Wellbeing One vs Wellbeing Two:
Comparison 2025
- By Willi Olsen
- Updated
Is Wellbeing One or Wellbeing Two better?
Private medical insurance in New Zealand has evolved significantly over the years, driven by the belief that every New Zealander should have access to high-quality private healthcare options. This vision led to the establishment of the Southern Cross non-profit organization.
Southern Cross offers two of its most popular health plans: Wellbeing One and Wellbeing Two.
The key difference between the two plans lies in their coverage for specialist consultations, diagnostic imaging, and testing. Wellbeing One covers these services when conducted within six months following surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment.
In contrast, Wellbeing Two provides the same benefits as Wellbeing One but removes the six-month time restriction, offering greater flexibility and extended coverage.
Wellbeing One vs Wellbeing Two
Southern Cross offers two health insurance plans: Wellbeing One and Wellbeing Two. Both cover surgical treatments and cancer care. Wellbeing Two provides broader benefits, including specialist consultations and diagnostic tests without time limits and a $750 obstetrics allowance per claims year. Wellbeing One restricts these benefits to six months post-treatment and excludes obstetrics coverage.
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Wellbeing One policy?
Southern Cross Wellbeing One is a comprehensive health insurance plan focused on surgical and healthcare needs. It reimburses 100% of eligible healthcare expenses up to the policy limit.
The plan includes a six-month rule. This means it covers diagnostic imaging and tests but only within six months of related eligible surgical treatment.
Key benefits of Wellbeing One include:
- Unlimited surgical treatment.
- Chemotherapy and unlimited radiotherapy.
- Specialist consultations.
- Diagnostic imaging and tests within six months of related eligible surgery.
This plan offers robust coverage, ensuring support for major health events.
What is the 6 months rule?
What’s covered by Southern Cross’ Wellbeing Two policy?
Southern Cross Wellbeing Two is a comprehensive health insurance plan reimburses 100% of eligible healthcare expenses up to the policy limit. Unlike Wellbeing One, the six-month rule does not apply.
Key benefits include:
- Unlimited surgical treatment.
- Chemotherapy and unlimited radiotherapy.
- Specialist consultations.
- Diagnostic imaging and tests, regardless of surgery or treatment.
- Obstetrics allowance of $750 per claims year, available after one year of continuous cover.
What’s the difference?
Wellbeing Two offers the same core benefits as Wellbeing One. However, it also covers specialist consultations, diagnostic imaging, and tests without requiring surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Additionally, it includes the obstetrics allowance, making it a more flexible and comprehensive option.
Regular Care Vs Wellbeing One and Two
The main difference is the excess is 20% of the claim with Regular Care vs Wellbeing One it’s limited to a fixed dollar amount such as $500 for instance. Secondly, the surgical benefit is limited to $100k per operation with Regular Care vs Wellbeing One, it’s unlimited.
How does excess on Wellbeing One vs Wellbeing Two work?
Excess on Wellbeing One and Two is paid once every policy year, no matter how many times you claim. Therefore, the excess applies to each person on your policy once per claims year.
Which Wellbeing One and Two benefits does the excess apply to?
- Surgical treatment
- Surgical allowances
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Recovery
- Psychiatric hospitalisation
- Obstetrics allowance (Wellbeing Two only)
Your excess does not apply to any other benefits. Please see your policy document for full terms and conditions
Who is Southern Cross Health Insurance?
Southern Cross Health Insurance, New Zealand’s largest health insurer, is fully owned by the non-profit Southern Cross Medical Care Society. The insurer offers a comprehensive range of health plans, including coverage for surgery, specialist consultations, cancer care, diagnostic imaging, and medical tests.
Through its subsidiary, the Southern Cross Health Trust, the organization also operates New Zealand’s largest private healthcare network, providing extensive access to quality care.
FAQ's
What is excess?
An excess is an amount you will need to pay before SouthernCross will reimburse you or pay your health services provider for the eligible healthcare service you have received. You will pay the excess amount directly to your health services provider. The higher the excess amount, the lower your premiums will be.
Which excess options?
The Wellbeing annual excess is available on the Wellbeing One and Wellbeing Two plans. You can choose the level of excess:
- $500,
- $1,000,
- $2,000 or
- $4,000.
How does the excess apply?
The excess applies to each person on your policy once per claims year. So, if there are three members on your policy, all three will need to pay the excess each claims year before being reimbursed for any eligible healthcare services they receive. Once the full amount of each member’s excess has been applied, no excess will apply to any further claims by that member in that particular claims year.
What is a claims year?
Your claims year is the 12 months following your policy start date and every 12 months from your policy anniversary date. You can check this date in “My Southern Cross” and your Membership Certificate.
The claims year that applies to a particular claim is based on the date you received the healthcare service, not when you send Southern Cross your claim or when Southern Cross pay your health services provider.
At the beginning of each member’s new claims year, their excess will be reset to its original, full value.
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