We are pleased to inform you about a recent addition by NIB of an important mental health support package to their healthcare policies. With all the uncertainty for business owners and their staff members that has arisen from the COVID lockdowns, we believe this is a valuable addition and important to know, even for those currently without health insurance policies or policies from other providers, because we can help you easily transition if a change is right for you.
Between 50 and 80 percent of New Zealanders can expect some period of emotional difficulty in their lifetime and young people in particular face a very uncertain future as previous generations have not experienced the traumas of today such as lockdowns, pressures of covid-19 and the adjustments of working from home.
Mental health awareness and support for those who are beginning to recognise that they might have issues, is not an easy conversation to start. A lot of awareness has been created by the recent Mental Health/Korero – Have a conversation campaign, but for many people taking the first step is difficult and is rarely taken. Even if you have a good working relationship with your GP, it is often not enough. NIB’s new free-user friendly mental health tool can be found here: https://www.clearhead.org.nz and it could be a good place to start.
As of November 2021, the only other mental health support offered in the health insurance marketplace is currently offered by:
- Southern Cross $750 pa
This new offering from NIB, at $2,500 pa, per person covered makes it by far the best current offering on the market.
Details of NIB’s New Mental Health Benefit:
NIB’s new Mental Health Cover provides 12 months complementary cover to support your wellbeing with an eligible Ultimate Health or Ultimate Health Max policy.
This is an annual amount that is reocurring, not just one year.
Members that are eligible:
- New nib members, who join from 01 October 2021, and are covered under an Ultimate Health or Ultimate Health Max plan.
- Existing members, who joined after 21 April 2018, and are covered under an Ultimate Health or Ultimate Health Max plan with renewal dates from 01 December 2021.
What cover is provided under the Mental Health Benefit:
- Up to $2,500 worth of registered psychologist and/or psychiatrist consultations for every member covered, to use during their policy year
- 100% reimbursement for eligible claims (up to your cover limit)
- No waiting periods or excess
- No exclusions for any pre-existing conditions
You don’t need to make a related claim on your Ultimate Health or Ultimate Health Max policy to make use of this cover, and any general or personal exclusions on your policy don’t apply to this offer. Eligible members will require an approved GP referral to see a New Zealand registered psychologist or psychiatrist.
For further information, please feel free to visit https://www.nib.co.nz/free-resources/article/mental-health-cover
If you think an NIB policy might be right for you or you’d like to discuss your options about switching from another health insurance provider, we are here to help anytime. Simply fill out the form below, give us a call on 09 307 8200 or email enquiry@sprattfinancial.co.nz and the Spratt Insurance Brokers team will be happy to help you ascertain or find out if it’s the right option for your situation.