Trauma Insurance
Compare trauma insurance plans for the best financial protection in the event of a critical illness or injury, 100% free.
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Here's what our customers say about us
These reviews are embedded here from Reviews.io, an independent third party website, so you can know that what you see is exactly what our customers have written, unfiltered by us.
David Michael
Verified Customer
Sav and the team at Policywise helped us to set up health insurance for my wife and I. She was an absolute pleasure to work with,...
David Michael
Verified Customer
Sav and the team at Policywise helped us to set up health insurance for my wife and I. She was an absolute pleasure to work with, offering friendly and knowledgeable service. I can definitely recommend Policywise if you're looking for someone to sort out your insurance needs.
Tapasya
Verified Customer
I was dealing with Sav who helped me with my health insurance needs. She made the whole process so much easier with her continued...
Tapasya
Verified Customer
I was dealing with Sav who helped me with my health insurance needs. She made the whole process so much easier with her continued support and expertise.
I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a hand in finding the right provider based on their specific requirements which can be a daunting process.
Demishka
Verified Customer
Sahan was extremely helpful and made sure I understood everything and all the offers. I am young and this whole thing seemed kind...
Demishka
Verified Customer
Sahan was extremely helpful and made sure I understood everything and all the offers. I am young and this whole thing seemed kind of scary but working with Sahan made the whole thing very easy. Policy wise was able to show a range of different options that covered my needs and were able to answer all my questions. Some truly amazing customer service and a great company overall.
Bethany
Verified Customer
I have had the best experience with Policywise. When we first started to lookfor health insurance, we're extremely overwhelmed....
Bethany
Verified Customer
I have had the best experience with Policywise. When we first started to lookfor health insurance, we're extremely overwhelmed. There were so many companies with so many different things to consider. Not only were Policywise able to help me figure out what is the best health insurance for my family but they continue to support us make the best choices, update our cover and work out finances. The lovely Savanthee Raeburn ensured my husband and I were fully covered at a price that suits us and as our family grew she helped set them up too. We highly recommend the wonderful Sav and Policywise for finding health insurance that works for you.
Is trauma insurance necessary? Am I too young to need it?
You hope that a critical illness or injury will never happen to you or to your family. But even if you’re young, lead a healthy lifestyle and take every precaution, nothing can fully shield you from life’s uncertainties.
Trauma insurance, also known as critical illness cover, provides a lump sum payment if you or your covered dependents suffer from any of the critical illnesses or injuries listed in your policy.
Severe disease or disability can devastate your family and wreck your finances. And as the examples below show, these critical events could happen to you, at any time.
- Asha had a severe stroke. She was only 26 years old at the time. Ten years later, she is still re-learning how to walk and has to rely on caregivers 24/7.
- Andrew was 34 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. He needs to find $1,775 each fortnight to fund the non-Pharmac funded chemo drugs that are keeping him alive. He relies on a crowdfunding platform to fund his treatment.
- Justin was 36 when he had a stroke while sleeping. The disease left one side of his body paralysed. He is unable to drive or go back to work.
- John a fit, healthy runner, and father of two, was 48 when he received a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. He was a non-smoker. Some lung cancer treatments can cost $8,000 or more every 3 weeks.
- Christine a mother of two, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Health insurance allowed her to receive radiation treatments quickly rather than face lengthy wait times through the public healthcare system or paying up to $55,000 to get faster access to radiotherapy at a private healthcare facility.
More than 26,000 Kiwis are diagnosed each year with some form of cancer and that number is growing. Heart disease rates are also high with one New Zealander dying every 90 minutes from heart disease. Disaster can strike in the form of illness or accident at any time.
Trauma insurance gives you and your family the financial resources you need for faster treatment and a smoother recovery.
The lump sum benefit also softens the financial impact a critical illness or injury can have on your family. Since you’re in full control of how you spend that money, you can use it to pay for ongoing family expenses, medical bills, your mortgage, take a much needed family holiday, or for anything else you need.
