Health insurance for kids?

L3tstaxth1s on 04/01/2024 - 21:51
Last edited 04/01/2024 - 22:06 by 1 other user

Just wanting to know who amongst you with kids under 13 bothers with getting health insurance polices for them?

I currently pay around $36 per month per kid through NIB and re-evaluating whether it is still worthwhile while they are under 13?

At the time of signing them up at birth, Southern Cross was way more expensive, but I have not re-evaluated pricing options in years so this may have changed.

So my questions for my fellow Cheapies is, do you bother for your kids under 13, and if you do, who are you with and what plan?

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  icecold on 04/01/2024 - 22:06

  Southern Cross, 1 & 3 year old.
  $19 each child / fortnight.
  Wellbeing two plan, 500 excess.

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  akrotohur on 04/01/2024 - 22:17

  Never thought of that, but anyway, we're "self-insured".

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  CheapAzChips on 05/01/2024 - 00:03

  Southern Cross for us and the kids, Wellbeing two, 500 excess as well. All covered since birth which means they're all covered for any congenital conditions that may have become apparent after birth. With no pre-existing condition exclusions, no matter what they might develop as children they can carry on full cover into adulthood if they choose to continue with their policy separately. We feel it's worth the price. And a bonus for the large-nesters: With SX the third (and subsequent children) are covered free of charge until age 21.

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    L3tstaxth1s on 05/01/2024 - 10:44

    Will look into this thanks

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  kiwical on 05/01/2024 - 07:29

  No didn't bother. I trust the public system, and everything has been fine so far. I considered it just for grommets in the early years, but they are passed the point where those would have been needed now. So if I had done insurance I would have stopped by now on year 8

  All I did was put away $5 a week on the advice of my dentist specifically for braces down the track. These can't be insured for anyone, and he said because we both have smaller mouths it's likely they will need it. That's built up to a pretty healthy $2.5k per child

  This article highlights some of the common procedures that are preformed under health insurance for kids.

  https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/103390619/parents-ins…

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  AleBeerenhoff on 05/01/2024 - 07:53

  We didn't initially. Had some early complications that the public health system couldn't get a handle on - required private specialists which hit us hard financially. We got burned in that process, and had our little man covered after that (albeit with some exclusions based on those initial complications). Southern Cross - Wellbeing Two. We have had a pretty clean run since then (9 years later), but have leaned on the policy a couple of times to get specialist assistance quickly that would otherwise had been the can kicked down the road by the public system - so am glad we have had that option.
  We also at the same time have put money aside into a slush fund for those niggly things (like braces etc) which will not be covered.

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  Alan6984 on 05/01/2024 - 10:04

  We also use SX, and if I recall correctly, the third child as free (when we had three on there). Once the eldest was overseas they came off.

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    L3tstaxth1s on 05/01/2024 - 10:44

    Thanks will look into this!

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  moona on 05/01/2024 - 11:02

  Accuro Kidsmart x2 + specialist plan (1 and 3 year old)

  $540 each per year. No excess.

  Trust the public system… yeah, right..

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    kiwical on 06/01/2024 - 08:38

    Have you actually had a problem with the public system? We certainly haven't. Insurance companies play on fears about the public system being no good. But in my experience they are pretty quick to act when kids are involved.

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    L3tstaxth1s on 06/01/2024 - 22:39

    Have not heard of this one. Will look into this.

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  spam on 05/01/2024 - 11:43

  1 yo and 4 yo, with SX wellbeing two. $40 fortnightly. Initially against it as most said it should be covered with public health system until the 4 yo had issues with his ear and requires grommet operations. Waited 5 months with public health and wanting to get it done before winter last year so approached SX and wanting $4k for it. Luckily workplace since then offered SX and had pre-existing condition cover so he's going through SX and covered. Now the 1yo is going to get the same grommet operation through SX and another $4k covered for it.
  Not sure how long we had to wait if it's under public health system.

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    Joshyss on 06/01/2024 - 09:09

    Was in the same boat. We were on the wait list for the grommets for our 2 year old and then workplace got us NIB insurance and offered optional cover for immediate family with pre-existing conditions covered. Took up the offer for the child $37/month and got the grommet operation and saved us around 3K I think it was. Didn’t bother with the wife as it was very expensive.

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  ace310 on 05/01/2024 - 12:58

  With SX on well being two with eye & dental. Previously had NIB 3 yrs back. Frankly I dont trust public system if you have non-emergency situation. Best part of SX is free GP consultation via CareHQ. They work really well when you have something not serious and have almost got appointment same day or next day 7 days a week. No long waiting queue either. I have SX from work so no idea on cost

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    L3tstaxth1s on 05/01/2024 - 17:13

    So you moved from NIB to SC due to work cover under SC, and then moved the kids as well?

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      ace310 on 05/01/2024 - 17:22

      Yes all are now under SC. As was getting free insurance there was no point paying for NIB.

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      ace310 on 05/01/2024 - 17:36

      Just be cautious about changing the provider once you are above 40. Normal recommendation is that you stay with the same provider once you reach 40. As premiums can go quite high after that and then you might get some pre-existing conditions which will be hard to cover.

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    moxpearl on 05/01/2024 - 17:45

    Ooo with SX and never knew that was a think re CareHQ.

    How does it work, looks like it's just a online/phone consult?

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      ace310 on 05/01/2024 - 17:50

      Yes it is either phone or video call. You have to choose. From SC app on dashboard there is Carehq consult button which will open carehq app to book an appointment. I think this became free during mid covid. Previously it was charged.

      It is good if you just need prescriptions or some normal consultations. I think all doctors are based overseas somewhere in Europe I think.

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  moxpearl on 05/01/2024 - 17:38

  With Southern Cross (Welbeing One)

  Costs $80 a fortnight for two adults and two kids.

  Never had to use it.. and hopefully won't have to. But nice to have there re peace of mind.