Created by unions - for Members, not profit.
As a union owned co-operative, we continue to have benevolence and strong union values entrenched in our DNA, it is who we are. So have a look at our story to find out when and why we started, our vision, mission and core values.
On this page, you also can read more about our union owners, who our Board members are, more information about our Annual Reports and our partners who provide our member services.
It's good to stay true
Integrity is central to everything we do. We give every member the information they need to make informed decisions that are right for them - and we stand behind the spirit, not just the letter, of any promise of support that we make. And we never forget that it’s our members we are working for - not ourselves.
It's good to act fairly
Our actions serve all members… not a favoured few. As a Benevolent Society, our first principle is to look for ways we can do more for members in need - not less. A commitment to fair dealings and fair outcomes defines the actions we take… the services we provide… and the partners we choose.
It's good to be clear
We are open and transparent in our language - and our processes. We don’t mislead, sugar-coat or exaggerate. Our goal is always for our members to understand the value - and the limits - of every support or service that we offer.
It's good to stand together
Being stronger as a collective, is our reason to exist. Created by unions, we use the collective strength of our members, to secure better outcomes for us all - in our insurance, and in the added services we provide. We give choice to individuals - but the same choices, to all.
It's good to respect all
With a collective focus, we champion the rights of all. Equity of access, of benefit and of voice, is a top priority both for our organisation and team, reflecting our diverse base of members. We recognise and lean into our role in celebrating and strenghening the religious, ethnic and gender diversity in NZ - and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
It's good to look forward
Our environment is our future - and we ensure our actions protect it. We actively look to minimise the impact of our actions on our natural world and ensure that we consider future generations, in the decisions we make today.
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— PSA
"HealthCarePlus is different because it was established by workers, for workers and it continues to serve union members everywhere. PSA is proud to have been associated with it for so many years. Our Members have benefited from affordable, supplementary healthcare for themselves and their families and we stand by the products on offer at HealthCarePlus, and the work of their great team."
Erin Polaczuk
Learn more
PSA National Secretary -
— TEU
"Members of the Tertiary Education Union appreciate greatly the benefits of belonging to HealthCare+. Not only is it exceptional value for money at a time when many costs are rising especially the cost of keeping whanau and family well and healthy, but the fact that HealthCare+ is owned by the education unions means that once again the collective power of belonging to a union benefits members. Great value and great service"
Tina Smith
Learn more
National President -
— TIASA
The Tertiary Institutes Allied Staff Association (TIASA Te Hononga) is the professional association and union for allied (non-teaching/general) staff across the New Zealand tertiary education sector. If you work in an allied staff role at any level then TIASA is for you!
Learn more -
— ISEA
"Members of the Independent Schools Education Association (ISEA) appreciate the benefits of belonging to HealthCarePlus and the range of healthcare and insurance products and services offered through the scheme. ISEA are proud of our relationship with HealthCarePlus because it is owned by the education unions which means that Members benefit from the collective power of belonging to a union to get affordable supplementary healthcare. We were also pleased to hear that HealthCare Plus was the first accredited Living Wage Employer in the insurance sector."
Matthew Fitzsimons
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General Secretary
ISEA -
— NZEI
"NZEI Te Riu Roa is proud to be one of the founding union owners of HealthCarePlus. It's a not-for-profit health insurer created by union members for union members to provide low cost insurance to cover you (and your whanau's) day-to-day medical costs.
NZEI Members are the largest group of HealthCarePlus subscribers who recognise the real value for money products they can get, who like dealing with an organisation with a Member first, values driven approach and who know the benefits of working collectively to look after each other.
So, if you're an NZEI Te Riu Roa Member and not yet a HealthCarePlus subscriber, why not take a closer look?"
Andrew Casidy
Learn more
General Manager - Operations
NZEI -
— PPTA
"PPTA are proud to be a member of HealthCarePlus and include their services as a premier package as part of our members benefits scheme.
We positively promote HealthCarePlus at all of our conferences and events and look forward to continuing our successful association with them."
Doug Clark
Learn more
PPTA Members Benefit Coordinator
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— PSA
"HealthCarePlus is different because it was established by workers, for workers and it continues to serve union members everywhere. PSA is proud to have been associated with it for so many years. Our Members have benefited from affordable, supplementary healthcare for themselves and their families and we stand by the products on offer at HealthCarePlus, and the work of their great team."
Erin Polaczuk
Learn more
PSA National Secretary -
— TEU
"Members of the Tertiary Education Union appreciate greatly the benefits of belonging to HealthCare+. Not only is it exceptional value for money at a time when many costs are rising especially the cost of keeping whanau and family well and healthy, but the fact that HealthCare+ is owned by the education unions means that once again the collective power of belonging to a union benefits members. Great value and great service"
Tina Smith
Learn more
National President -
— TIASA
The Tertiary Institutes Allied Staff Association (TIASA Te Hononga) is the professional association and union for allied (non-teaching/general) staff across the New Zealand tertiary education sector. If you work in an allied staff role at any level then TIASA is for you!
