# Mental Health Cover in NZ Health Insurance

Mental health cover varies dramatically across NZ health insurers — from entirely excluded (entry-level plans) to specific psychiatric hospitalisation sublimits. This page lists each insurer's mental-health rules with the relevant NZD sublimits and admission terms.

_All facts below are extracted verbatim from each insurer's published policy wording PDF (see Source links). For the authoritative answer in any specific case, refer to the source PDF._

## Per-product breakdown

### Accuro

**KidSmart** `accuro/kidsmart` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The mental health benefit provides $1,000 per child per policy year for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor; no excess applies. Providers must be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand (psychiatry scope), New Zealand Psychologists Board, Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand, or New Zealand Association of Counsellors or other relevant association. Treatment or counselling for psychiatric, psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders (including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, intellectual disability, motor disorders, dementia, and specific learning disorders) is explicitly excluded under the general exclusions. There is no specific inpatient mental health admission benefit described.

> Source: [https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/KidSmart-Sept-2025.pdf](https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/KidSmart-Sept-2025.pdf)
**SmartCare** `accuro/smartcare` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The mental health benefit provides $1,000 per person per policy year for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor. No excess applies to this benefit. Providers must be registered under the psychiatry scope with the Medical Council of New Zealand, as a psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, as a psychotherapist with the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand, or as a counsellor with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors or other relevant association. The policy does not cover treatment or counselling for psychiatric, psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders as listed under the general exclusions (including but not limited to ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, intellectual disability, motor disorders, dementia). There is no specific inpatient mental health admission benefit; the general exclusion for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders applies.

> Source: [https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/SmartCare-Sept-2025.pdf](https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/SmartCare-Sept-2025.pdf)
**SmartCare+** `accuro/smartcare-plus` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The mental health benefit under the Hospital and Surgical+ base plan covers $1,000 per person per policy year for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or counsellor (no excess applies). Practitioners must be registered under the psychiatry scope with the Medical Council of New Zealand, as a psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, as a psychotherapist with the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand, or as a counsellor with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors or other relevant association. Psychiatric, psychological, and neurodevelopmental disorders are generally excluded from cover (including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, etc.). There is no specific inpatient mental health admission benefit described; the exclusion of psychiatric/psychological disorders applies broadly.

> Source: [https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/SmartCare%2B-Sept-2025.pdf](https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/SmartCare%2B-Sept-2025.pdf)
**SmartStay** `accuro/smartstay` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The private and public hospital medical admission benefit explicitly does not cover admission for mental health, psychiatric or psychological treatment or counselling. The Mental Health benefit provides $1,000 per person per policy year (no excess applies) for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor who are appropriately registered. The Specialist module also includes a separate mental health consultations benefit of $1,000 per person per policy year. General exclusions exclude treatment or counselling for any psychiatric, psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders.

> Source: [https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/SmartStay-Sept-2025.pdf](https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/SmartStay-Sept-2025.pdf)
**StaffCare** `accuro/staffcare` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `verified`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The mental health benefit covers $1,000 per person per policy year (no excess applies) for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor who is registered with the relevant professional body. Inpatient or hospital admission for mental health, psychiatric or psychological treatment or counselling is explicitly excluded under the private hospital medical admission benefit. Treatment or counselling for any psychiatric, psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders is also listed as a general exclusion.

> Source: [https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/StaffCare-Sept-2025.pdf](https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/StaffCare-Sept-2025.pdf)
**StaffCare+** `accuro/staffcare-plus` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The mental health benefit under the Hospital and Surgical+ base plan covers the costs of Reasonable charges for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor up to $1,000 for each person in a policy year; no excess applies. Providers must be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand (psychiatry scope), New Zealand Psychologists Board, Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand, or the New Zealand Association of Counsellors or other relevant association. Separately, the Specialist+ module includes a mental health consultations sub-benefit of $1,000 per person per policy year within the specialist consultations benefit. Psychiatric, psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders are listed as a general exclusion and treatment or counselling for these conditions is not covered (including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, geriatric care, intellectual disability, motor disorders, pre-senile dementia, senile illness or dementia, and specific learning disorders). There is no explicit inpatient mental health admission benefit described.

