Aotearoa’s publicly funded health system is a great asset to the health and wellbeing of Kiwis. However, no system is perfect and for many of us, getting access to certain modern medicines in Aotearoa can be a real challenge.
Medicines New Zealand recently found that it takes PHARMAC, the agency responsible for funding drugs in New Zealand, 7.7 years on average to make funding decisions on potentially lifesaving medicines across all PHARMAC lists, that are usually already Medsafe approved. Medicines New Zealand believe this wait time will increase.
These long wait times can have serious implications for patients and the health system as a whole, says Dr. Graeme Jarvis, the chief executive of Medicines New Zealand.
Medsafe approved drugs can be lifesaving, but they can also be extremely expensive, sometimes costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. This high price-tag can be unattainable for many Kiwis and may force them to go without the potentially life-saving drugs they need.
Dr. Graeme Jarvis is concerned that many of these medicines are already used as standard treatments in other countries. In fact, more than 60% of them are publicly funded in at least five other nations.
Our non-PHARMAC Plus option can be added to your new and existing clients Easy Health or Ultimate Health Max policy to provide increased access to many Medsafe-approved drugs that are not funded by PHARMAC. This add-on also covers the related administration costs**, making treatment of cancer and other serious conditions with non-PHARMAC drugs more accessible.
Your clients can choose from the following levels of cover to suit their needs and budget:
$20,000
$50,000
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
Our non-PHARMAC Plus option can offer real value to your clients. Alongside the other comprehensive health insurance benefits nib offers, this option could help them and their loved ones avoid spending their life savings on saving a life.
* Other terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the option wording available here.
** non-PHARMAC treatment at home will be covered for up to six months after your nib client is admitted for treatment. This treatment must be approved by nib and the drugs must relate to it.