Great big rant about Southern Cross
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5341
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Topic: Great big rant about Southern Cross
Posted By: Mikaela
Subject: Great big rant about Southern Cross
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 10:58am
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Bloody Southern Cross! GRRRR!!!!
I checked my policy this morning, and sure enough it said that I was covered for up to $150 per appointment for Band IV Medical Practitioners (which included 'Obstetrics' under the list). However, when I rang them up to confirm that, they said no, that I'm not covered for anything pregnancy related at all, and that pregnancy and childbirth is on the exclusions list. Why list obstetrics then?! I asked if there was a plan that covered pregnancy the woman said that there is, but it's their most expensive plan and you have to have been on it for three years before claiming anything pregnancy related. Great. And it's even more frustrating when I look across the ditch (I'm an Aussie) at what happens over there - I worked out that if we had stayed living in Aus to have the baby we'd be almost $8k better off, when you factor in the baby bonus and that most plans do cover pregnancy and childbirth. GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! Ok, rant over. I feel much better now. Thanks for listening  ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: MrsCrispy
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 11:53am
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Sorry but why didn't you check this out when you took out the policy? As maternity cover here in NZ is generally free - and there is no private system as there is in Australia - there is no need for it to be covered by health insurance. Plus in Australia the only thing the health insurance covers is your hospital stay - it doesn't cover your obs visits. Sure Medicare does but not 100% of the cost - you'd still have your out of pockets.
If you still want the secruity of a private obs being available when you give birth, check with a few midwives and see what relationship they have with private obs. For example my midwife refers her mothers to a private obs (if they want to) for a pre-labour visit then if the obs is needed during labour you get that obs. Its not too bad - if you need them in labour its only costing us $800 and that covers ceasers and any other assisted deliveries - much cheaper then seeing an obs all the way through your pregnancy. BTW I am an Australian and I personally think the maternity system is way way better here in NZ then in Australia - much more personal and not so worried about law suits that they take the easy way out - to the detriment of the mother. |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 12:02pm
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been there done that...I also have a good policy with SC...and not a thing covered for pregnancy...and i have been seeing a specialist so that has cost us $4000 that i had hoped would be covered...
yep only cover is the top policy and guess what = then it only covers $1000 anyways!!!! I am pleased we have free maternity in NZ but people like me have to pay for speciliast and i had also thought it was covered...guess what = it used to be!!! I have had my policy now for 5-7 years but they changed it to only ultra care a few years back apparently...just when i was not thinking of getting pg!!! I know how you feel!!! ALSO you only have three months (after bubs birth)apparently to add baby to your policy...thats great isnt it when i pay via work and will be on leave etc...we are still tossing up whether to add her or not... |
Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 12:12pm
You're right, I should have. I just saw 'Obstetrics' under the list of things that are covered and somehow missed 'Pregnancy and Childbirth' under exclusions - I thought I'd checked it pretty carefully but obviously not. Regardless, they do seem to contradict each other 
And you have to admit that it would be nice for all of us if NZ brought in the Aussie baby bonus. Who couldn't use an extra $4k?  ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com">
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MrsCrispy wrote:Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 12:53pm
*start lecture*
Do it! You just never know. I have UltraCare100 (the top one) and I probably made about 2 claims a year before I had kids. I added the girls and have never for a second regretted it - in the three months since I've had the gremlins I haven't had a single month where my claims have been less than my premium. Yes with Under 5's a lot of medical care is free, but you truly do get what you pay for - there is a 9 month waiting list to see a public paediatric immunology registrar at Starship, you can see the top paediatric immunologist who runs the Starship immunology clinic within 3 months in private practise, and depending on your policy you can get up to 100% of it back. We see Sienna's renal surgeon privately, we've seen a private paed for Merecedes reflux, and all three of them see a private immunolgy/allergy paed. And yet before I had Maya I would never have guessed that my kids would have any health issues at all. Sorry, I just get really wound up about health insurance coz I hate the sucky public health waiting lists (been there done that with my stepdaughter who I couldn't add to my policy as the condition was pre-existing). As for Australia being better, me thinks not! I took Sienna to the doctor here the other day, it cost me $55 of which I will get $31 back from Medicare. In NZ it would have cost me nothing. Yes community midwifery care here is free, and you can get obstetrics covered by private insurance, but private insurance only covers a percentage of doctors visits and prescriptions, unlike in NZ where if you have a comprehensive policy everything is covered. They also don't have the same LMC system we have (unless you go private) so you don't have the same continuity of care, and you get one home visit postnatally, versus a minimum of 5 in NZ. And ultrasounds start at $80, in NZ some are free, and most are only up to $30 or so - imagine how much the 17 scans I had with the gremlins would have cost me over here! Southern Cross did pay for my obstetrician, if you qualify then the cover is $1000 per claims year. My OB charged me $2000, but as my claims year ends in Oct, I was able to claim the whole lot back in two separate claims, one in each claims year of my pregnancy. *end lecture* -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 1:22pm
| Its a really good idea to add kids to the policy asap, my MIL added DH to hers while she was still preggy once she was 8 months along (dunno if thats still possible now) and was really glad she did as he has an eye prob and had to have treatment and operations etc on it and had he been added later none of it would have been covered, they would have exluded eye problems for him. |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:06pm
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Whats the baby bonus in Oz? And do you get maternity pay like here? Cos that adds up to 4k over the 15 weeks. -------------  
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:11pm
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There is a baby bonus in Scotland too. They'd better look at introducing it to NZ soon because we are slowly dying out!
