Accuro Offers Portable Health Care Cover

Accuro Offers Portable Health Care Cover

September 4, 2013

Accuro Health Insurance is extending its cover to New Zealanders living and working in Australia.

As one of several significant new benefits which took effect from September 1, Accuro will reimburse New Zealanders for the cost of non-acute conditions which are incurred and treated in Australia.

Accuro’s General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Kelleigh Aston, explains the reimbursement will be the normal charges payable in New Zealand for the same procedure and/or medical treatment and subject to conditions described in the insurance cover.

The new benefit is available through Accuro’s SmartCare+ policy.

“Accuro recognises New Zealanders love to travel and work overseas but also want to maintain their health insurance instead of letting it lapse and starting afresh when they get home,” Kelleigh says.

“Under our new benefit Accuro members can do that both in Australia and Great Britain which has a similar health system.”

Kelleigh says if Accuro members require non-acute surgery they can have it carried out promptly in those countries so they can quickly return to full health.

The new benefit is also available to New Zealanders living or working anywhere in the world however, in most countries, they will need to return to New Zealand for their non-acute procedures.

“Depending on the seriousness of the procedure this can be done when members return home to visit family and friends. The beauty of health insurance is that members can have their surgery when they want it and where they want it,” Kelleigh says.

“Accuro has been considering this benefit for some time. We’ve also listened to members who travel and they’re keen to have a portable policy.”

The other new benefits address hospice care, cover for mammograms and prostate checks and “second opinion” consultation.

Accuro recognises member loyalty especially among older people who could be suffering serious ill health. Its new hospice benefit pays for each extra night after the first three consecutive nights of admission.

“Accuro is the only health insurer that has increased membership over the last three years and we do that by looking after all age groups,” Kelleigh says.

The benefit is available through its SmartCare and SmartCare+ policies.

As part of its strong emphasis on wellness, Accuro recommends New Zealanders should have regular health checks. As a result the health insurer will meet the cost of mammograms or prostate checks for members who’ve joined Accuro for three years or more.

“We support healthy lifestyles and meeting the cost of mammograms and prostate checks is a way of achieving that,” Kelleigh says.

This benefit is available through SmartCare and SmartCare+ policies.

The “second opinion” consultation addresses a situation where a member has received a diagnosis or treatment plan from a registered medical specialist but wants a second opinion. Under the new benefit, they can seek the opinion from an alternative specialist up to a maximum of $4,000 per annum.

This benefit is available through SmartCare, SmartCare+, StaffCare and StaffCare+policies.

In addition to the four new benefits, Kelleigh says a number of enhancements will advantage Accuro members. The health insurer will increase the cover for minor surgery in all of its health care plans, pregnancy cover will double for SmartCare+ members and cover for non-Pharmac chemotherapy drugs will increase from $5,000 to $10,000 for employees with StaffCare+ cover.  

“We believe all of these measures maintain Accuro’s pre-eminence as a leader in the provision of health care in New Zealand and ensure members continue to receive comprehensive and competitive cover,” Kelleigh says.

ENDS

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