AA Health Insurance is now providing customers access to wider treatment options with a new non-PHARMAC Plusadd-on to its Private Hospital covers.

non-PHARMAC Plus can help cover the cost of some drugs that are Medsafe approved and prescribed under the Medsafe guidelines, but aren’t funded by PHARMAC, which decides the medications and pharmaceutical products subsidised for community and hospital use in New Zealand.

AA Health Insurance’s General Manager, Mark Savage, said the non-PHARMAC Plus option was now being offered to support the increasing need for cover that provides customers with wider choices, affordability, and flexibility when it comes to modern medicines.

“If they are not funded, the cost of these medicines can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Having to pay these out-of-pocket would, as you can imagine, place an incredible amount of further strain on the situation, where the patient is already under considerable stress from the diagnosis.

“By introducing this add-on we are offering further protection to our customer’s health as the treatments (which can sometimes be life-saving) now become easier to access and pay for,” Mark says.

Benefit limits range from $50,000 to $300,000 per customer, per year, allowing customers to choose the level of cover that best suits their health needs and budget.

An example of this is Tafinlar, a medicine that is used to treat melanoma which can cost over $100,000 per year. While this has been Medsafe approved since 2013, there is currently no public funding available for it through PHARMAC.

“It is also important to note that with non-PHARMAC Plus, it has the ability for customers to ‘future-proof’ their cover. Put simply, when new unfunded medicines are available to treat critical illnesses, this add-on can provide cover for these,” Mark says.

non-PHARMAC Plus covers the cost of drugs that are not funded by PHARMAC, but that are Medsafe-approved and prescribed under Medsafe guidelines and used in a private hospital or at home*. The drugs must be recommended by a registered specialist and relate to an approved claim for treatment under your policy.  The option also covers any drug administration costs.

AA Health Insurance customers with Private Hospital or Private Hospital and Specialist Cover, can add the non-PHARMAC Plus option to their existing policy by calling 0800 758 758. New customers can apply online, at an AA Centre or over the phone with our New Zealand based team.

For more information about Non-Pharmac cover, please refer to the Policy terms and conditions available at https://www.aa.co.nz/insurance/health-insurance/policy-wordings/

*non-PHARMAC treatment at home will be covered for up to six months after you’re admitted to hospital for approved and related treatment.