Knowing that you can take care of the bills and your family’s needs means you can focus on your recovery.
Keep reading to learn more about trauma insurance, including:
- Covered conditions
- Coverage for your family, and other benefits
- How you can use the funds, including for the cost of private treatment and non-Pharmac funded drugs
- Answers to frequently asked questions about premiums, benefits, and more.
What is critical illness insurance and why do you need it?
Critical illnesses and life-altering injuries are emotionally and financially devastating for patients and their families.The financial repercussions of a critical illness diagnosis can include:
- Lost income if you’re the main breadwinner or a contributing earner
- Further reduction in your household’s income if a family member stops working to be your full-time carer
- Cost of diagnostic tests and treatments at private health facilities (to avoid long public hospital wait times)
- Meeting the expense of life-saving non-Pharmac-funded treatments
The table below shows why some private treatments are often out of reach for all but the wealthiest Kiwis.
Cancer treatments & non-Pharmac funded drugs |
Cost (NZD) |
Chemotherapy
|
Over $1 million/year $1.2 million/year $72,000/year |
Immunotherapy
|
$1.4 million/year $150,000 for four doses Around $8,000/dose, taken every three weeks; capped at $60,000 under the manufacturer’s cost-share program |
Lung cancer treatment |
Up to $200,000 |
Metastatic melanoma treatment |
Up to $200,000 |
Targeted therapy
|
$132,000/year |
Radiotherapy (per treatment cycle) |
Up to $60,000 |
Hospital treatments |
Cost (NZD) |
Radical neck dissection |
Up to $170,000 |
Spinal surgery |
Up to $150,000 |
Mastectomy with breast reconstruction |
Up to $100,000 |
Coronary artery bypass and valve replacement |
Up to $110,000 |
Bowel resection |
Up to $60,000 |
Hip replacement |
Up to $40,000 |
Robotic prostatectomy |
Up to $35,000 |
Total knee joint replacement |
Up to $28,000 |
Diagnostic tests and outpatient treatments |
Cost (NZD) |
Up to $3,300 |
|
PET scan |
Up to $3,500 |
MRI scan |
Up to $3,000 |
CT scan |
Up to $2,100 |
Ultrasound |
Up to $1,500 |
GP minor surgery |
Up to $400 |
Specialist consultation |
Up to $280 |
Everyday treatment |
Cost (NZD) |
Mental health consultation |
Up to $255 |
Acupuncture |
Up to $80 |
Physiotherapy |
Up to $70 |
To help loved ones recover, desperate New Zealand families must find other ways to raise funds, including:
- Draining savings accounts, retirement funds, and money set aside for children’s education
- Selling a home or other assets
- Taking on debt
- Crowdfunding
- Delaying payments on mortgages, insurance and other obligations
But with the tax-free lump sum payment from trauma insurance, you and your family have additional financial resources which you can use for anything you need, such as:
- Private treatments and life-saving or life-prolonging non-Pharmac drugs
- Medical costs not covered by your health insurance plan
- Rehabilitation with recovery expenses, nursing and palliative care and therapy
- Living expenses such as groceries, utility bills, transportation costs, and childcare or home help during recovery
- Mortgage,rent, car loans, credit cards, student loans and other debt repayments
- Home modifications for accessibility, and home care medical supplies
- A holiday to spend some quality time with your family
Who should get trauma insurance? Is it right for me?
Not sure if you need to get trauma insurance? Ask yourself:
- If the worst happened to me, my spouse or our child, can we afford the medical and living expenses?
- How much money will I or my family need if I have to stop working due to a critical illness or injury or to care for a sick loved one?
- Do I have enough savings to replace the income I might lose?
Don’t be caught short. Our Policywise advisers can help you determine the right trauma insurance cover for your circumstances. This way, you’re only paying for the cover that you need. Schedule a call now and make sure you’re covered for the unexpected.
What conditions and illnesses does trauma insurance cover?
Trauma insurance provides full or partial benefits for most of the common critical illnesses and injuries.
