Southern Cross RegularCare Review NZ
RegularCare provides the same shared-cover cancer, surgical and specialist benefits as KiwiCare, with one addition: a Day-to-day treatment benefit covering general practitioner and nurse visits and prescriptions, at 80% of the cost with no excess. Every other limit, and the $500 excess on surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy claims, is identical to KiwiCare.
Key facts
- Cover structure
- Shared cover: an 80% co-payment applies on top of the excess for most benefits (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Excess
- $500, applying once per claims year per covered person to Surgical procedures, Chemotherapy (base and Cancer Cover Plus) and Radiotherapy (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Surgical procedures
- $100,000 for each operation, individual prostheses limits apply, 80% co-payment plus excess (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Chemotherapy for cancer (base)
- $48,000 each claims year, including up to $8,000 for chemotherapy drugs not Pharmac-approved but Medsafe-indicated (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Specialist consultations
- 80% of charges, to $4,000 each claims year, no excess (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Diagnostic imaging
- 80% of charges, to $8,000 each claims year, no excess (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Bereavement/funeral-type benefit
- Not published as a separate benefit in the KiwiCare/RegularCare policy document (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Underwriter
- Southern Cross Medical Care Society (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Day-to-day treatment (RegularCare only)
- 80% of charges, no excess; GP visits $45 each, nurse visits $20 each, prescriptions $400 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
KiwiCare and RegularCare are shared-cost plans: after the $500 excess, Southern Cross pays 80% of most eligible charges rather than 100%, and the table below is drawn from the combined KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document (effective 1 April 2026, retrieved 8 September 2026).
| Benefit | Limit |
|---|---|
| Surgical procedures | $100,000 for each operation, excess applies (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Chemotherapy for cancer (base) | $48,000 each claims year, excess applies (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Specialist consultations | 80% of charges to $4,000 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Diagnostic imaging | 80% of charges to $8,000 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Diagnostic tests | 80% of charges to $2,000 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Laboratory tests | 80% of charges to $56 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Psychiatrist consultations | 80% of charges to $600 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Overseas treatment allowance | 80% of charges to $5,000 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Ambulance allowance | 80% of charges to $144 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
The Day-to-day treatment benefit is the one addition RegularCare has over KiwiCare, and it carries no excess, only the same 80% co-payment (KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document, retrieved 8 September 2026).
| Benefit (RegularCare only) | Limit |
|---|---|
| General practitioner services | 80% of charges to $45 for each visit (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Nurse services | 80% of charges to $20 for each visit (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Prescriptions (Pharmac-approved only) | 80% of charges to $400 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Physiotherapy | 80% of charges, $30 a visit to $180 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
| Hearing tests | 80% of charges to $128 each claims year (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
Entry ages
| Cover | Entry ages |
|---|---|
| KiwiCare and RegularCare | No single entry-age table is published in the policy document; eligibility is assessed at application. (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
Waiting periods
| Cover | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Both plans | No fixed universal waiting period is published (source, retrieved 8 September 2026) |
Exclusions
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered unless the membership certificate states otherwise. (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Cosmetic treatments and procedures that change, improve or enhance appearance are excluded regardless of the reason. (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
- Costs ACC covers for an accident, treatment injury or work-related gradual process injury are excluded, other than the Accident and treatment injury top-up for any shortfall (paid at 80%). (source, retrieved 8 September 2026)
Questions about Southern Cross RegularCare
What does Southern Cross's RegularCare policy cover?
The same shared-cost surgical, cancer, specialist and diagnostic cover as KiwiCare, plus a Day-to-day treatment benefit for GP visits ($45), nurse visits ($20) and Pharmac-approved prescriptions ($400 a year), all at 80% with no excess on that particular benefit (KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document, retrieved 8 September 2026).
How much does the Southern Cross Wellbeing One plan cost?
Southern Cross prices Wellbeing One on age, sex, location, excess and health history rather than publishing a rate table; a quote from Southern Cross or an adviser is the only way to see a figure for your own circumstances. RegularCare, on a shared-cost basis, is generally cheaper than either Wellbeing plan for the same person.
Is Southern Cross Wellbeing one or two better?
That question is really about the Wellbeing plans, not RegularCare; RegularCare is a different, lower-cost tier that shares 20% of most claims with you rather than paying them in full, which the Wellbeing plans do. See our Wellbeing One vs Two page for that specific comparison.
What is the difference between KiwiCare and RegularCare?
RegularCare adds the Day-to-day treatment benefit for GP and nurse visits and prescriptions; KiwiCare does not have this benefit at all. Every other limit, and the $500 excess on surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy claims, is identical between the two plans (KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document, retrieved 8 September 2026).
Does RegularCare cover GP visits?
Yes, unlike KiwiCare. RegularCare's Day-to-day treatment benefit covers 80% of general practitioner consultations up to $45 a visit, with no annual claims-year maximum stated separately from the combined prescription and visit limits (KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document, retrieved 8 September 2026).
Is RegularCare worth the extra cost over KiwiCare?
It depends how often you visit a GP. If you and your family use general practice regularly, the 80% rebate on GP and nurse visits can offset a meaningfully higher premium; if you rarely see a GP, KiwiCare's lower premium without that benefit may be better value.
What is not covered on RegularCare?
Pre-existing conditions unless stated on the membership certificate, cosmetic procedures, and costs ACC covers are all excluded, the same as KiwiCare. Day-to-day treatment excludes prescriptions that are not Pharmac-approved (KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document, retrieved 8 September 2026).
What is the excess on RegularCare?
$500, applying once per claims year per covered person, and only to the Surgical procedures, Chemotherapy (base and Cancer Cover Plus) and Radiotherapy benefits. The Day-to-day treatment benefit and most other RegularCare benefits carry no excess, only the 80% co-payment (KiwiCare and RegularCare policy document, retrieved 8 September 2026).
Can you have two health insurances in NZ?
Yes, there is no legal restriction on holding more than one health insurance policy, but insurers generally only pay eligible charges once and ask about other cover you hold, so running two policies for overlapping benefits rarely adds value.
What's the best health insurance in NZ?
No independent ranking body names a single best insurer. RegularCare suits someone who wants day-to-day GP cover on a budget, shared-cost basis; a fully-paid plan like UltraCare or Wellbeing Two suits someone who wants less out-of-pocket exposure and can pay the higher premium.
Adviser's view
QuoteHub's read is that RegularCare only earns its higher premium over KiwiCare if you actually use general practice regularly. The Day-to-day benefit's dollar limits are modest, so run your own household's GP visit count against the extra cost before assuming the day-to-day cover pays for itself.
Documents
- KiwiCare and RegularCare Policy document (effective from 1 April 2026), retrieved 8 September 2026
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Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.
Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Southern Cross RegularCare Review NZ: What It Covers. www.quotehub.co.nz/health-insurance/southern-cross/regularcare. Updated 2026-09-08.
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