Learn more -
— ISEA
"Members of the Independent Schools Education Association (ISEA) appreciate the benefits of belonging to HealthCarePlus and the range of healthcare and insurance products and services offered through the scheme. ISEA are proud of our relationship with HealthCarePlus because it is owned by the education unions which means that Members benefit from the collective power of belonging to a union to get affordable supplementary healthcare. We were also pleased to hear that HealthCare Plus was the first accredited Living Wage Employer in the insurance sector."
Matthew Fitzsimons
Learn more
General Secretary
ISEA -
— NZEI
"NZEI Te Riu Roa is proud to be one of the founding union owners of HealthCarePlus. It's a not-for-profit health insurer created by union members for union members to provide low cost insurance to cover you (and your whanau's) day-to-day medical costs.
NZEI Members are the largest group of HealthCarePlus subscribers who recognise the real value for money products they can get, who like dealing with an organisation with a Member first, values driven approach and who know the benefits of working collectively to look after each other.
So, if you're an NZEI Te Riu Roa Member and not yet a HealthCarePlus subscriber, why not take a closer look?"
Andrew Casidy
Learn more
General Manager - Operations
NZEI -
— PPTA
"PPTA are proud to be a member of HealthCarePlus and include their services as a premier package as part of our members benefits scheme.
We positively promote HealthCarePlus at all of our conferences and events and look forward to continuing our successful association with them."
Doug Clark
Learn more
PPTA Members Benefit Coordinator
Member / Board Member
Benedict has been a member of PSA since he commenced work in Local Government 20 years ago. He has held many elected roles with the PSA, including being elected to the PSA Executive Board in 2008 - 2012, and setting up the PSA Youth network in 2010. In 2016 Benedict was again elected to the Executive Board and in 2020 was elected as President of the PSA.
"I am proud of the outcomes that Health Care Plus offers to union members and am keen to help drive this organization through good governance."
Member / Board Member
Allan Vester recently retired as being Principal of Edgewater College a role that he held for 23 years.
Allan continues to be a strong supporter of the PPTA and has been a member of EBS now HealthCarePlus since 2000. Allan believes that HealthCarePlus provides the members of PPTA with a very valuable service.
By being on the Board, Allan sees the opportunity to contribute to ensuring that the work that HealthCarePlus does, and the benefit that work confers on members is maximised. The Board does this by ensuring effective corporate governance and by ensuring we operate in a professional yet cost effective way.
Independent Board Member
Kristen Thompson is a lawyer with a background in employment, health and safety, and personal injury law, predominantly acting for unions and injured workers.
She has previously worked as a litigator and advisor to a number of not-for-profit incorporated societies and charities.
She has also worked as a health and safety policy analyst for the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. She sits on a number of other boards, including Worksafe Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, the New Zealand Institute of Safety Manangement, and the Inspired Kindergarten Association.
Independent Board Member
I guide investors on their journey to meeting their objectives with specific reference to meeting obligations and managing risks. This involves ensuring that good governance structures and fit-for-purpose policies are in place.
I have served a very diverse range of investors in the private, public and philanthropic sectors, including not-for-profit entities, Crown Financial Institutions, superannuation schemes and KiwiSaver providers.
Partnering with you to achieve financial success is my passion!
Chair / Board Member
Darrell worked as a teacher and principal in various Southland schools from 1971 until 2002. He became an EBS subscriber as a trainee teacher in 1968. Darrell was an elected member of NZEI’s National Executive from 1990 until 2002. This included the role of National President and director of Education House Ltd. From 2002 until his retirement in 2012 he was employed by NZEI Te Riu Roa as Assistant Secretary at the National Office. In 2015 he was awarded Life Membership of NZEI Te Riu Roa.
Darrell has been a member of the Board since 2011. He brings to the board significant education union knowledge, leadership experience and a broad union network.
Deputy Chair / Board Member
Samantha Stephen oversees the support operations of the Tertiary Education Union Te Hautu Kahurangi o Aotearoa, managing a team essential to the smooth running of the organisation.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Waikato, Samantha spent several years working in a community-based role for a non-profit organisation that offered preventative and rehabilitative support to offenders and their whanāu.
Samantha went on to work in events management where for nine years she was part of a team responsible for organising an annual event attended by over 45,000 New Zealanders.
Samantha is an accomplished people manager and brings to the board a detail-oriented, problem-solving approach.
Annual report
In this section you can find the Education Benevolent Society Incorporated’s (trading as HealthCarePlus) Annual Reports including it’s Financial Statements and Governance.
