this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2023
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In my experience, chemo through the public system is both quick and free, with some exceptions for things like more experimental treatment or things like elective immunotherapy. But I'm not confident it would be covered anyway. I don't know if immunotherapy counts as chemo or is covered at all. It's something I'd be keen to understand.
We've had an unfair amount of cancer in our extended family over the past few years, and largely the public system has been quick and free. But there has also been a good experience in the private system for those who used it.
As I've mentioned, there has also been elective treatments like immunotherapy not strictly necessary, and BRAF for melanoma. These were both in the vicinity of $10k a month, but I'm not convinced it would be covered by any standard health insurence (happy to be proven wrong though).
I did a quick search and some non-pharmac medicines can cost up to $200k/year. Standard cover from SC is $10k... It's $50 monthly extra to cover $300k.
Not sure about the therapies you mention though. However, I think e.g. SC would be better than AA Health/NIB, so for us still worth the switch.
Based on this article I'm not very confident in the public health system: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/10/cancer-patient-advocates-say-health-system-reforms-are-taking-far-too-long.html
Do you know what the criteria are for accessing unfunded medicines privately? Is it good enough that a doctor says it would be a good idea, or does it need to be a necessary part of treatment?
I'm keen for cover for the extra but I've found it hard to get info on what exactly is covered.
Yes, interesting question! I've asked Bing as I'm tired of reading all policies :)
It doesn't really answer the question does it 😄. The way I read it, the medicines covered are the ones that Southern Cross agree to when you apply prior to recieving them.
I've read their policy for cancer cover and it's mainly talking about which types of cancer they cover.
I guess the idea is that if it's a doctor recommended treatment for a type of cancer that is covered, then you can have it covered (up to the limit). I'd be happy to not have to find out myself though 😆
Yep not willing to find out.
Some cancers are excluded though like skin and prostate cancer, unless it meets certain requirements.
Oh that's interesting. Though I could guess why. Most skin cancers are squamous cell, they chop it out and you're good, takes 5 mins and 99% survival rate (but if you're in the 1% it can get really bad). NZ has high rates of melanoma and other skin cancers as well, so I'd guess there's a seriousness threshold to meet for the simple ones but the bad ones are probably covered well.
Prostate cancer is present in something like 50% of males over the age of 50, but most of the time it's not an issue. The world is actually pulling back on treating it because the treatment can be worse than the disease if it's not aggressive. So I can understand that one as well.
Thanks for the insights! Makes sense indeed. Guess we'll switch to SC :)
I wish I didn't know all this 😆
Sorry!
I just found out that Bing was wrong. Cancer Assist is a different addon, which is paying out an amount when you have a qualifying cancer, e.g. to take care of family. It's paid out directly to you. That's why they only cover certain cancers...
Ah I see, thanks for the update 🙂