to make.

Your new policy will not start until you cancel your existing cover.

Can I get a cheaper premium for this policy?

No, we guarantee you will not beat our price for the same cover. (excluding large group schemes).

Do I get a no claims discount?

Not you do not get a no claims discount..

You can get further discounts by opting for a larger excess or deductable. The only downside is you will have to pay the excess when you claim.

I want the cheapest cover available – what are the consequences?

You may receive a large bill or be told your surgical procedure or non surgical procedure is not covered depending on your chosen cover. Best to ask for advice - its free!

Will my premiums increase?

Yes medical insurance increases with age on a yearly basis and all medical cover is indexed to medical inflation. As the cost of claims go up so does the premiums and you will need to budget accordingly. On world terms, our private medical cover is inexpensive but as always it needs to be within your budget or means.

Around 1/3 of New Zealanders have Health/Medical cover and they make this a long term priority - we can only help you if you ask and unfortunately while we all wish for long-term health we cannot foresee the future. Medical insurance is for your reassurance. Should something unfortunate happen – you will receive the treatment you require, when you require it.

What happens if I decide I do not want my policy after it is accepted?

If after receiving your policy you are not happy with your decision, you have 30 days from receipt of the policy document to cancel or make changes in which time we will refund the premium.

How can I be sure I am getting the best hospital cover plan available?

We guarantee this is the best Hospital cover available. (If you can find a better cover for surgical and non surgical procedures within six months that was available at the same time of taking out your cover, we will reimburse your premiums).

How much cover can I get?

Surgical up to $200,000 per admission, Non surgical up to $200,000 per policy year per client insured. All Medsafe approved drugs are covered. Please read the attached Medical Insurance brochure for what is not covered at any time.*

How often can I claim?

As often as needed - there are no limits as to number of claims

Will My Health Insurance cover me overseas?

Our medical cover covers Australia and New Zealand so if you traveling to another country you will need Travel insurance.

Be aware however - Travel insurance is only temporary insurance and if something goes wrong overseas they will do their best to get you home to New Zealand where you can claim on your Medical Insurance.

* See Medical Insurance brochure attached as a pdf

Can my insurer change the terms of my policy?

Most companies can change the terms within 28 days notice.

ING guarantees the terms for the life of your policy (in other words you pay the premiums and ING pays the bills).

Will it pay my doctors bill?

No, it does not. It is cheaper for you to pay the bill yourself.

Will I have to pay the bill to the surgeon and hospital and then get reimbursed?

No, your bill will be paid directly to your health providers.

Will I have to pay a share of my private hospitalization?

No, your bill will be paid up to Surgical or Non Surgical maximums less any nominated excess on your policy. There are no set maximums per procedure or listed procedures.

Who is Affordable Health and Life Ltd?

We are brokers with many years of experience advising clients as to the best cover available for them. We have thousands of happy customers whom we care for and look after.

Affordable Health and Life Ltd represents clients, not insurance companies. We have a good working relationship with ING Life (NZ) Ltd and we appreciate their ethics and their excellent customer service at all times. This is imperative to us and hopefully to you.

Why use Affordable Health and Life’s Medical/ Health Insurance cover?

Affordable Health and Life Ltd is one of New Zealand’s largest Medical and Health Insurance brokers. We offer you the best Medical and Health Insurance Policy at an unbeatable price underwritten by one of the world’s largest companies (ING) with $200,000 Surgical and $200,000 non surgical cover for private Hospitalization. Why would you go anywhere else? Best cover – at the best price.

What payment methods are available?

You may pay via Visa, MasterCard, direct debit or yearly by cheque. Payments may be made weekly, fortnightly, monthly, six monthly or yearly. All cheques are to be made out to ING Life NZ.

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FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

Affordable Health Insurance New Zealand