Southern Cross - NZ Health Insurance Company

Why Southern Cross?
Southern Cross is a New Zealand owned not for profit organisation, so our primary goal is to provide our members with access to quality medical treatment when and where they need it. All surpluses generated are reinvested for the benefit of the members. This includes building reserves that offset the impact of future premium increases and expanding the range of benefits and services available to our members.

Excellent claims-payment record
We aim to pay out 85 cents for every dollar received in premiums to our members in claims. In the financial year ending 30 June 2008 we paid out nearly 89.6 cents in each dollar.

Financial Strength
Southern Cross Medical Care Society has a strong financial position, with an A+ (Strong) financial strength rating given by Standard & Poor's (Australia) Pty Limited on 21 February 2009. This rating indicates an organisation's ability to pay out claims.

Member Benefits
Members of Southern Cross have access to information, advice and other valuable services to help them look after their health. This includes:

Affiliated Provider network
This network comprises arrangements with specialists, hospitals and facilities which provide specific services and procedures to members at agreed prices. The affiliated provider will organise prior approval for the service and send the bill directly to us, avoiding the need for members to pay out and then claim.

Southern Cross Plus programme
The Southern Cross Plus card gives members access to savings and benefits on a range of health and wellness items on a day-to-day basis. They will also receive vouchers three times a year with special offers from Plus Partners.

Alive magazine
A free, biannual magazine featuring health, wellness and lifestyle articles.

Travel insurance
Southern Cross members receive a 15% discount off the non-member rate for TravelCare or Frequent Traveller premiums through Southern Cross travel insurance. If members buy TravelCare online they will receive a further 20% discount off their premium.

Prior approval
An important service we provide to confirm whether the healthcare service a member intends to undergo is eligible for cover. They must seek prior approval for all treatment likely to cost over $1,000 or where the healthcare service involves any hospitalisation regardless of cost.

1 Southern Cross Annual Report 2008.
2 The rating scale is:
AAA (Extremely Strong) AA (Very Strong) A (Strong)
BBB (Good) BB (Marginal) B (Weak)
CCC (Very Weak) CC (Extremely Weak) R (Regulatory Action)
Plus (+) or Minus (-) signs following ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' show relative standing within the major categories. Full details of the rating scale are available for inspection at our offices. Standard & Poor's (Australia) Pty Limited is an approved agency under the Insurance Companies (Ratings and Inspections) Act 1994.
3 This discount is off either the discounted member rate or the non-member rate, whichever is applicable to the member.

Southern Cross - Life Insurance Provider - LifeDirect