> Source: [https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/StaffCare%2B-Sept-2025.pdf](https://production-media-accuro.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/Collateral/Policy-Documents/2025/Health-Plan-Documents-1-September/StaffCare%2B-Sept-2025.pdf)
### AIA

**AIA Private Health** `aia/private-health` — wording effective 2026-05-16 — confidence `verified`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $2,500

Mental illness is broadly excluded: 'Psychiatric, psychological and/or neurodevelopment disorders including treatment or counselling for but not limited to pre-senile dementia, senile illness or dementia, geriatric care including geriatric in-patient care and disability support services, intellectual disability (intellectual development disorder), autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorders, motor disorders (including but not limited to Tourette's disorder) or dyslexia.' The only mental health cover provided is the Mental Health Support Benefit ($2,500 per life assured per policy year), which covers the cost of a Psychiatrist or Psychologist consultation and/or counselling where the support treatment and/or consultations directly relate to a claim under the Surgery or Cancer Care benefits, received within six months of the claim being accepted. No excess applies to this benefit.

> Source: [https://www.aia.co.nz/content/dam/nz/en/docs/our-products/policy-wordings/health/aia-private-health-umbrella-policy-wording.pdf](https://www.aia.co.nz/content/dam/nz/en/docs/our-products/policy-wordings/health/aia-private-health-umbrella-policy-wording.pdf)
### nib

**Easy Health** `nib/easy-health` — wording effective 2024-09-20 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* Not covered — psychiatric, psychological, behavioural, or developmental conditions (for example: depression, ADHD, and eating disorders) are a general exclusion with no sublimit provided.

Psychiatric, psychological, behavioural, or developmental conditions (for example: depression, ADHD, and eating disorders) and injuries that are self-inflicted are general exclusions under this policy. There is no inpatient mental health admission benefit.

> Source: [https://assets.ctfassets.net/px2565zobjcl/6cvBkC1suOUs7v5HKNIZX5/a5d1a25eb5608458dbedb21fe97ac431/Easy-Health-Policy-Document-Final-20.9.24.pdf](https://assets.ctfassets.net/px2565zobjcl/6cvBkC1suOUs7v5HKNIZX5/a5d1a25eb5608458dbedb21fe97ac431/Easy-Health-Policy-Document-Final-20.9.24.pdf)
**Ultimate Health** `nib/ultimate-health` — wording effective 2025-11-24 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* psychiatric, psychological, behavioural, or developmental conditions (for example: depression, ADHD, and eating disorders) are excluded entirely — no sublimit applies as these conditions are not covered

Psychiatric, psychological, behavioural, or developmental conditions (for example: depression, ADHD, and eating disorders) are listed as a general exclusion. There is no inpatient mental health admission benefit under this policy.

> Source: [https://assets.ctfassets.net/ja9v5o5o08yv/2I5CHtqWsDwQ2YtNOeSmFP/e2f58e9bf22d97e6cb7400f7181d6583/ultimate-health-policy-from-24-Nov-2025.pdf](https://assets.ctfassets.net/ja9v5o5o08yv/2I5CHtqWsDwQ2YtNOeSmFP/e2f58e9bf22d97e6cb7400f7181d6583/ultimate-health-policy-from-24-Nov-2025.pdf)
**Ultimate Health Max** `nib/ultimate-health-max` — wording effective 2024-02-01 — confidence `verified`

No specific mental health admission rules or sublimits are described in the available policy text.

> Source: [https://assets.ctfassets.net/ja9v5o5o08yv/7Acf9tvW7QiaF1lSLqnV0p/8282b54901949d83eeda17b5398ea67c/Ultimate_Health_Max_Policy_Document__effective_for_new_policies_or_policies_renewing_from_1_February_2024_or_later_.pdf](https://assets.ctfassets.net/ja9v5o5o08yv/7Acf9tvW7QiaF1lSLqnV0p/8282b54901949d83eeda17b5398ea67c/Ultimate_Health_Max_Policy_Document__effective_for_new_policies_or_policies_renewing_from_1_February_2024_or_later_.pdf)
### Southern Cross

**KiwiCare** `southern-cross/kiwicare` — wording effective 2026-04-01 — confidence `verified`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $2,250

Psychiatric hospitalisation benefit provides cover for admission and care by a specialist who is vocationally registered in psychiatry in an approved facility. We'll cover 80% of the actual charges incurred for psychiatric admission and care, to a maximum of $2,250 each claims year. Sub-limits apply: up to $450 for each night or day-stay in hospital accommodation; up to $160 each claims year for ancillary hospital charges. No excess applies to this benefit. Psychiatrist consultations are covered separately up to $600 each claims year at 80% of actual charges.

