Southern Cross Health Insurance has extended by three months its free mental wellbeing and telehealth offers, after the insurer noted high uptake from its members wanting to improve their physical and mental health.
These include free online GP consultations with CareHQ, and up to three online counselling or wellbeing coaching sessions with Raise.
Southern Cross said that its members have booked over 5,000 combined appointments for both services, contributing to its decision to extend the offers.
Initially launched in December for a four-month period, Southern Cross will now have its free telehealth and mental wellbeing services available until June 30, 2022.
“As a membership society, we’re uniquely focused on looking for ways to support our members and their whānau with their health and wellbeing,” said Nick Astwick (pictured above), CEO of Southern Cross Health Insurance. “The arrival of Omicron, and the challenges it has brought to the community, has meant that increasing access to telehealth and mental wellbeing services, by removing the financial barriers, has been essential.”
“The number of bookings from members to CareHQ and Raise have been consistently high since we launched the offer, so it was an easy decision to extend the support and help even more members,” Astwick added. “People’s mental health is equally as important as their physical health, and people are feeling more strain on their wellbeing, particularly as the Omicron outbreak ramps up.”
