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.
Source: each insurer's current policy wording PDF (linked inline). Last refreshed 2026-05-16.
Accuro
KidSmart
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
SmartCare
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
SmartCare+
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
SmartStay
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
StaffCare
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence verified ·
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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.
StaffCare+
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
AIA
AIA Private Health
Wording effective 2026-05-16 · extraction confidence verified ·
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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.
nib
Easy Health
Wording effective 2024-09-20 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
Ultimate Health
Wording effective 2025-11-24 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
Southern Cross
KiwiCare
Wording effective 2026-04-01 · extraction confidence verified ·
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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.
RegularCare
Wording effective 2026-04-01 · extraction confidence verified ·
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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.
UltraCare
Wording effective 2026-04-01 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
Wellbeing Modules
Wording effective 2026-04-01 · extraction confidence low ·
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Not on file for this product.
Wellbeing One
Wording effective 2026-04-01 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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).
Wellbeing Two
Wording effective 2026-04-01 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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.
UniMed
Health Positive
Wording effective 2025-08-01 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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
Hospital Select
Wording effective 2025-08-01 · extraction confidence low ·
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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
ParentStay
Wording effective 2025-10-01 · extraction confidence inferred ·
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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
UniCare Advantage
Wording effective 2025-08-01 · extraction confidence low ·
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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
Machine-readable version
Same content as plain text: /api/topic/mental-health-cover/summary.md
Per-product JSON facts: see llms.txt for the full endpoint list.