nib Health Insurance — Review

NZ's Pharmac funds a defined list of medicines. Non-Pharmac drugs (including high-cost cancer drugs like Keytruda) are excluded from public funding. Health insurance can fill that gap — but every insurer handles it differently. This page summarises each NZ insurer's non-Pharmac rules verbatim from their policy wordings.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/pharmac-vs-non-pharmac/

In NZ, ACC covers accidental injury and treatment-injury costs. Health insurance generally excludes ACC-covered events but most policies offer an ACC Top-Up benefit for any shortfall. This page summarises each insurer's ACC interaction rules verbatim.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/acc-interaction/

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.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/mental-health-cover/

NZ health insurers handle pre-existing conditions in two main ways: (1) disclose-and-accept (Southern Cross — exclude unless noted on certificate), or (2) stand-down period (nib — 3 years then covered, with permanent exclusions for certain conditions). This page lists each insurer's verbatim rules.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/pre-existing-conditions/

IVF, infertility treatment, and assisted reproduction are excluded from virtually every NZ retail health insurance policy. This page documents each insurer's stance verbatim.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/ivf-and-assisted-reproduction/

High-cost cancer drugs (Keytruda, Opdivo, etc.) are often non-Pharmac and not covered under public health. Some NZ insurers cover these via separate cancer benefits with specific NZD caps. This page summarises each insurer's oncology / non-Pharmac chemotherapy cover.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/oncology-high-cost-drugs/

When a provider's charges exceed what the insurer pays, the member pays the 'gap'. NZ insurers use different models — affiliated/preferred provider networks, percentage co-pays, 'reasonable charges' caps. This page lists each insurer's gap rules verbatim.

Compare this topic across every NZ insurer → /topics/gap-payment-rules/