Plus, many trauma insurance products also cover your children.
Trauma policies can be complex and may cover different conditions, diagnosis criteria, benefits for dependents, built-in and optional benefits as well as list certain exclusions. You’ll also need to check out the full and partial lump sum payment conditions. A Policywise adviser can explain these to you and help you compare and find the trauma insurance plan that matches your needs.
Most New Zealand Insurers cover the following conditions:
Selected conditions covered (full or partial benefit; Refer to your insurer’s policy document for the full list of covered conditions and the diagnosis criteria) |
Cancers and tumours
|
Heart and arteries
|
Stroke and the nervous system
|
Blood
|
Eyes
|
Kidney
|
Gastrointestinal
|
Respiratory
|
Ears
|
Endocrine
|
Connective tissue and musculoskeletal
|
Total and permanent disablement
|
Other
|
Additional benefits (built-in or optional)
Trauma insurance products offer additional benefits that can help you and your family during a health crisis.
These are either built-in policy benefits or optional add-ons which may increase your premium. Contact us to learn more.
Additional benefits (either built-In or optional; Refer to your insurer’s policy document for the full details and benefit limits.) |
Children’s trauma benefit
|
Return to home benefit
|
Newborn children’s benefit
|
Special events increase benefit
|
Financial and legal advice benefit
|
Counselling benefit
|
Parents grieving benefit
|
Severe illness or injury benefit
|
Accidental injury cover
|
Suspension of premium benefit
|
Waiver of premium
|
How much does trauma insurance/critical illness cover cost?
A number of factors will have an impact on your premiums such as:
- Age
- Gender
- Smoking status
- Sum insured
Typically, maximum cover amounts to between $2 million and $3 million, which you can use as you see fit. You can use it for your family’s living expenses, debt payments and other costs.
You can also use it for private treatment or expensive non-Pharmac-funded drugs and their administration costs. Trauma insurance can make a potentially life-saving difference in your care and health outcome without costing you a fortune.
How does trauma insurance work?
Insurers provide two types of trauma insurance or critical illness payments: one-off lump sums or multiple payments.
- One-off lump sum payments: The insurer pays you a one-off sum if you suffer a covered illness or injury. Depending on your medical condition, this one-off payment can be equivalent to your full trauma cover, or a partial amount.
- Multiple payments: You can file multiple claims. For example, you will receive a small percentage of your trauma cover if your medical condition is at the least severe stage, and a bigger percentage if your condition is more severe.
While your total cover is reduced by the amount of your claims, your trauma cover remains in effect. It allows you to file additional claims if your condition worsens or if you suffer from another covered condition.
Want more information on these trauma cover options? A Policywise adviser can further explain these payment options. Click here to schedule a call, and one of our advisers will contact you.
How to get a trauma insurance quote comparison online
Comparing trauma insurance products from multiple insurers allows you to choose the best product for your circumstances at the best price.
But comparing and reviewing trauma cover details can be overwhelming.
At Policywise, we make trauma insurance quote comparison simple and easier for you, and it’s free! Here’s how we do it.
How Policywise works in 3 easy steps
1
Tell us about yourself
Click the button below to get started by entering some basic details. (Takes less than 30 seconds.)
2
Get your FREE, no-obligation quote comparison
We’ll provide a straight forward run-down of your best options. It will show you the top insurance policies that match your needs, with research and rankings on each insurance provider. You can see a quote summary of the lowest market prices available for these policies. We provide all this completely free, with NO ADDED COST on the premiums, because the insurer pays our fees.
3
We take care of everything for you
If you like our recommendations, our experienced health insurance heroes will set up everything. Eliminate the pain of organising your health insurance. We handle all the time-consuming back-and-forth with the insurer, on your behalf. This is FREE for you because the insurer pays our fees as a commission on the policy you buy.
Life insurance with trauma or critical illness cover
Thinking of getting life insurance and trauma/critical illness cover?
