[Rob K]

We are coming over in 6 days...for good is the plan...and I'll be starting a permanent teaching job.

I found out yesterday that our present health coverage from British Columbia, Canada, would cost us CAN$96 per month (for 6 of us). But, being out of Canada, this would only be good for 1 year, and besides it would be very limited as we'd be overseas.

So, I'd rather cut ties completely in this regard, and get NZ-based coverage. But, I don't know how this works.

Any advice out there on our options?

Cheers,

Rob

[Michelle and Richard]

We have just taken out a policy with Tower insurance for treatment and consultation fees and its $77 a month we are 39 and 41. Its a fairly comprehensive policy but they will not cover anything pre exsisting regardless of how long ago. You can reduce premiums by taking a larger excess.

The feeling I picked up was to avoid Southern Cross because they have a lot of exlusions and limits to cover.

You can add on dental and doctors visits but this really increases the premiums. Dentists are very expensive and the cover prvided would only make a small dent in the cost. a doctors visit is $50 and I have heard tales of people being charged double if they ask about more than one ailment or are in the surgery for more than 10 mins.

In general the market is very small and as with most things here this limits your choice of providers.

Michelle