> Source: [https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_KiwiCare_plan.pdf](https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_KiwiCare_plan.pdf)
**RegularCare** `southern-cross/regularcare` — wording effective 2026-04-01 — confidence `verified`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $2,250

Cover for psychiatric hospitalisation is $2,250 each claims year. This covers admission and care by a specialist who is vocationally registered in psychiatry in an approved facility. Sub-limits apply: up to $450 for each night or day-stay in hospital accommodation, and up to $160 each claims year for ancillary hospital charges. No excess applies to this benefit. Mental health healthcare services are otherwise excluded except for psychiatrist consultations ($600 each claims year) and, for RegularCare plan holders, the Day-to-day treatment benefit.

> Source: [https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_RegularCare_plan.pdf](https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_RegularCare_plan.pdf)
**UltraCare** `southern-cross/ultracare` — wording effective 2026-04-01 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,500

Psychiatric hospitalisation is covered up to $3,500 each claims year. This requires admission and care by a specialist who is vocationally registered in psychiatry in an approved facility. Sub-limits apply: up to $700 for each night or day-stay in hospital accommodation; up to $200 each claims year for ancillary hospital charges. Reasonable charges apply. Mental health consultations (with a psychiatrist vocationally registered in psychiatry, or a psychologist registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board) are covered up to $1,500 each claims year. General mental health costs are otherwise excluded except as covered under the Mental health consultations benefit, Psychiatric hospitalisation benefit, and Day-to-day treatment benefit.

> Source: [https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_UltraCare_plan.pdf](https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_UltraCare_plan.pdf)
**Wellbeing Modules** `southern-cross/wellbeing-modules` — wording effective 2026-04-01 — confidence `low`

_Not on file for this product._

> Source: [https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Sales-collateral/Plan-documents/BS-Wellbeing-Modules.pdf](https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Sales-collateral/Plan-documents/BS-Wellbeing-Modules.pdf)
**Wellbeing One** `southern-cross/wellbeing-one` — wording effective 2026-04-01 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $3,500

Psychiatric hospitalisation is covered up to $3,500 each claims year for admission and care by a specialist who is vocationally registered in psychiatry in an approved facility. Sub-limits apply: up to $700 for each night or day-stay in hospital accommodation, and up to $200 each claims year for ancillary hospital charges. Reasonable charges are covered. No excess applies to this benefit. Psychiatrist consultations are covered separately up to $750 each claims year (reasonable charges, no excess).

> Source: [https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_Wellbeing_plan.pdf](https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_Wellbeing_plan.pdf)
**Wellbeing Two** `southern-cross/wellbeing-two` — wording effective 2026-04-01 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $3,500

The 'Psychiatric hospitalisation' benefit provides cover for admission and care by a specialist who is vocationally registered in psychiatry in an approved facility. Cover is up to $3,500 each claims year, including sub-limits of up to $700 for each night or day-stay in hospital accommodation and up to $200 each claims year for ancillary hospital charges. We'll cover the reasonable charges incurred. No excess applies to this benefit. Psychiatrist consultations (outpatient) are covered under a separate benefit up to $750 each claims year.

> Source: [https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_Wellbeing_plan.pdf](https://www.southerncross.co.nz/-/media/Southern-Cross-Health-Society/Health-insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Current-plan-documents/PD_Wellbeing_plan.pdf)
### UniMed

**Health Positive** `unimed/health-positive` — wording effective 2025-08-01 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

Costs of reasonable charges for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor are covered up to $1,000 per annum (3-month no-claiming period). They must be registered either under the psychiatry scope with the Medical Council of New Zealand, as a psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, as a psychotherapist with the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand, or as a counsellor with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors or other relevant association. Hospital or inpatient mental health admissions are excluded as the plan excludes hospital visits.