You have the option to choose either an accelerated or standalone trauma cover.
- Accelerated: The trauma insurance claims you make will be deducted from your life insurance cover.
- Standalone: Your trauma cover is separate from your life insurance. Your trauma insurance claim will not be deducted from your life cover.
A Policywise adviser can help you weigh up the pros and cons of each option.
Already have an insurance policy and you’d like to know if adding trauma cover would be unnecessary? Contact us: we’ll review your insurance cover and give you an honest evaluation for free.
Alternatives to trauma cover/critical illness insurance
- Health insurance: Helps you pay for treatment at private healthcare facilities. Depending on the product you choose, it can pay for inpatient treatment, outpatient care, diagnostic tests and/or non-Pharmac funded drugs.
- Life insurance: Pays you or your loved ones a lump sum in the event of your death or you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. You can use the funds as you deem necessary. The money can be used to fund a vacation or quality time with your loved ones, replace your partner’s income if they opt to take time off work, or cover living expenses, hospice care, funeral costs or your children’s education.
- Income protection: Pays a percentage of your income in monthly instalments if you need to stop working due to an illness or injury. This helps meet your ongoing financial obligations, so you can focus on recovery.
- Total permanent disability: Provides a lump sum payment if you can no longer work due to a permanent disability.
Why choose Policywise as your trauma insurance adviser?
Our Policywise advisers can:
- Provide comprehensive policy comparisons as well as impartial and customised insurance advice at lightning speed. We outline options from different insurers, so you are not limited to one insurance company’s products.
- Help you find the best product for your/your family’s needs and budget. You don’t have to do the comparisons alone. You can contact us for any information you need or for expert advice before deciding which policy to buy.
- Help you to figure out how much insurance you really need and where insurance fits into your/your family’s financial plan .
And if you need to make a claim, Policywise can arrange all the paperwork and liaise with the insurer. Dealing directly with the insurance company can be challenging and stressful and you may not get the result you were hoping for. We can make the whole process much smoother.
How Policywise generally compares to other online quote providers
POLICYWISE™ | Other comparison sites | Traditional brokers | Banks | Insurers (going direct) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Completely free service |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Quotes from 8 of NZ’s leading insurers |
Yes
|
Some*
|
Some*
|
No*
|
No
|
Tailored recommendations fitted to your needs |
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No*
|
No
|
Detailed quote comparisons |
Yes
|
No
|
Some*
|
No
|
No
|
Comparisons based on third-party research |
Yes
|
Some
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Fast & efficient process |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Some*
|
Yes
|
Some
|
Independent claims support & advocacy |
Yes
|
Some
|
Yes
|
No
|
No*
|
Laser focused on health, life & disability |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Some*
|
No
|
Yes*
|
Experts at negotiating pre-existing conditions |
Yes
|
Some
|
Some
|
No
|
No
|
Help you review your existing cover |
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Avoid ungenerous policies that make claiming hard |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Some
|
Ongoing support |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Nicest guys in New Zealand |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
FAQs
Who can get covered?
New Zealand citizens and permanent residents can apply for trauma/critical illness cover.
Is there an age limit?
Most insurers require an entry age of 16.
The maximum entry age is within the 60s to 70s age range, depending on your insurer and whether or not you’re getting trauma cover as an accelerated benefit.
Can I get Trauma Cover for the whole family including my kids?
Definitely. Several trauma insurance products provide free cover for your dependents, including newborn benefits. Other insurers will cover your children for an additional fee.
Contact a Policywise adviser to find out which trauma cover can provide the best options for your family.
What is the maximum amount of trauma cover I can be insured for?
Minimum and maximum trauma covers vary across insurers. For example, some insurers allow for a maximum trauma cover of $3 million.
How do I know how much trauma insurance I need?
The amount of cover you need depends on several factors, including your financial responsibilities, lifestyle choices, and anticipated life changes.
Our advisers can help you calculate the cover you need, evaluate which insurance product can best support your goals, and provide you and your family with adequate financial protection.
