Adviser warned over misleading Covid-19 ads

Liam Mason

The messages were presented in posts on Chinese-language social media platform WeChat.

The posts, written like news articles, cited costs for Covid-19 hospitalisations in China – supposedly up to $250,000 – before recommending people living in New Zealand get health insurance to avoid the same financial risk, especially young children and the elderly.

The advertorials failed to mention that in New Zealand, emergency treatment and testing for Covid-19 is free, as it is covered by the public health system. The Ministry of Health says anyone with an infectious disease is eligible for publicly-funded health services. Citizenship and immigration status are not relevant, nor is their length of stay in New Zealand.

After being tipped off by a concerned party, the FMA contacted the adviser’s office and they agreed to remove the Covid-19 advertorials. The FMA is following up with the advice firm in question.