Who is UniMed?
UniMed is the trading name for Union Medical Benefit Society Limited established in 1979 and provides a comprehensive range of health insurance plans. Like HealthCarePlus, UniMed was established by Unions to provide its Members with health insurance benefits. UniMed is a New Zealand licensed insurer.
UniMed is a not-for-profit incorporated society. This means UniMed is owned by you, its Members and any profits (called surpluses) are applied for the benefit of those Members. Unlike a company, there are no dividends paid to shareholders.
Financial Strength: Union Medical Benefits Society Limited (UniMed) has been given an A (Excellent) insurer financial rating by AM Best. AM Best's ratings are as follows: Secure: A++, A+ (Superior); A, A- (Excellent); B++, B+ (Good) Vulnerable: B, B- (Fair); C++, C+ (Marginal); C, C- (Weak); D (Poor); E (Under Regulatory Supervision); F (In Liquidation); S (Suspended)
Who is Monument Insurance?
For over 30 years Monument Insurance has been HealthCarePlus’s appointed business partner to provide financial advice to HealthCarePlus Members on life and health insurance. (HealthCarePlus as a Society is not legally able to provide financial advice). Monument is an authorised body to Crombie Lockwood. Crombie Lockwood is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) to provide advice on life and health insurance products.
Crombie Lockwood has been helping New Zealanders protect what is important for over 40 years. From their beginnings in Napier in 1978, Crombie Lockwood has proudly built up a network from Invercargill to Kaitaia with a team of around 900 people in more than 25 offices.
Crombie Lockwood is now one of the largest insurance broking companies in New Zealand, placing premiums in excess of $800 million on behalf of over 100,000 customers throughout the country.
In 2014, Crombie Lockwood was bought by Gallagher, the fourth largest insurance broker globally. The combination of their heritage and Gallagher ownership has resulted in local expertise with global support.
Who is Public Trust?
Public Trust is a Crown Entity whose independence is guaranteed under the Public Trust Act 2001. Their Māori name, Te Tari Tiaki Iwi, translates as 'the organisation that takes care of people'.
They were established in 1873 to provide independent and reliable trustee services.
They are best known as New Zealand's largest provider of wills and estate administration services and have a long tradition of looking after the interests of New Zealanders - it's what they've been doing since they were established.
Today they have over 300 employees operating from 24 customer centres and a number of part time and appointment only sites across New Zealand.
Who is Cover-More?
Cover-More is a leading travel insurance provider in New Zealand and Australia and has longstanding partnerships with major travel agency networks and airlines including Flight Centre Travel Group and Air New Zealand.
Cover-More has operations in 22 countries across five continents with leading market positions also in Ireland, India, in the USA and in Latin America.
Cover-More NZ has been listed as a finalist in the recent 2019 Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance’s (ANZIIF) annual Insurance Industry Awards in the ‘Innovation of the Year’ category.
Cover-More Group was acquired by Zurich Insurance Group in 2017.
Financial rating: ZAIL has an insurer financial strength rating of A+ from Standard & Poor’s (Australia) Pty Ltd. This rating shows that the company has strong financial security characteristics.
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Who is Synergy Health?
They are the brains behind the platform and are one of New Zealand's top Health And Wellbeing platform providers with over 20 years experience in helping people live healthier happier lives.
They create real behavioural change by personalising the way each user engages with their program and they have developed a strong reputation for delivering excellent digital health & Wellbeing platforms to more than 100 of Australia & New Zealand’s leading workplaces.
Their team consists of health, human resource, digital, and administrative specialists who all understand the critical link between employee well-being, safety, and organizational culture environment for best performance.
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Who is Petcover?
Petcover is an independently owned and operated pet insurance company that has been insuring pets for over 40 years.
Created by international pet industry experts, they used their knowledge and expertise to create and provide New Zealand’s most comprehensive range of cover.
Operating globally, we are proud to have insured hundreds of thousands of pets through understanding you and your pets’ needs whilst providing you with peace of mind.
Petcover is a specialist pet insurer in New Zealand offering a comprehensive range of pet cover for cats, dogs, and horses, with the widest range of policy options and cover levels to suit.
Financial Strength: Petcover is part of HDI Global Specialty SE – New Zealand. HDI Global Specialty SE - New Zealand has an A+ insurer financial strength rating given by Standard & Poor’s (New Zealand) Pty Ltd.
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Who is Enrich Retirement?
Enrich Retirement was founded by Liz Koh, a financial planner, whose mission is to help you enjoy life—to the max. She is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Accountant and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
While she no longer provides personalised advice, she is now dedicating her time to sharing her knowledge and experience with as many people as possible.
Liz is actively writing and speaking on money matters through Enrich Retirement which aims to help you plan the retirement of your dreams and to give you the tools and resources to make your dreams a reality.
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