Am I allowed to increase my cover if my circumstances change?
Definitely. You can increase your cover to fit your current situation. Life often comes up with the unexpected; perhaps you’ve taken out a mortgage, been married, or had a child. Some insurers do not require you to submit additional medical information to upgrade your cover amount.
When does my cover start? Is there a waiting period?
You’re immediately covered for some conditions as soon as you take out your trauma cover. But some insurers won’t cover specific conditions within a three-month stand-down period.
Am I allowed to cancel my cover anytime?
Yes. But we highly recommend keeping your trauma insurance to protect yourself and your dependents in case a severe illness or injury affects a member of your family.
Will my smoking status affect my trauma insurance?
Yes. Insurers quote a higher premium if you’re a smoker or have smoked in the past 12 months.
But you can request to have your premium lowered if you have already quit smoking. If you’re a Policywise client simply contact our team and we’ll help you apply for a premium reduction.
How do I pay premiums? What are my options?
Most insurers let you choose between credit card or direct debit payments.Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually are typical payment options.
Do trauma insurance providers offer money-back guarantees?
Yes. Most insurers provide a 14-day free look period; others may offer a longer free look period.
If you decide to cancel your trauma cover within the free look period, insurers will refund your premium payment.
Will my premium stay the same or will it increase each year?
This depends on the premium structure you choose.
If you choose a stepped option, your premiums will start low and increase as you age. While this option provides more affordable premiums while you’re young, it also makes your premiums more expensive as you grow older.
With the level option, your premium stays the same until you reach a certain age. This option may be beneficial if you’re planning to keep your cover for a long period since you’ll be paying the same premium even when you’re older.
Not sure which premium structure to choose? A Policywise adviser can help you determine the best premium option for you and your family.
Do I automatically lose trauma cover if I can’t pay my premiums on time?
No. Insurers usually allow a grace period so you can catch up on your payment. However, if you are unable to pay your premium within this period, your policy will be cancelled.
Some insurers offer a premium suspension benefit if you lose your job or a significant portion of your income or have to take leave. During this period, your cover and benefits will also be suspended.
Are trauma insurance/critical illness payouts taxed?
No. Trauma insurance lump sum benefits are non-taxable.
Can I use trauma insurance to pay for hospital bills?
Definitely. You can spend the trauma insurance benefit on anything you or your family needs. If you’re looking for an insurance product that specifically covers medical costs, ask our Policywise advisers about medical insurance plans.
How do I file a trauma insurance claim?
You can file your claim directly with your insurer. Policywise clients can also submit the documents to us; we will file them with your insurer and, if needed, help you negotiate claims.
Can I reinstate my cover after I have already made a claim?
This depends on the trauma insurance product you selected. With traditional trauma insurance policies, your cover ends after you receive your lump sum benefit.
But some insurers offer products that allow multiple claims based on the severity of your condition. Others also provide an option to buy back or reinstate your original critical illness cover. Talk to our Policywise advisers to learn more about this optional benefit.
Will I receive benefits if I lose my job?
Unfortunately, no. Trauma insurance is not the same as income insurance. Under a trauma insurance policy, you will only receive a benefit if you are diagnosed with a covered illness or injury. In this case, your insurer will release your lump sum benefit regardless of your employment status.
What does “policy owner” mean?
The policy owner is the individual who is responsible for keeping the policy in force (current) and who can make decisions and alterations to an insurance policy.
The policy owner may or may not be the person insured in the policy. For example, you may be the policy owner, while your child is the person insured.
What does “indexation” mean?
This optional feature protects your trauma insurance cover against inflation by increasing your cover based on the inflation rate.
For example, if your cover is $100,000 and the inflation rate that year is 7%, your cover will increase to $107,000.
How much will it cost me to consult with Policywise?
Nothing. We offer expert insurance advice and support for free. The quote we provide you is the same price you’ll get if you request a quote from each individual insurer.
I’m not happy with my current insurance cover. Can you help me find a better product?
