Southern Cross offers financial support

That includes the ability for members who have experienced a loss of income and are no longer in paid work to put their policies on hold for up to six months.

Members experiencing financial hardship can put policies on hold for up to three months. During this time, they are not required to pay premiums and retain their pre-existing cover while being unable to make claims.

Eligible members also have the option to add an excess to their plan, remove add-on modules or downgrade their plan to reduce their premiums.

Southern Cross Health Society chief executive Nick Astwick said the financial support options were designed to assist those members most affected by the crisis.