Insurance

AIA makes major play in health insurance market

Thursday 1st of October 2015

The new Real Health product introduces new $500,000 limits on surgical and non-surgical treatments, including new generation, non-Pharmac treatments for cancer, such as the innovative immunotherapy treatments, that are otherwise unaffordable for the average New Zealander.

AIA chief executive Natalie Cameron says: “Our new Real Health policy directly addresses the affordability issues for these new treatments, but we’re also moving to address the general affordability of insurance cover for the average New Zealander by introducing a generous discount regime on premiums.”

AIA customers who purchase the Real Life policy together with other insurance policies receive an escalating discount per extra policy.

“The more policies that are bundled up, the greater the discount that is available,” Cameron says.

The two initiatives, taken together, will increase the number of New Zealanders gaining access to the latest life-saving drugs and treatments, she added.

“These new drugs and treatments are coming to market quickly and although there is uncertainty around when and how much they will cost, we can be sure that costs will continue to rise,” comments Cameron. “The insurance industry is about effectively managing risk and we are introducing this new product now in the expectation that New Zealanders will need that level of support in the near future.”

As the second largest life insurer in the world, AIA is serious about investing in the New Zealand insurance industry, Cameron says. “The AIA group has a market capitalisation of $116.34b, and that gives us the economies of scale to provide New Zealand families with an affordable choice,” Cameron says.

“We aim to be a serious industry player offering innovative products, with real benefits, that are more relevant to people’s lives than our competitors’ offering.”
 

Comments (3)
Lindsay Forbes
The $500,000.00 cover for medical is so dumb We have an affordability issue in NZ where about 70% of medical insurance would not exist but for employer paid cover Private Medical insurance should be for elective items, and basically to avoid the waiting list It should not be for medical people to divert you to private care for life threatening issues, where there is no waiting list If the industry wants to get back to 50% plus insurance, get away from this. In the main it is window dressing anyway, but it creates an opportunity for the specialists to order the new Bugatti for Wife
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9 years ago

Regan Thomas
Wow. I just... omg. lol! Do you say this stuff to clients? 70%? Reference please. Divert acute stuff to private? A Bugatti? Ever heard of UCR? Oh, I get it. We have trolls on GR. Well played.
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9 years ago

Lindsay Forbes
No Harry - these are facts Medical insurance was at about 50% 30 years ago. Now it is around 30% with over 50% of that in company medical schemes. The HFA thinks about 70% How many claims have you actually seen How many quotes from clients have you heard, where the first question is "have you got medical insurance" And yes I do say this to clients when they are talking letting their medical cover lapse because of the premium problem. So that they can factor it in It is called "telling the truth"
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9 years ago

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