Why health insurance is now a ‘must-have’ in New Zealand

It’s no secret that the New Zealand public health system has been under a lot of pressure recently. Here’s why it’s turned health insurance into a ‘must-have.’

Staffing shortages and long wait lists have meant that Kiwis have been missing out, suffering on a daily basis while they wait for surgery, or in some cases, just for a first consultation.

A Stuff investigation from earlier this year found that the number of people waiting more than four months to access treatment had tripled, to 26,800​ from 8,153 ​in February 2020. Nearly 36,000​ were waiting longer than that to see a specialist - double what it was pre-pandemic. And it’s just getting worse. 

Emergency departments across the country are struggling, leaving hundreds of patients waiting more than 24 hours to be seen. In many cases, people are losing their lives due to delayed admission and treatment, some heading home due to long wait times and sadly passing away soon after. 

This sad state of affairs is affecting everyday New Zealanders, many of whom are realising that health insurance is now essential.

A Canterbury woman who damaged her jaw 10 months ago and can’t open her mouth properly, or bite or chew hard food, can’t even get on a wait list for surgery under the public health system. 

A 67-year-old discovered she had bowel cancer earlier this year, and after countless tests and medical appointments, she was told she needed surgery to remove the tumour. Unfortunately, two days before her surgery, she received a call to say that it was cancelled due to a lack of beds.

This sad state of affairs is affecting everyday New Zealanders, many of whom are realising that health insurance is now essential. Not only does it allow the bypassing of wait lists, but it also allows quick access to specialists and required tests and treatments. 

The issue here is that there are many misconceptions about health insurance - it’s expensive, it won’t really help, no one will pay out. The reality is that many of these myths just aren’t true, and health insurance is crucial in getting the help you need in a time when the public health system is failing. 

If you’ve been sitting on the fence for a while, perhaps these sobering stories will cause you to seek advice about your options. Health insurance doesn’t need to be expensive, and getting the right advice from people who want to help is key.