Self-employed or contractor — losing income if hospitalised
Day-rate equivalent benefits, faster surgical pathways, and ACC-gap cover for self-employed Kiwis.
You're self-employed and every week off work is direct income loss. The right private health cover gets you to surgery faster (vs months on a public waitlist) — that's the asymmetric value. Income protection is the separate adjacent product; health insurance closes the surgical-timeline gap.
Top policies for this scenario
Ranked by aggregate semantic match across 5 scenario-specific queries. Score reflects clause-level fit, not premium. We don't know what you'd pay — get a quote for the shortlist.
- score 1.68
#1 · Accuro
SmartCare+
Watch out for
- If ACC funds the surgery, private cover pays only the gap — not the headline amount. Read the ACC top-up clause.
Show matched clauses (4)
Query: "specialist consultation cover for diagnosis" · similarity 79% · weight 0.8
SmartCare+ at a glance > Additional modules/Health Plan > Specialist+ module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "ACC top-up specialist gap private surgery" · similarity 57% · weight 0.8
Hospital and Surgical+ base plan > Other benefits > ACC top-up
**An excess applies to this benefit** We cover any shortfall between what ACC pays and the actual costs of the surgical procedure or medical treatment in an approved private hospital or facility. We deduct the excess, which you must pay. You must send us a copy of ACC's decision before getting treatment. These other terms apply. - The Member must receive ACC's acceptance of their claim before t…
Source PDF →Query: "second opinion and specialist referral cover" · similarity 66% · weight 0.5
SmartCare+ at a glance > Additional modules/Health Plan > Specialist+ module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "mental health and stress-related cover for working adults" · similarity 44% · weight 0.6
Additional modules > Specialist+ module > Specialist consultations > This includes:
**Mental health consultations** **$1,000 for each person in a policy year** This benefit covers the costs of *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 wit…
Source PDF → - score 1.67
#2 · Accuro
SmartCare
Watch out for
- If ACC funds the surgery, private cover pays only the gap — not the headline amount. Read the ACC top-up clause.
Show matched clauses (4)
Query: "specialist consultation cover for diagnosis" · similarity 79% · weight 0.8
SmartCare at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Additional modules/Health Plan > Specialist module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "ACC top-up specialist gap private surgery" · similarity 56% · weight 0.8
Hospital and Surgical base plan > Other benefits > ACC top-up
**An excess applies to this benefit** We cover any shortfall between what ACC pays and the actual costs of the surgical procedure or medical treatment in an approved private hospital or facility. We deduct the excess, which you must pay. You must send us a copy of ACC's decision before getting treatment. These other terms apply. - The Member must receive ACC's acceptance of their claim before t…
Source PDF →Query: "second opinion and specialist referral cover" · similarity 66% · weight 0.5
SmartCare at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Additional modules/Health Plan > Specialist module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "mental health and stress-related cover for working adults" · similarity 43% · weight 0.6
SmartCare at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Additional modules/Health Plan > Day to Day Health Plan
Cover for everyday costs such as going to the doctor, natural therapist, dentist or optician.
Source PDF → - score 1.67
#3 · Accuro
StaffCare
Watch out for
- If ACC funds the surgery, private cover pays only the gap — not the headline amount. Read the ACC top-up clause.
Show matched clauses (4)
Query: "specialist consultation cover for diagnosis" · similarity 79% · weight 0.8
StaffCare at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Specialist module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "ACC top-up specialist gap private surgery" · similarity 56% · weight 0.8
Hospital and Surgical base plan > Other benefits > ACC top-up
**An excess applies to this benefit** We cover any shortfall between what ACC pays and the actual costs of the surgical procedure or medical treatment in an approved private hospital or facility. We deduct the excess, which you must pay. You must send us a copy of ACC's decision before getting treatment. These other terms apply. - The Member must receive ACC's acceptance of their claim before t…
Source PDF →Query: "second opinion and specialist referral cover" · similarity 66% · weight 0.5
StaffCare at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Specialist module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "mental health and stress-related cover for working adults" · similarity 43% · weight 0.6
StaffCare at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Day to Day Health Plan
Cover for everyday costs such as going to the doctor, natural therapist, dentist or optician.
Source PDF → - score 1.67
#4 · Accuro
KidSmart
Watch out for
- If ACC funds the surgery, private cover pays only the gap — not the headline amount. Read the ACC top-up clause.
Show matched clauses (4)
Query: "specialist consultation cover for diagnosis" · similarity 79% · weight 0.8
KidSmart at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Specialist module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "ACC top-up specialist gap private surgery" · similarity 55% · weight 0.8
Hospital and Surgical base plan > Loyalty benefits > ACC top-up
**An excess applies to this benefit** We cover any shortfall between what ACC pays and the actual costs of the surgical procedure or medical treatment in an approved private hospital or facility. You must send us a copy of ACC's decision before getting treatment. These other terms apply. - The guardian or child must receive ACC's acceptance of the child's claim before treatment. They must also …
Source PDF →Query: "second opinion and specialist referral cover" · similarity 66% · weight 0.5
KidSmart at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Specialist module
Cover for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests.
Source PDF →Query: "mental health and stress-related cover for working adults" · similarity 43% · weight 0.6
KidSmart at a glance > Start with the base plan and add additional modules > Day to Day Health Plan
Cover for everyday costs such as going to the doctor, natural therapist, dentist or optician.
Source PDF → - score 1.30
#5 · nib
Ultimate Health Max
Show matched clauses (3)
Query: "specialist consultation cover for diagnosis" · similarity 65% · weight 0.8
02. Your Base Cover > I've been referred for tests, or to see a health professional for consultation or treatment > OPTIONS
You may also have cover available under the following Option if you have added this to your policy: **Specialist Option** - Specialist Consultations Benefit - Specialist Second Opinion Benefit - Sports Physician Benefit - Diagnostic Tests Benefit - Cardiac Investigations Benefit ---
Source PDF →Query: "private surgical pathway speed to treatment" · similarity 46% · weight 1
02. Your Base Cover > I'm recovering from a stay in hospital > Cardiac Counselling and Support Services Benefit > What else do I need to know?
- the service(s) must occur within six months of being admitted to a **private hospital** for your **surgery** or treatment - the services must relate to your heart **surgery** which was paid for by us - the services must be approved by us in advance and will be paid after you provide receipts - to claim on this benefit, you need: - a referral from the GP or **specialist** who treated your cardi…
Source PDF →Query: "second opinion and specialist referral cover" · similarity 64% · weight 0.5
02. Your Base Cover > I've been referred for tests, or to see a health professional for consultation or treatment > OPTIONS
You may also have cover available under the following Option if you have added this to your policy: **Specialist Option** - Specialist Consultations Benefit - Specialist Second Opinion Benefit - Sports Physician Benefit - Diagnostic Tests Benefit - Cardiac Investigations Benefit ---
Source PDF →
What to watch out for
- waiting period: Standard waiting periods of 3-12 months apply on most benefit lines. Plan around upcoming elective procedures.
- ACC: If ACC funds the surgery, private cover pays only the gap — not the headline amount. Read the ACC top-up clause.
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How this ranking works
This scenario translates to 5 semantic queries (weighted). Each query runs against every NZ health insurance policy clause we've ingested (3,000+ clauses across 5 insurers). The best clause-per-product per query contributes its similarity × weight to the product's aggregate score.
Try the underlying semantic clause search to run your own queries.
This is mechanical retrieval + ranking — not personalised financial advice. The actual policy you should buy depends on factors only an FSPR-registered adviser can assess (your medical history, budget, family composition, risk tolerance). Use this to shortlist, then talk to an adviser.