Southern Cross offers special health insurance deal to iwi’s elders

At present, the iwi offers annual medical grants to registered members aged 60-plus. But for the first time, kaumatua can now use this money to pay for a basic Southern Cross health policy. At this point it doesn’t cover mental health issues, nor does it cover surgery.

Kerry Boielle, chief sales and marketing officer at Southern Cross, says the scheme is a first for the insurer. Kaumatua who take up the offer can access services such as GP visits, dental care, optometry, physiotherapy and chiropractic care up to the $1250 cap.

“This represents incredible value that they wouldn’t get anywhere else in New Zealand because we are members-only and a not-for--profit,” Boielle says.

For some in the community, the barriers to accessing day-to-day care are substantial. “If you remove these barriers, it can only be a good thing. Those barriers are very real for a lot of people. We feel really privileged to be able to make a positive contribution, working with Waikato-Tainui. It’s a pretty cool opportunity.”