[Oregonkiwi]

This is a heartbreakingly tragic story, but it's a good reminder that, if you arrive in NZ without PR or without a 2-year work permit, you are ineligible for public health care.

A South African mother of five who is dying of cancer is pleading for the New Zealand Government to part-fund her chemotherapy.

Anita Lategan, 40, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April, a year after she moved to New Zealand with her family.

Now the Flat Bush family are in a desperate race for time to find about $80,000 needed for her chemotherapy.

Mrs Lategan is not eligible for treatment under the public health system as her work permit is 56 days short of the two-year requirement....
...Mrs Lategan said that when her young and healthy family arrived in Auckland, getting medical insurance was not an immediate priority.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10388148

[mossum]

oh what an awful story :(

I geuss the moral is to get that insurance sorted ASAP - having a family history of cancer : insurance & medical things are never too far from my mind . Mind you I dont have any kids to think about - I can totally understand how other things always must have come 1st . Poor family - I'll certantly be thinking of them !

vic x

[Avalon]

...Mrs Lategan said that when her young and healthy family arrived in Auckland, getting medical insurance was not an immediate priority.

I geuss the moral is to get that insurance sorted ASAP

Most HI Policies in NZ do not cover Chemo / radio Therapy anyway.

If you ever think you may need it - you need to get EXTRA cover.

[Singel]

We have health insurance from Sovereign that covers all major illnesses including cancer treatment. With an excess of $600, our total premium per month is $78.

http://www.sovereign.co.nz/section251.asp

[Milliemoo]

Your covered by NZ health if your from the UK (makes no difference what visa/permit you have if any), but of course that doesn't help that poor family :(

Milliemoo

[StevieD]

What a sad case...

[Milliemoo]

We have health insurance from Sovereign that covers all major illnesses including cancer treatment. With an excess of $600, our total premium per month is $78.

http://www.sovereign.co.nz/section251.asp

Hi there,

Just been looking at the policy document for the insurance we were planning to take out with Southern Cross, and the max amonth for Oncology is $60k. Do you mind me asking what it says in your policy because I note from the story above, the poor woman needs to raise $80k.

Milliemoo

[mossum]

Sadly from my oncology experience with NZ I have picked up a few pointers ......

1) If something seems wrong nag your GP - you boys especially !!! We know that you will avoid the GP surgery like the plague . better to nag nag nag & nag some more - lots of people say they just dont feel "right " I beleive that we inherrantly know if we are seriously unwell - go & get it checked - PLEASE !

2) serious cancer (ie poor prognosis) is referred to public hospital anyhow .

3) All the private scans & consultants in the country still dont seem to "talk" & this often means delays & as we all know cancer loves a delay - gives it the ideal chance to grab hold a bit harder .

4 ) believe nothing you are told - we've regrettably run the gauntlet - & heard it all- from 2 weeks to live - operable - not operable - chemo etc will work/ has worked & finally ........ this is the worst one "sorry we gave you the wrong persons results - you have days to live "


After my 1st hand experience of cancer in NZ I have to say I'm more than anxious , However mistakes , like we as a family had to endure could just as easily occurr here in the UK or indeed anywhere in the world . I geuss we were just very unlucky ...... the most horrible thing for us has been that no one said sorry - I can understand that perhaps here or the usa where there's a real compensation culture - but in NZ ???

Private treatment is no guarantee to better or more successful treatment . Sorry if this post seems a little bitter .... I just miss my Dad & would have liked to see him to have had a better level of care throughout his illness & for us to have been treated a little more fairly ...

JMO - sorry if this post upsets or offends anyone ....

vic x

[Singel]

Hi there,

Just been looking at the policy document for the insurance we were planning to take out with Southern Cross, and the max amonth for Oncology is $60k. Do you mind me asking what it says in your policy because I note from the story above, the poor woman needs to raise $80k.

Milliemoo
Our health insurance is called "MajorCare" which pays a maximum per life assured of up to $100k per operation, for all reasonable charges relating to the medical services provided for private hospital and day stay clinic admissions, plus an additional $60k per annum for the special disgnostic benefit.