2025 Benefits and Premium Changes

Every year, we review our premiums and Health Plans to ensure they remain up-to-date, sustainable and continue to deliver value for the health and wellbeing of our Members. Changes are then effective from your next policy anniversary on or after 1 September.

When we review our premiums, we consider a range of factors such as procedure and treatment costs, utilisation across different types of Health Plans (the frequency at which Members use the benefits on their plans), market conditions, general and medical inflation, and Health Plan changes.

Medical inflation is when the price of healthcare services, treatments and products increases. In recent years this has increased significantly, well outpacing general inflation.

Premiums are driven by two key factors: the cost of treatment and procedures (such as surgeries or cancer treatment); and the number/size of claims, neither of which are within UniMed’s direct control.

The cost of medical treatments and private hospital services has increased significantly in recent years, well outpacing general inflation. The number of claims we receive has also been increasing significantly.

The risk of claiming also increases with age, so this is another factor in calculating premiums. Premiums for each age group reflect the historical and expected claims for that group. As people age, they are more likely to use their insurance, and over time treatments become more expensive.

As a result, we must increase our prices to ensure that we are able to continue to support our Members and pay out claims into the future.

Health Plans originally issued under the Accuro brand have faced the same impacts as those issued under UniMed in terms of the increasing cost of treatment and procedures, and the increasing number of claims.

This situation is not unique to UniMed – all private health insurers in New Zealand are facing similar challenges and unfortunately this means that premiums are rising across the industry.

We consult with external professional actuaries who review independent data on healthcare costs, help predict future costs and utilisation, and provide an objective view on whether pricing is fair and commercially sound. Increases are applied consistently across Members on the same plans.

Over the last few years, UniMed dipped into reserves to help minimise premium increases for Members in the hope that the market would stabilise. This has not been the case and unfortunately we have no choice but to put through larger increases this year to ensure that we have enough income to cover claims into the future.

We have introduced some elements this year designed to help manage costs, including introducing a lifetime limit of $200,000 on spinal surgeries going forward, which are some of our most expensive procedures.

We will also be continuing to enforce reasonable charges (previously reasonable and customary charges) on our service providers.

Every year, we review our Health Plans to ensure they remain up-to-date, sustainable and continue to deliver value for the health and wellbeing of our Members.

When you receive your annual renewal notice, this will include a summary of changes to your Health Plan, effective from the date your policy renews on or after 1 September 2025.

This year, we are pleased to be introducing a range of proactive health benefits to help support you before, during and after you need medical treatment.

• Mental health support
• Coaching programme for people living with cancer
• Nutrition support
• Fitness and recovery support.

Explore these benefits

We offer a range of Member Offers through our trusted partners to support your health journey. These are available to all Members and do not impact your premium. Current offers are:

• 15% off travel insurance with Allianz Partners
• 20% off MoleMap checkups
• Free hearing health checkups with Bloom Hearing Specialists
• Offers at Specsavers Optometrists 

Find out more