Curious though, what pg issue would you want covered by insurance that wouldn't already be free? ------------- |
Posted By: MrsCrispy
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:19pm
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In Australia you get paid a lump sum regardless of your income - its $4100 - and its tax free. They don't have a paid maternity leave scheme. Some employers offer it but the majority don't.
Before I found out how restrictive the maternity payment scheme is here in NZ I thought they were pretty much the same but they are not. There are no restrictions on the Australian baby bonus at all - not like here where you have to be taking leave from a job and you have to be either self employed or an employee not a contractor like I was! Also the Australian bonus is not taxed where as the payments here are. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:27pm
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If I had had the gremlins here I would have already spent the entire 8k baby bonus (you get double for twins) on medical expenses during pregnancy and for them, so I'd be no better off... ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:38pm
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Isn't everyone entitled to the $1200 baby bonus? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MrsCrispy
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:40pm
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Are they? If so where do you get it from? I;ve been trying everywhere to find out where we can get some help from somewhere but we either earn too much or as I was on a fixed term contract I'm not eligable! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 2:49pm
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I think it is a parental tax credit is the other option if you don't take the maternity pay. If you talk to WINZ they should be able to help. ------------- "> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 3:14pm
| Yeah Sarah Beth is right, you choose, one or the other, you don't get both which sucks! |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 7:27pm
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I was having this conversation with a friend of mine in Aussie and also a cousin of mine who have both just had babies and they both agreed that NZ was way better in many ways. I could only agree with what they had told me as i have never had a bubs in aussie
But yeah i agree that NZ is better when you add up all the equal entitlements here and in aussie and Nz seems to come out on top
Like i said though i have not had a bubs over there so personally cannot judge
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 7:33pm
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Yes it is Parental Tax Credit, it is paid like Family Support and you need to call the IRD about it. ------------- |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 8:38pm
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That is the one that keep trying to tell me I am better off with as I didn't earn the amount that "they" recommend you earn to be better off than with PPL. I worked it out myself and I know i'm better off on PPL and plus my DH is taking 2 weeks of it from me so we had to take that option. I know what you mean about them stating them on there and then not being able to claim. And then the 3 month thing - that one really annoyed me. I got Andrew on when he was 3 months and 3 weeks and they were like "we won't cover anything that is wrong with him now". He had a normal delivery and no birth defects him nothing wrong with him. I know that as soon as this one is born and has a name it will be on the policy. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Leish
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 8:55pm
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My hubby's cousin has just "moved" to Aussie - about 6 months pregnant - just so she can get the payout for having the bubs there. I don't think they thought it out very well - just saw the $$ and packed their bags. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 9:45pm
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Don't get me wrong, I love Oz and I love spending time here - you just couldn't pay me enough money in the world to want to live here!
Baysmum - I added the gremlins before I even left Birthcare lol. Andrew should be covered for anything diagnosed AFTER you added him tho, just nothing diagnosed in the first three months. Eg. If I hadn't added Sienna at birth they wouldn't cover her kidney condition. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 22 January 2007 at 9:56pm
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yeah Emma i hadnt thought about jumping the queues etc for bubs...and yes with your girls it has def worked out...will look into adding bubs pre birth...we dont have ultra just hosp and specialist but that should cover most anyways....
to get the $1000 you need ultra...mine isnt covered at all for my policy...youd think it would be tho! the parental tax thingey kicks in if you would be better off on that that Parental leave...if you get the forms off IRD site they have a checklist to see which one you would be better off getting...mine is the leave entitlement... and yes parental leave for most works out to around the same (even after tax) as the ozzie one...altho being given it in one lump sum might be nice here... I have no idea what other payments that $1200 could be...we do pretty well on free mat care here..its just if u are special like me that it costs you....
