Cancer is still New Zealand’s number one killer, responsible for nearly a third of all deaths recorded in the country every year – more than the number of people who die in car accidents. Each year about 25,000 Kiwis are diagnosed, and nearly 10,000 die.
The most common cancer diagnoses are:
Lung cancer: New Zealand's deadliest cancer. More than 2000 Kiwis are diagnosed with lung cancer every year, and 1600 die. 1 in 5 people diagnosed with this type of cancer have never smoked.
Bowel cancer: about 3000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with this form of cancer every year, and more than 1200 die from the disease.
Prostate cancer: Each year about 4000 men are diagnosed, and 650 die.
Breast cancer: More than 3000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with this form of cancer every year, and more than 650 die. Women over 50 have the highest risk of breast cancer, but the condition can affect younger women and a small proportion of men.
Skin cancer: The most common type of cancer in the country, skin cancers are diagnosed at a rate of about 82,000 every year, about 500 of those people will die. New Zealand and Australia have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.
Blood cancer: About 21,000 New Zealanders live with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
Other, less common, types of cancer that affect Kiwis are:
Pancreatic cancer: more than 630 Kiwis are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year. This type of cancer has a 12% survival rate.
Stomach cancer: About 400 Kiwis are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year, and the survival rate for this condition is between 20% and 29%. This includes gastro-intestinal tumours, and neuroendocrine tumours.
Cervical cancer: about 160 women develop cervical cancer every year, and about 50 die.
Liver cancer: More than 360 New Zealanders are diagnosed with primary liver cancer every year. The most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma.
Less than 100 New Zealanders are diagnosed with gallbladder cancer every year. The average five-year survival rate for this form of cancer is about 18.5%.
Cancer and critical illness (trauma) insurance
Unfortunately, cancer is an example of a common and serious condition that is not covered by ACC (unless you can somehow prove it was caused by your working conditions). If you develop cancer your treatment will be paid for by the state – but if you want to go private for better or faster treatment, or you’re concerned about losing money due to extended time off work or hefty rehabilitation costs, insurance may be something to look in to.
Cancer is so common that many Kiwi insurance companies offer specialised cancer insurance, as well as the more comprehensive trauma (critical illness) insurance which offers cover for cancer alongside a number of other serious health conditions, such as strokes, Parkinson’s disease and heart conditions. Cancer policies vary from insurer to insurer, but you can often expect at least a portion of your private treatment paid for, including chemotherapy and drugs, and you may even be able to access new therapies that aren’t commonly available in New Zealand. For instance, the drug Keytruda is technically an approved to treat many different types of cancer in New Zealand, but it's only funded for melanoma. Bowel or lung cancer patients who want to take Keytruda must raise $60,000 to receive the first nine rounds of Keytruda injections - if they can reach this amount (plus any administrative costs), the rest of their treatment is free. If you are ever in this situation, a cancer insurance policy that includes non-Pharmac funded drugs could spare you and your family a huge fundraising effort, at an already stressful and emotional time.
Some providers (particularly for trauma insurance) also operate on a lump sum basis: on diagnosis, you receive a lump sum, you can put it towards whatever you like, whether it’s treatment costs, payment to allow your spouse/other family member to take time off work or cover for additional expenses (like travel, accommodation for your partner while you stay in hospital, or childcare). Check your policy for any additional perks and benefits, such as cover for your children, or mental health support benefits to help you cope with your diagnosis. If you’re struggling to decide between the two forms of insurance, having an in-depth discussion with an insurance adviser may be a good idea.
When you sign up to Quashed’s free online platform, you can schedule a free, no-strings attached chat with an experienced insurance adviser - who will give you advice tailored to your circumstances, goals and budget.
How much can I expect to pay for cancer or trauma insurance?
At this stage, standalone cancer insurance is less common than other forms of insurance - and it’s difficult to find online quotes without speaking to the insurer.
As an example, a 35-year-old, non-smoking man who already has a health insurance policy with Southern Cross and wants to add $100,000 of cover through that provider's Cancer Assist scheme, can expect to pay $155 more every year. A 50-year-old female (also non-smoking) would pay $648 to add the same level of cancer cover into her policy. If they both smoked, the man would pay $258.57, and the woman would pay $821.34.
Here's some sample quotes for a trauma (critical illness) policy for a 35-year-old, non-smoking Female, who wants $50,000 of cover.
Fidelity life $125 (Non-smoker) $284 (Smoker)
Asteron Life $195 (Non-Smoker) $371 (Smoker)
Partners Life $266 (Non-Smoker) 426 (Smoker)
And an annual estimate for a 55-year-old man with the same amount of cover:
Fidelity life $1029 (Non-smoker) $2568 (Smoker)
Asteron Life $1224 (Non-Smoker) $2532 (Smoker)
Partners Life $1260 (Non-Smoker) $2889 (Smoker)
The inclusion of different features and benefits within the policies can affect the pricing - before you sign up to a policy, it's best to speak to a life insurance adviser first, so you know what you're getting into.
Staying healthy
It's not usually necessary for people to have to undergo a medical examination before getting a cancer insurance policy. But if you’re considering either cancer or trauma insurance your medical history will still be relevant, and it’s a good idea to make sure you’re looking after yourself.
Focusing on improving your lifestyle and diet (including making sure you get the right amount of fruit and vegetables every day) may be worthwhile, and if you do smoke, try to reduce the number of cigarettes you get through every day. If you’re outside in summer, remember to slap on your sunhat and sunscreen!
In terms of screening, New Zealand’s health service offers:
Mammograms every two years for women aged between 45 and 69, to check for early signs of breast cancer
Cervical smear tests every three years for women between 25 and 69.
The HPV vaccine for anyone aged between 9 and 26 (both males and females). It’s usually offered at school, in Year 8.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening programme for people aged between 60 and 74.
Prostate screening is also available in New Zealand, but it’s available by request, rather than as a matter of course. For more information about the process and whether a test is a good idea for you, take a look at the Ministry of Health’s Kupe website.
Cancer resources
For information on different types of cancer, including symptoms and prevention, take a look at:
Next steps
If you’re considering a cancer or trauma (critical illness) policy, you can check out our brief guides to these forms of insurance. You can subscribe to our platform for free today! Once signed up, you can use the Get Advice tab to connect (at no cost) with an independent insurance adviser, over a phone or video call. You can either explore options for new cover, or review your existing policies and discuss if there are better or more affordable options on the market for you.
When you have your policy, upload it to Quashed! Our free and easy-to-use platform allows you to see and check all of your insurance policies in one place.