> Source: [https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/Health_Positive_Plan.pdf](https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/Health_Positive_Plan.pdf)
**Hospital Select** `unimed/hospital-select` — wording effective 2025-08-01 — confidence `low`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

Psychiatric/Geriatric Hospitalisation in a Licensed Private Hospital, on admission and under the care of a Specialist Psychiatrist/Geriatrician. Refund of Hospital Accommodation fees and ancillary hospital charges up to $5,000 per policy year. Separate Mental Health benefit covers costs of reasonable charges for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor (registered with their relevant NZ professional body) up to $1,000 per policy year. Medical Hospitalisation benefit excludes Psychiatric/Geriatric admissions.

> Source: [https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/Hospital_Select_Plus_Modules_Plan.pdf](https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/Hospital_Select_Plus_Modules_Plan.pdf)
**ParentStay** `unimed/parentstay` — wording effective 2025-10-01 — confidence `inferred`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

The Mental Health benefit covers up to $1,000 for each Member each policy year for reasonable charges for consultations with a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor. They must be registered either under the psychiatry scope with the Medical Council of New Zealand, as a psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, as a psychotherapist with the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand, or as a counsellor with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors or other relevant health professional association. Psychiatric, psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders are listed as a general exclusion and are not covered, including ADHD, geriatric care, pre-senile dementia, and senile illnesses including dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Inpatient mental health admissions are not specifically provided for as a separate benefit.

> Source: [https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/ParentStay-Health-Plan-2025.pdf](https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/ParentStay-Health-Plan-2025.pdf)
**UniCare Advantage** `unimed/unicare-advantage` — wording effective 2025-08-01 — confidence `low`

*Mental health annual sublimit:* $1,000

Psychiatric Hospitalisation in a Licensed Private Hospital on admission and under the care of a Specialist Psychiatrist. Refund of Hospital Accommodation Fees and ancillary hospital charges up to $3,500 per policy year. Under the Loyalty Benefits (after five years' continuous membership), consultations with a vocationally registered psychiatrist in New Zealand are covered at $150 per visit up to three visits per policy year.

> Source: [https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/UniCare_Advantage_Plan.pdf](https://www.unimed.co.nz/assets/PlansAndDocs/Health-Plans/UniCare_Advantage_Plan.pdf)

## Other comparison topics

- [Pharmac vs Non-Pharmac Drug Cover in NZ Health Insurance](/api/topic/pharmac-vs-non-pharmac/summary.md) — `pharmac-vs-non-pharmac`
- [ACC Interaction in NZ Health Insurance](/api/topic/acc-interaction/summary.md) — `acc-interaction`
- [Pre-Existing Conditions and NZ Health Insurance](/api/topic/pre-existing-conditions/summary.md) — `pre-existing-conditions`
- [IVF and Assisted Reproduction Cover in NZ Health Insurance](/api/topic/ivf-and-assisted-reproduction/summary.md) — `ivf-and-assisted-reproduction`
- [Oncology and High-Cost Cancer Drugs in NZ Health Insurance](/api/topic/oncology-high-cost-drugs/summary.md) — `oncology-high-cost-drugs`
- [Gap Payment Rules in NZ Health Insurance](/api/topic/gap-payment-rules/summary.md) — `gap-payment-rules`

## Coverage notes

- Insurers in this comparison: Accuro, AIA, nib, Southern Cross, UniMed
- Products compared: 20 active retail products
- Each product links to its source PDF + structured machine-readable facts at `/api/product/{insurer}/{product}/facts.json`
- This page is generated from `insurance.wording_facts` JSONB rows in our Supabase data layer

## Citation

Cite as: "Mental Health Cover in NZ Health Insurance", healthinsurancecomparison.co.nz, accessed 2026-05-16.
Canonical URL: https://healthinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/topic/mental-health-cover/summary.md
License: CC BY 4.0 — attribute https://healthinsurancecomparison.co.nz
Primary sources: each insurer's policy wording PDF linked inline above.

Generated 2026-05-16T12:55:09.696Z.