nib is New Zealand's second-largest health insurer, offering health, life, and travel insurance. We've assessed ratings from Trustpilot, Canstar, and S&P Global to give you the full picture.
In This Review
What is nib Insurance and who's behind it?
nib Insurance (nib New Zealand Limited) is New Zealand's second-largest health insurer and a subsidiary of nib Group, an ASX-listed Australian health insurance provider established in 1952 as Newcastle Industrial Benefits for BHP Newcastle Steelworks workers. nib entered the New Zealand market in late 2012 by acquiring Tower Medical Insurance Limited for approximately NZ$102 million.
Since entering NZ, nib has expanded through strategic acquisitions - purchasing the OnePath medical business in 2015 and Kiwi Insurance Limited in April 2022, which added life and living insurance capabilities. The company also acquired OrbitProtect in 2022, adding travel and visitor insurance for international students and workers. nib serves over 1.6 million members across Australia and New Zealand from its Auckland headquarters.
nib holds an A (Strong) financial strength rating from S&P Global Ratings, with solvency capital of $38.50 million and an adjusted solvency ratio of 157% as at 31 March 2025. Premium revenue reached $218 million in the first half of FY2025. The company has won the Canstar Outstanding Value Working Visa Health Cover award for seven consecutive years.
nib NZ is primarily a health, life, and travel insurance provider. Unlike full-range general insurers, nib does not offer car, home, contents, or pet insurance:
nib sells health insurance directly to consumers online at nib.co.nz, while Ultimate Health Max is available exclusively through advisers. In 2018, nib launched a notable Maori population health initiative with Auckland iwi Ngati Whatua Orakei, providing private health insurance and health management programmes for their members - a first of its kind in New Zealand.
How customers rate nib Insurance across major review platforms
Note on limited review data: nib Insurance has very few online customer reviews on major platforms. The Trustpilot rating (2.4/5) is based on only 7 reviews, making it statistically unreliable as a standalone measure. Google Reviews are not prominently featured for nib NZ. Canstar industry awards provide a more positive perspective, with nib winning Outstanding Value for Working Visa Health Cover for seven consecutive years. We weight ratings by review volume and clearly note data limitations in our assessment. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.
Common themes from Trustpilot reviews and industry assessment
Multiple plan tiers mean you can find something that fits your budget. The Non-Pharmac drug coverage was critical when my partner needed specialist medication not funded by the government.
As someone on a working visa, nib was the clear choice. Canstar Outstanding Value seven years running speaks for itself. Sign-up was straightforward online.
Easy Health offers to cover pre-existing conditions after three years, which is unusual. However, the three-year wait is a long time if you need treatment sooner.
The Healthier Joints programme helped me manage chronic knee pain and potentially avoid surgery. Not many insurers offer proactive wellness support like this.
Tried calling to change my policy details and was on hold for over 40 minutes. Sent an email instead and waited nearly three weeks for a reply. Very poor service.
Pre-approval for a procedure took over 14 working days, then there were further delays after that. The whole claims process felt painfully slow and poorly communicated.
Reviews are paraphrased summaries of customer feedback. Theme percentages are based on our analysis of available Trustpilot reviews, Canstar data, and publicly reported customer experiences as of March 2026. The small review sample size limits the reliability of these themes.
nib NZ specialises in health, life, and travel insurance - not general insurance products
Mid-tier health plan with surgical benefits up to $300,000 and non-surgical benefits up to $200,000. Unique among NZ health insurers for offering pre-existing condition coverage after three years.
nib's most comprehensive health plan with surgical costs covered up to $600,000 and non-surgical treatments up to $300,000. Includes overseas treatment, Non-Pharmac drugs, and ACC top-ups. Available exclusively through advisers.
Budget-friendly plan covering dental, GP consultations, prescription glasses, and more. Two tiers available - Standard and Premium.
Cover for hospital treatment with Standard and Premium tiers. Helps avoid public hospital waiting lists for surgical procedures.
Ultimate Life & Living suite with six insurance products replacing the 2016 range. Available exclusively through financial advisers. Capability acquired through the Kiwi Insurance Limited purchase in April 2022.
Travel and visitor insurance through the OrbitProtect brand. Covers international students, workers, non-NZ residents, working holiday visa holders, seasonal workers, and Parent Boost visa holders.
Premier Health Business plans for employers. Base pack includes surgical costs to $300,000 and medical costs to $200,000. Groups of 15 or more get automatic pre-existing condition cover.
Proactive wellness programmes for eligible members including Healthier Joints (weight & pain management), Healthier Heart, Cancer Care support, and 12 months complementary mental health cover.