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 23 January 2007 at 7:50am
I get the $1000 credit from Southern Cross but I'm glad I hadn't needed it so far - if you go to a specialist it would cost much much more. At this stage I'm planning on using mine to stay in a private room at Birthcare - the whole $1000 covers you for the 3 days private room stay 
If I end up staying in Akl hospital I won't get to use it for anything. Bombshell is right - I think the reason insurance dosn't cover much is because pretty much all the pregnancy related stuff is free. But don't get me started on WINZ and the maternity payments - I can not understand why you don't get your normal pay for the 3 months! I bl**dy pay taxes on the whole thing don't I???  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 23 January 2007 at 10:44am
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the WINZ maternity pay out is worked out on the average income of NZers I believe, who earns that (or less than that) has me stumped, and I actually wonder if they include youth workers on youth rates as well.
As for specialist care, I think in cases like bombshells where it is required that it should be free. If you choose to have the care of a specialist sure you have to pay but when you have no choice I think it stinks! ------------- ">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 23 January 2007 at 10:54am
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The PTC amount hasn't changed in 4+ years... that's probably the biggest problem. ------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 23 January 2007 at 11:51am
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You can get free obstetric care if you have complications or risks if you choose to go under a hospital team - you see the OB registrars mostly, and the OB consultants if you have any major issues. I had that choice with the twins, but even if I hadn't had insurance I would still have gone private because that was you get to see the consultant every time. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 23 January 2007 at 11:53am
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ahhh I see, thanks Emma, didn't know that! ------------- ">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 January 2007 at 12:35pm
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One reason to love health insurance go private and you see the person you want to see. I got to choose who did my endo op and I made sure that it was him I saw everytime - or I wouldn't pay anything . ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 24 January 2007 at 8:51am
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Soooo put bubs on your policy asap! We put DD on with one week to spare before the cut off. Because of her allergies we spend thousands on specialist care and it would of been an absolute nightmare if we hadn't of had it- I shudder to think! Plus even though under 5s are supposedly free whenever we took her to the Drs it still cost us $14 each time (and being the neurotic Mum I am we went often!) and I got $8 of that back, not much but it adds up.
------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 24 January 2007 at 10:59am
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What do you do about insurance for bubs if neither of the parents are under any insurance (so have no policy to add them to)? There was never any point for me going for private once I started working becasue my back and joint pain started at 13 and allergies and sinus started in my teens too, so I would have too many exclusions! -------------
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 24 January 2007 at 11:35am
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I had awesome SC cover through work and i had been working and with SC for 2 years and they wouldnt cover obstetrics for me either it sucks!!!
They also told me i couldnt add my baby till she was 3 months old. |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 24 January 2007 at 7:51pm
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yeah but try and get any sense out of the hospital team and what /who they are etc...we gave up trying with them and went to our specialist as a result...i think that is the method in their madness actually!!!
oh well $4000 and bubs has silver spoon in her mouth already... oh yeah dont get me started on mat payments...they pay sooooo much less than my income it isnt even funny!!! Let alone taxing them then as well...ARGH!!! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 24 January 2007 at 8:24pm
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That's the unfortunate thing Bombshell. PTC/maty payments are sortof "one for all" and a uni-qualified, 10 years experienced somebody is in a hugely different financial boat than a casual worker *sighs* ------------- |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 28 January 2007 at 11:35am
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We couldn't get the $1200 or the maternity leave payments as I wasn't working (student) and DP was on ACC and WINZ are really mean about people on ACC. DP was getting $250 a week and we were suppose to live off that paying $220 a week rent (Accomodation supplement of about $40). I ended up having to get $1000 on my student loan for course related costs so we could eat in the month before Jack was born. Ben went back to work about 8 weeks after Jack was born but it was too late to get the $1200.
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 28 January 2007 at 2:20pm
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That really sucks Rachael - doesn't seem fair at all. Mind you, that seems about right for government departments! I hope you can get something for this bubs! -------------
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