Everyday Health Cover
Claim back everyday health costs like GP visits, prescriptions, and optical.
What Is Everyday Health Cover?
Everyday health cover is designed for the routine costs that add up throughout the year — GP visits at $60–90 each, prescription costs, dentist check-ups, new glasses or contact lenses, and allied health like physiotherapy or chiropractic. Most New Zealanders find that these expenses cost $800–$2,000 per year across a family, and everyday cover can reimburse a significant portion.
Unlike hospital or surgical cover, everyday health cover is about frequent, predictable expenses rather than big-ticket events. It works on a claims-reimbursement basis — you pay upfront at the GP or pharmacy, submit a claim (usually via app), and receive reimbursement within a few business days.
Everyday cover is often most valuable for families with young children (frequent GP visits, dental work) and people who rely on ongoing allied health treatments like physiotherapy. It's typically purchased as an add-on to surgical or major medical cover, though some providers offer it as a standalone product.
What's Covered
GP consultation rebates ($20–$60 per visit)
Prescription medicine subsidies
Dental check-ups and basic treatment
Optical — glasses frames and lenses or contacts
Physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic
Specialist referral consultations
Skin lesion removal
Annual health check support
Who Needs Everyday Health Cover?
Families with young children who visit the GP regularly
People needing ongoing physio or allied health treatment
Contact lens or glasses wearers facing high optical costs
Adults with regular prescription costs
Anyone who wants to make healthcare a habit, not a cost barrier
Worked Examples
These are illustrations of how this type of cover is designed to work. They are not accounts of real people, and they are not records of any insurer’s claim decision. What is actually payable depends on the plan you hold, its benefit maximums and any waiting periods or exclusions that apply to you.
Family with three children
A Tauranga family of five had $3,200 in healthcare costs in a year — GP visits for illnesses and sports injuries, two pairs of glasses, physio, and dental.
Their everyday cover policy reimbursed $1,840 of those costs. The policy cost $1,100/year — a net saving of $740 plus the peace of mind of claiming freely.
Ongoing physiotherapy
An office worker in Auckland needed 12 sessions of physio after a shoulder injury. At $90 per session that was $1,080 out of pocket.
His everyday cover reimbursed $60 per session — $720 back in his pocket. The annual premium was $360 — a significant net return for a single injury.
NZ Providers Offering This Cover
Which of these can actually be quoted for you depends on the agencies your broker holds. Some New Zealand insurers deal direct only. We do not rate or score insurers.
UniMed
Health Positive reimburses 50% or 80% of eligible everyday costs up to $10,000 a year
nib
Everyday plans cover day-to-day needs such as dentist, GP and physio visits
AIA
Everyday benefits available as part of its health cover range
Partners Life
Cover can be added or removed as circumstances change
Southern Cross
Offers everyday cover alongside its hospital and surgical plans
What Affects the Cost?
Premiums for Everyday Health Cover vary between individuals. These are the key factors that determine your rate:
Benefit limits — how much per category per year
Number of people covered — family vs. individual
Age of insured — minor factor for everyday cover
Waiting periods — typically 2 months for routine expenses
Whether purchased standalone or as an add-on to hospital cover
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Everyday Health Cover actually cover?
Everyday health cover (also called day-to-day cover) reimburses routine medical expenses — GP visits, prescriptions, dental check-ups, optical, and physiotherapy. It reduces the financial burden of regular healthcare throughout the year.
How much does Everyday Health Cover cost per month?
We cannot give you a price for this cover, because no New Zealand health insurer publishes a full premium schedule. What we can tell you is what moves the number: your age, your medical history, the excess you choose, the level of cover, and who else is on the policy. An adviser can quote your actual situation at no charge.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded from cover, or may be subject to a premium loading. The definitions vary by insurer, and some conditions may be covered after a stand-down period. An adviser will help you understand each provider's approach before you commit.
How do I claim?
Claims processes differ by insurer. Most offer online or app-based claiming, and for surgical or hospital treatment the provider will often bill the insurer directly where the treatment has been approved in advance. For everyday cover you generally submit receipts and are reimbursed. Ask your insurer what their current process and turnaround are.
General information, not financial advice
Information on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, goals or financial situation. BestHealthInsurance.co.nz is not a Financial Advice Provider. We do not compare policies for you, we do not recommend an insurer, and we do not give financial advice.
When you request a quote, we pass your details to one of the specialist brokers or underwriters we work with. Where that is a broker, they are an independent, licensed New Zealand Financial Advice Provider: they compare the insurers they hold an agency with, give you any advice, and are responsible for that advice. Where an insurer takes the enquiry directly, you are dealing with that insurer’s own team about their own products. Either way, ask them for their disclosure information — what they can advise on, the providers behind it, how they are paid and how to complain — before you act on anything they tell you.
Ready to Compare Everyday Health Cover?
Tell us what you need and we will pass your details to one of the specialist brokers or underwriters we work with, each vetted before we refer them anything. They quote you across the insurers they can place. No obligation, no cost to you.
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External resources: PHARMAC (funded medicines) · Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) · FMA — Insurance guidance
BestHealthInsurance.co.nz is an independent referral service. We connect you with licensed insurance advisers regulated under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. We do not provide financial advice. See full disclaimer.