We currently paying $6000 pa with Southern Cross. Claims paid this year = $650. Spoke to SC to see how we could reduce it. They suggested going on the rediced scheme surgical only. When asked what SC reccomended given our history I was told by the consultant they did not reccommend. So much for customer service. I said SC did not really want customers our age. Not a word in reply for the consultant. Am thinking of cancelling. Be warned all calls with SC are recorded so don't loose your cool when discussing anything with them.

A friend of ours paid into SC for almost 15 years and the older she got the higher the premiums got.

In the end she cancelled the SC premium and purchased Bonus Bonds with the money she used to pay SC.

She now has over $20,000 in Bonus Bonds, had a few little wins, and should she ever need medical assistance the money is there.

Worth thinking about.

I had the tv going in the background and there was a plug for Sovereign insurance on tv one.

I had insurance with Sovereign when mortgaged with ASB. When some years later had to resign due to illness, asked ASB to cancel that lifestyle policy. The bank manager suggested put a claim in first. At least six months later was still trying to get an answer from Sovereign Insurance. Long story short - they offered my payments back. was so worn down by then took it.

Why take health insurance when you have to fight just to get only what you paid back.

I also think the cost of dentistry in this country is ridiculously high, and no discounts (that I know of) if you are old and/or poor.
Currently, there are plans to set up mobile
NZ clinics for children and adolescents with bad teeth (I thought they already had free or cheap dental care?) but it's the older folk, pre-fluoridation, who now desperately need dental work they can't afford.
I'm all for self-sufficiency wherever possible -- we've decided to stay away from extortionate health insurance and funeral cover plans, and just save as much as we can in a separate bank account. So far we're still healthy, but of course everyone has different health needs, and must choose whatever works.
The big problem is, you can monitor and manage your own health, but you can't fix your own teeth!!

A program I watched about health insurance in the US was an eyeopener. The companies employ people to scan the policies of patients who have had treatment and / or surgery, and find loopholes in the policicy whereby the company can refuse to pay out.

This is the Private at all costs on anything that moves, country. Our lot know that the average Kiwi has no the confidence nor the money to take an insurance company to court over the niggardly treatment the elderly receive from them.

The only real solution is for affordability in age is using public for specialists and tests, retaining only surgical and increasing the excess between $1000 to $5000 (depending on circumstances) then offset with savings if you need treatment.