AIA New Zealand has rolled out a new health insurance benefit, AIA Living Specialist and Testing Support (STS), designed to provide access to specialist consultations and diagnostic procedures without requiring a full health insurance policy.
The benefit is intended to address the ongoing challenges of affordability and accessibility in the local health insurance market.
The launch of STS comes at a time when New Zealand is experiencing a sharp rise in medical costs. According to Aon plc’s 2025 Global Medical Trend Rates Report, the country’s medical trend rate has nearly doubled, from 7.4% in 2024 to 14.5% in 2025. This places New Zealand among the highest in the Asia-Pacific region for medical inflation, second only to Kazakhstan.
STS is structured as an add-on to eligible AIA Living policies, including life, trauma, income protection, and total permanent disablement (TPD) cover, subject to certain qualifying criteria.
The benefit provides up to $10,000 per year for specialist consultations and up to $100,000 per year for diagnostic tests and procedures. After two years, policyholders may also access up to $1,500 for obstetric and infertility-related care.
Additional features include a health screening allowance – $500 for standard members and $750 for AIA Vitality members – available every three years. Customers can choose between a $0 or $250 excess to help manage premium costs.
Mr Alex Kühnast, chief product & marketing officer at AIA NZ, said accessing healthcare promptly can significantly impact outcomes for individuals. “With STS, we’re giving customers a way to access specialist support and diagnostic testing earlier, helping them take the next step toward treatment with confidence,” he said.
Mr Kühnast emphasised that the new benefit is designed to serve a broad customer base, from those new to insurance to individuals seeking to control their healthcare expenses, reported Insurance Business.