The good and the not-so-good based on customer reviews and our analysis
How much does nib health insurance cost? Indicative examples based on market data
nib Insurance pricing varies by age, health status, plan selected, excess chosen, and family size. Premiums can be reduced by up to 60% through higher excess amounts. Here are indicative weekly premiums based on Canstar data and market analysis:
Disclaimer: These are indicative estimates based on Canstar data and market analysis, not official nib quotes. Your actual premium will vary based on your specific circumstances including age, health status, and excess chosen. Get an accurate quote at nib.co.nz. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.
Premiums increase with age. Younger members pay less. Taking out cover earlier locks in lower base rates.
Everyday Cover is the most affordable. Hospital Cover and Easy Health sit in the mid-range. Ultimate Health Max is the premium tier.
Choosing a higher excess can reduce your premiums by up to 60%. Consider your ability to pay the excess if you need to claim.
Couples and families pay more than individuals. nib offers flexible family coverage options on the Easy Health plan.
Pre-existing conditions may affect eligibility or waiting periods. Easy Health covers some pre-existing conditions after a three-year waiting period.
Smoking status and general health profile may affect premiums. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help keep costs lower over time.
nib Insurance vs. other popular NZ health insurers
| Feature | nib | Southern Cross | AIA | Accuro | UniMed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 3.2/5 7 reviews | 4.1/5 High volume | 3.8/5 | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Plan Tiers | Everyday, Hospital, Easy Health, Ultimate | Multiple tiers | Multiple tiers | Multiple tiers | Multiple tiers |
| Pre-existing Conditions | After 3 years (Easy Health) | Case by case | Case by case | Case by case | Case by case |
| Online Quotes | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Excess Options | Up to 60% saving | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Non-Pharmac Drugs | Covered | Covered | Plan dependent | Covered | Plan dependent |
| Specialist Cover | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Dental & Optical | Everyday/add-on | Available | Add-on | Available | Available |
| Wellness Programmes | 4 programmes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Price Range | $$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
Disclaimer: Ratings are aggregated from available review platforms where data exists. Feature comparisons are based on publicly available product information. Features may change - verify directly with the insurer. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.
Other NZ health insurers worth considering, depending on your priorities
New Zealand's largest health insurer, serving over 900,000 members as a not-for-profit friendly society. Known for comprehensive plans, strong claims reputation, and returning surplus to members through lower premiums.
Global insurance group with NZ health and life insurance products. Part of AIA Group, Asia's largest publicly listed life insurance group. Offers comprehensive health plans with strong financial backing.
NZ-owned health insurer offering a range of health plans. Known for personalised service and a member-focused approach. May suit those who prefer dealing with a smaller, NZ-owned provider.
Member-owned health insurer based in the Waikato. Offers competitive pricing with a focus on community. May suit those in the Waikato region or those who value a member-owned structure.
nib Insurance may suit some customers more than others
Seven consecutive Canstar Outstanding Value awards for Working Visa Health Cover make nib a strong option for international workers and students in New Zealand.
nib's proactive health management programmes - Healthier Joints, Healthier Heart, Cancer Care, and mental health support - go beyond standard insurance to actively help manage health conditions.
Premier Health Business plans automatically cover all pre-existing conditions for groups of 15 or more, with optional add-ons for specialist consultations, dental, optical, and non-Pharmac drugs.
Those wanting general insurance (car, home, contents, pet) under one provider, or customers who need immediate pre-existing condition cover without a three-year waiting period.
Compare.org.nz's editorial assessment of nib Insurance
As New Zealand's second-largest health insurer, nib brings significant scale, an A (Strong) S&P Global financial strength rating, and a focused product range covering health, life, and travel insurance. The Canstar Outstanding Value Working Visa Health Cover award for seven consecutive years is a notable endorsement, and features like pre-existing condition coverage after three years and proactive health management programmes set nib apart from many competitors.
However, the limited customer review data makes it difficult to form a complete picture of the day-to-day experience. The small number of Trustpilot reviews (7 total) are overwhelmingly negative, with complaints about customer service wait times, claims processing delays, and unexplained premium increases. While the sample size is too small to be statistically reliable, these concerns are worth noting.
For working visa holders, businesses with 15+ employees, and those who value proactive health management, nib is well worth considering. Those needing general insurance products such as car, house, or contents will need to pair nib with a separate general insurer like Tower or AA Insurance.
Common questions about nib Insurance
How we research and rate insurance companies
This review is based on data collected from the following sources, last verified in March 2026:
Our editorial scores (out of 10) are calculated using a weighted methodology that considers:
Disclaimer: Nothing on this page constitutes financial advice. Scores are editorial opinion based on publicly available data. nib's limited online review volume means our customer sentiment assessment has lower confidence than for insurers with more reviews. Always verify details directly with nib and consider seeking professional advice for your specific situation. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.
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