Southern Cross Health Insurance is enhancing its HealthEssentials policy to include cover for rongoa Maori health services.
The not-for-profit says the changes are designed to ensure the policy continues to help meet the health needs of policyholders, including kaumaatua.
Waikato-Tainui offers an annual medical grant to its 14,000 registered kaumaatua aged 60-plus to provide relief and support in meeting age-related medical costs. Kaumaatua can choose to apply the grant to a Southern Cross HealthEssentials policy which provides a level of cover for some day-to-day healthcare services, says Southern Cross.
Members can now claim back up to $250 for prescriptions and visits to healthcare providers such as GPs and nurse practitioners – up from $150.
They can also use $500 of dental care cover, claim for a range of optometry services and up to $250 for self-care consultations and treatment including physiotherapy, chiropractic, or rongoa Maori.
In the past, without health insurance, kaumaatua may have delayed seeking treatment for conditions that can now be addressed sooner, says the insurer.
Southern Cross’ 2022 Healthy Futures research revealed 78% of Maori are concerned about having access to good, affordable healthcare and that only 50% of Maori are happy with their health, 10% lower than non-Maori respondents.
Waikato-Tainui General Manager Heritage and Identity, Glenda Taituha, says the 80,000 member strong iwi has always prioritised investment in its people, particularly when it comes to their health.