Insurance requirements

All international students enrolled in a programme for more than two weeks at Unitec must hold an acceptable insurance policy as a condition of their study visa for the period of enrolment until the expiry of their student visa. Your insurance must meet the requirements of the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of practice 2021 (You can also read a copy of the code in different languages from the NZQA website). 

As such, Unitec automatically places insurance cover for enrolled International students with Unitec’s appointed provided, Uni-Care.

Uni-Care Insurance

Unitec has arranged a group policy with our default provider Uni-Care.   

New (and returning) international students enrolled in Unitec programmes which run longer than 2 weeks are automatically placed with cover insured by Uni-Care. 

Period of Cover

Unitec’s placed insurance provides cover during the standard period of insurance.  The standard period of insurance is calculated from the first day of the month in which your programme starts. 

If you are travelling to New Zealand on a date that falls before the standard period of your insurance, you must contact Unitec and provide the following information: 

  • Copies of NZ flight arrival details
  • Unitec Student Visa 

Additional insurance cover will be arranged which may add a small premium charge payable by the student. 

Uni-Care Insurance Premiums

Insurance premiums are calculated on the amount of days covered within the standard period (as above) of insurance. 

You can used the calculator below to indicate what your premiums may be. 

If additional insurance is required outside the standard period of cover, an additional premium amount may be charged. 

Please Note: The premium charge is to be paid ahead of arrival in New Zealand.  It is not included in and is separate from the tuition fee but can be paid at the same time as your tuition fee. 

What you're covered for

With Uni-Care you are covered for the following. In addition to the standards for insurance that are set out in the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2021, Unitec expects that your insurance meets the following requirements: 

  • Medical – cover must be unlimited 
  • Repatriation – Unlimited 
  • Accompanying Relatives – NZ$ 100,000  
  • Missed connections – NZ$25,000 
  • Personal items - NZ$15,000 
  • Personal liability - NZ$2,500,000 

All insurance policies should: 

  • Cover you from date of departure from your home country, while you are in transit and continue for the period of your enrolment/visa dates. 

Making a claim with Uni-Care

To make a claim against your Uni-Care policy, please claim directly with Uni-Care.

Pre-existing Conditions

If you have any pre-existing conditions that you would like to seek cover for, please complete the Medical Declaration Form.

You will receive this form by email, as a link, with your insurance certificate once Unitec has received your payment.  Only complete the form if you have a medical condition that you wish to seek cover for. That is to say, if you do not have a pre-existing condition, or do not want cover for your pre-existing condition you are not required to complete this declaration form.

You must complete the form within 28 days of purchasing your insurance, after which Uni-Care will advise whether your insurance plan will cover your pre-existing condition(s). 

Arranging your own insurance

If you are arranging your own (Unitec approved) insurance, you are required to provide the policy certificate by emailing the Unitec Insurance team at insurance@unitec.ac.nz by
  • The first day of the month in which your programme starts (new students)
  • Two weeks prior to the expiry of current insurance policy (current Unitec students)
  • One week prior to the course start date (short courses only)
For new students, this coverage must be effective from the date of your flight to New Zealand and extend to the last day of your study visa.
For existing students, the renewed policy should continue from the expiry of the current policy with no break in cover and extend to the last day of your study visa. 
This is to ensure that the policy is acceptable by Unitec. Any late submissions of your Insurance Certificate will not be accepted. 
 
If you have any queries, please email insurance@unitec.ac.nz
The Policy certificate must show the following information in English:
  • Your personal details
  • Policy number
  • Policy start/expiry date 
  • A brief schedule of benefits.

Approved New Zealand Policies

  • Uni-care NZ Student Plan
  • Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI)
  • Marsh Student Safe Policy
  • Interglobal Student care Plus Policy
  • Orbit Protect Prime Policy

Approved Alternative Overseas Policies

  • Germany- Hanse Merkur
  • Norway- Reiseforsikring Europeiske
  • Norway – Gjensidige Nor Forsikring
  • Sweden/Norway – NEMI ANSA
  • Sweden/Norway - NEMI CSN
  • Sweden – Swedish State Student UT - Kammarkollegiet

Disclaimer:
Unitec reserves the right to withdraw any of the above policies from its approved list at any time.
Only Policies on the Unitec approved list above will be accepted.
Late submissions of insurance certificates will not be accepted
If you do not meet these requirements, Unitec will automatically place cover with its default insurer Uni-Care and the insurance premium will be charged to your Unitec student account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I am an international student. Do I need insurance?

Yes. 
All international students enrolled at Unitec must hold an acceptable insurance policy as a condition of their study visa by and as required by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for the period of enrolment until the expiry of their student visa. Your insurance must meet the requirements of the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of practice 2021 (You can also read a copy of the code in different languages from the NZQA website).
 

I paid for insurance but haven’t received the policy certificate or documents yet. Who do I need to contact?

Please email insurance@unitec.ac.nz and put your student ID in the subject line.
Be sure to check your mailbox, including junk and promotion folders, as it may have been mistakenly identified as such. as policy is sent via automated system once insurance is placed. 
 

What is covered in a Unitec placed insurance policy?