Definitely. We specialise in identifying and comparing insurance products that match our clients’ needs and circumstances. Just give us the details of your current cover and what you’re looking for in a new insurance product, and we’ll suggest cover options that better fit your situation.
Do I have to inform you if there are important changes in my circumstances?
Yes. Please send us an email and we will update your insurer as well.
If I have other questions or concerns not listed here, how can I reach you?
You can schedule a call with a Policywise adviser who will call you back at a day and time of your choice. You can also send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
References
-
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-
Asteron Life Personal Insurance at a Glance. Asteron Life, 2022.
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Cancer: Historical Summary 1948–2018.” NZ Ministry of Health, December 2021. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/cancer-historical-summary-1948-2018
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A Child's Journey Through Stroke.” Stroke Foundation NZ. https://www.stroke.org.nz/childs-journey-through-stroke
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Claims Statistics: Trauma Insurance. Asteron Life, 2021.
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Critical Illness.” Southern Cross Health Insurance https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/buying-health-insurance/our-plans/critical-illness
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Critical Illness Insurance: What Is It? Who Needs It?” Kumok, Z. Investopedia, 13 March 2022 https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/010416/critical-illness-insurance-who-needs-it.asp
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Hopgood, Sela. “Stroke Rates Rising for Young Pacific People in NZ.” RNZ, 23 Mar. 2020 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/412433/stroke-rates-rising-for-young-pacific-people-in-nz.
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Johnston, Martin. “Lung Cancer - The Cost of a Life: Tackling 'Offensive' Stigma of Disease.” NZ Herald, 11 Nov. 2015. https://lungfoundation.org.nz/about-us/patient-ambassador/.
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Lung Cancer Patient Ambassador, Associate Professor John Ashton.” Lung Foundation NZ, https://lungfoundation.org.nz/about-us/patient-ambassador/
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Macdonald, Nikki. “The Cancer 'Disgrace' No-One Talks About.” Stuff, 7 Nov. 2020, https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/123278941/the-cancer-disgrace-noone-talks-about.
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Macintosh, Cate. “Radiation Therapy Set to Become a Luxury Option for Some Cancer Patients.” Stuff, 28 May 2022, https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/128756001/radiation-therapy-set-to-become-a-luxury-option-for-some-cancer-patients
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Martin, Hannah. “Proposed Law Change for Cancer Drugs to Be Administered in Public System a 'Game-Changer'.” Stuff, 5 Apr. 2021. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300264508/proposed-law-change-for-cancer-drugs-to-be-administered-in-public-system-a-gamechanger
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New Cancer Registrations 2019.” NZ Ministry of Health https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/new-cancer-registrations-2019
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New Zealand Fact Sheets.” The Global Cancer Observatory, Mar. 2021, https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/554-new-zealand-fact-sheets.pdf
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“Health Insurance.” nib, https://www.nib.co.nz/health-insurance
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Trauma Cover.” Cigna. https://www.cigna.co.nz/personal-insurance/assurance-extra/trauma-cover-insurance
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Trauma Cover.” Fidelity Life.https://www.fidelitylife.co.nz/personal/trauma-cover
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Trauma Insurance”. AIA New Zealand. https://www.aia.co.nz/en/life-and-disability/trauma-insurance.html.
Trauma Insurance.” Asteron Life. https://www.asteronlife.co.nz/insurance/trauma-insurance.html
Trauma Insurance.” Moneysmart. https://moneysmart.gov.au/how-life-insurance-works/trauma-insurance
Trauma Recovery Cover.” Asteron Life. https://www.asteron.co.nz/documents/trauma-recovery-brochure.pdf.
Yeoman, Scott. “Inside Story: Young Stroke Survivors, Living Through One of New Zealand's Biggest Killers.” NZ Herald, 26 Feb. 2018. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/inside-story-young-stroke-survivors-living-through-one-of-new-zealands-biggest-killers/C47VX3NDT4BQ2EQWN43YOGGWGU/
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