Covid-19: Southern Cross reassures customers amid flurry of vaccine misinformation
Thursday, 15 April 2021
Southern Cross is reassuring its customers their insurance won’t be affected if they are vaccinated against Covid-19.
The insurer released a statement on Thursday to address misinformation circulating on social media, which claimed its health and life insurance policies would be invalid if someone received the vaccine.
Dr Stephen Child, chief medical officer for Southern Cross Health Insurance, said it followed Ministry of Health and Medsafe recommendations on Covid-19 management and the use of vaccinations.
”We would like to reassure our health insurance and life insurance policyholders that their policies will continue in the usual way and in no way be impacted if they receive a Medsafe approved Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.
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”In New Zealand, acute care is provided by the public health system so if treatment is needed urgently after receiving a vaccine, you should go directly to the accident and emergency unit at your nearest public hospital.”
Treatment and support for people who experienced and adverse reaction to any vaccine would be provided by ACC, provided their criteria was met.
“This is why vaccine-related treatment injury is a standard exclusion in our health insurance plans,” Child said.
“Therefore, as is current practice, if you develop symptoms from the Covid-19 vaccine or any other Medsafe approved vaccine and require treatment, you can lodge a claim with ACC.”