Where you have not arranged insurance for yourself, Unitec automatically purchases cover for you with Uni-Care (on a renewing basis relevant to enrolment/visa status). 
The details of the policy can be found on Uni-Care’s website. The key benefits include cover for:
  • Medical and evacuation expenses
  • Travel delays and cancellations
  • Baggage and personal items
  • Cash and travel documents
  • Personal liability
  • Personal accident
  • Rental vehicle excess
Please read the Uni-Care NZ Student Plan policy for details including sub-limits and conditions for certain type of claims. 
You can request additional cover for an additional premium for:
  • Pre-existing conditions, refer to Uni-Care policy wording.  
  • Personal contents over the value of $2,500 per individual item or set of items – you will need to advise mp@uni-care.org to arrange this cover

 

How much will the Unitec placed Uni-Care cost me? 

Unitec automatically covers students on a renewing basis relevant to enrolment/visa status under the blanket policy held with Uni-Care.
NB: Your insurance premiums are separate to and are not included in tuition fees.
Insurance premiums are calculated on a daily basis.  Please click the button below to calculate your indicative premium
 

How do I pay for my insurance? 

Information related to "How to Pay" can be found by clicking here. Receipt of payment is generated by Unitec International Finance who will advise you once processed.
The insurance charge is not included in and is separate from the tuition fee but can be paid at the same time as your tuition fee. Premium payment required two weeks prior to International Orientation.
 

Is there any difference insurance with Uni-Care placed through us and the same policy placed by you directly with Uni-Care?

No, cover is the same.
 

Can I add my family members to my Uni-Care insurance plan?

You will need to email Uni-Care through mp@uni-care.org to discuss a plan that works for you.
 

I am going to study a short course. Do I still need insurance?

Yes. All international students enrolled in a course that runs for two weeks or more are required to have appropriate insurance at all times during their enrolment period regardless of the type of visa held.
 

How do claims get lodged?

Please lodge your claim online.  Unitec does not manage insurance claims. 
For claims queries, contact Uni-Care or phone 0800 864 227.
Uni-Care has advised that all claims must be true, valid and not misleading. If found to be fraudulent, your policy could be cancelled which could affect your enrolment at Unitec.
 

I hold a work permit. Do I still need insurance?

Yes.  All international students enrolled in a course that runs for two weeks or more are required to have appropriate insurance at all times during their enrolment period regardless of the type of visa held.
Some work visa holders may be eligible for publicly funded health services. This covers the Code of Practice requirement for medical care in New Zealand but not the other three aspects that the Code of Practice 2021 states must be covered (travel, repatriation, death). As a result, work visa holders also need to hold appropriate insurance.
 

What if I need my insurance to commence earlier than the standard period?

If insurance is required to commence prior to the standard start date (1st February or 1st July), please contact Unitec and include copies of your Student Visa and plane tickets showing departure from your home country. This may mean an additional charge in your premium.
 

My insurance policy only covers one semester, but I paid for two semesters. -

When you receive your Unitec placed policy, your insurance will renew automatically for the next semester relevant to enrolment. The balance will be held in your student account and will be credited towards your next semester’s cover.
 

I have overpaid for my insurance. Can I have a refund for that?

Overpaid insurance can be refunded to the student or held for the insurance cover for your subsequent semesters. Please email the refund request to our Unitec Insurance Team.
 

What are pre-existing conditions and can the Unitec-placed cover with Uni-Care include my pre-existing conditions?

Pre-existing Condition/s means, in relation to You or any other person on whom Your Travel depends, any medical or physical conditions or circumstances: 
(a) which You are aware of, or ought to have been aware of; or 
(b) for which advice, care, treatment, medication or medical attention has been sought by You, which have been diagnosed as a medical condition, or a Sickness or indicative of a Sickness; or 
(c) which are of such a nature to require, or which potentially may require medical attention; or 
(d) which are of such a nature as would have caused a prudent, reasonable person to seek medical attention prior to the commencement date of Your Policy.
The application for pre-existing condition must be submitted within 28 days from your policy start date. After receiving the insurance certificate from Uni-Care, you will receive a link in your email to complete the Pre-Existing Condition application form/medical declaration form. You only need to complete this form if you want to seek cover for your Pre-existing condition.
Please note that your application will be referred to the underwriting team for review and they may request further information from you regarding your pre-existing condition. If cover is offered for your pre-existing condition, an additional fee will be payable. A payment link will be sent to you directly to pay via credit card.
You will not have cover for any claims related to your Pre-existing Condition(s) until they have been declared and accepted by Uni-Care and the additional fee has been paid. 
 

Can I arrange my own insurance?

The insurer will need to be on the list of Unitec Approved Insurance Providers listed above. Policy details should be forwarded to Unitec Insurance by the first day of the month your programme beings (new students) or two weeks prior to the expiry of your current insurance (current Unitec Students). The student is then responsible to provide renewed continuing insurance throughout their enrolment period with no break in cover. If Unitec does not receive the details of your insurance by the submission date and/or it does not meet the requirements set out as above, , Unitec will place Uni-Care cover relevant to your enrolment and charge your Unitec account.
 

What are the minimum insurance policy requirements?

The minimum benefits of insurance needed to meet the requirements set out by Unitec are:
  • Medical – cover must be unlimited
  • Repatriation – Unlimited
  • Accompanying Relatives – NZ$ 100,000 
  • Missed connections – NZ$25,000
  • Personal items - NZ$15,000
  • Personal liability - NZ$2,500,000
All insurance policies should cover you from the date of departure from your home, apply while you are in transit (up to 9 days), and continue for the period of your enrolment/visa dates.