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Health
Chat.
Your regular catch-up with UniMed.
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Member edition #3 — February 2022.
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Kia ora,
Welcome to our first
HealthChat for the year.
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We hope all our Members had a wonderful break over summer and feel fit and healthy for the year ahead.
In this edition, we talk about the extension of our free mental health benefits, as well as other interesting topics about health and insurance.
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Well, it has to be said that the year ahead looks to be a challenging one for New Zealanders.
The pandemic has caused a lot of extra anxiety and stress and it’s no wonder so many New Zealanders are worried about the future.
At UniMed, we’ve decided to do everything we can to help our members get through these tricky times.
So we’re extending our mental health and wellbeing partnership with Clearhead right through to 31 December 2022.
You'll find details about this free benefit below.
Yes, it’s going to be another challenging year, but having tailor-made UniMed health insurance is something we know adds to our membership's peace of mind, knowing that we’ll be there when you need us.
And it's not just mental health we're focused on.
Because of COVID-19, elective surgery in public hospitals is being put on hold, but we’re still here supporting those of you who need surgery or treatment, pre-approving claims daily.
If you have any questions about our Society, please feel free to email me anytime at ceo@unimed.co.nz.
Ngā mihi nui,
Louise
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HealthFocus.
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This February was international Heart Health Awareness Month, and while the month's almost over, the issue is ongoing. Everyone's affected, but some communities, like Māori and Pasifika, face a higher risk. Women too need to be aware that heart health needs monitoring.
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Most of us know the watch-outs. Smoking, being overweight or obese, high blood pressure and diabetes, or having a family history of heart problems add to an increased risk of a heart attack. What you may find surprising is that in many cases, women are more vulnerable to these risk factors than men.
Why? Nicotine is taken in faster, so smoking creates a bigger risk for women. Women with diabetes are also at a greater risk of heart disease than men with diabetes and, having a family history of heart disease, can be a stronger pointer for women.
So what can we do? A visit to your GP is best, but why not try a free quick online heart check, thanks to the Heart Foundation. Depending on your results, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor for a more thorough test. Almost one in three of us will have to deal with some sort of heart condition. The earlier we understand our personal risk, the better our chances of managing and surviving this deadly disease.
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HealthNews.
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We’re pleased to announce the extension of three fully-funded mental health and wellbeing sessions with our partner Clearhead through to 31 December 2022.
For Members who've already had three session, you'll be able to access another three free sessions from 1 April 2022.
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Many of you have taken already advantage of this initiative, a benefit we launched in September 2021 in response to a growing need to focus on mental health. Just to remind you, Clearhead provides online access to professional therapists all over New Zealand, who you can choose to meet in person or online.
As a country, we’ve faced a tough two years since COVID-19 reached our shores, and we’re delighted to play a vital role in fast-tracking access to professional support for the mental wellbeing of our community.
With the pandemic set to continue through 2022, we urge any Member who is feeling anxious or stressed, wants to sleep better or manage your moods to please click below to make an appointment.
Check out the website for the Terms and Conditions for this offer.
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HealthViews.
Heart disease affects almost one in three of us and is one of the world’s biggest and deadliest killers. Is it all doom and gloom?
Or can we find practical ways to reduce the statistics? Read Louise's latest blog for some insights on how to reduce your risk.
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HealthTeam.
Meet Toni Twells, our General Manager of Membership Services. Toni's been with our Society since October 2016, and under her leadership, the Membership Services team deliver end-to-end support for Members.
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This means welcoming new customers, assisting Members with policy changes, providing quotes for revised health plans and keeping you up-to-date with extra benefits. Her team is our friendly, first port-of-call for any questions you might have.
Toni has had a great career in the insurance sector, working for some of New Zealand’s biggest insurance companies. She was General Manager of Operations for Earthquake Response during the Canterbury earthquakes, where her genuine, people-first mantra and outstanding leadership were second to none.
Toni brings this member-first approach to UniMed, championing the very best service and experience for our 100,000 Members across the country.
Toni Twells
General Manager, Membership Services, UniMed.
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HealthChat.
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As you know, we love to hear from our Members. For any enquiries or if you’d like to contact us to share your UniMed experience or story, please write to us with all the details at members@unimed.co.nz. And if you’re happy, we may share your story in an upcoming HealthChat.
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Alternatively, speak to your advisor or contact us Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm on 0800 600 666, our friendly team are here to help.
Did you know we’re now on LinkedIn too?
Follow us here.
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