Parent Boost Visa Health Insurance Series: Comparing UniMed ParentStay vs Orbit

Planning a Parent Boost Visa?

If you’re applying for the New Zealand Parent Boost Visitor Visa - a pathway that lets you stay near your children or grandchildren for up to five years - one of your top priorities is meeting the mandatory health insurance requirement. This can be confusing and stressful but Cover Yours are here to help and if you would rather email us directly for help please use this contact form and we will be in touch by the following working day.

Immigration New Zealand demands solid private health cover for visa approval and ongoing compliance. The two most popular New Zealand based options available for applicants to consider are:

• UniMed/Accuro ParentStay
• Orbit Parent Boost Visa Health Insurance

They were both designed to meet visa requirements, but they serve different needs.

This side-by-side breakdown helps you choose the right insurance for your situation - whether you want comprehensive healthcare access or solid emergency cover with strong repatriation benefits.

Remember that you don't have to buy a New Zeland based policy, you just need to prove you have insurance that meets Immigration NZ requirements.

Why You Need Insurance for the Parent Boost Visa

Immigration New Zealand requires that Parent Boost Visa holders have insurance that covers:

• Emergency and acute medical treatment (minimum NZD $250,000 a year)
• Cancer care (minimum NZD $100,000 a year)
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation
• Return of remains

This protects you from potentially devastating medical bills and ensures you are not a burden on New Zealand’s public health system.

To satisfy this, both ParentStay and Orbit offer compliant cover - but with different coverage philosophies.

Quick Snapshot: How the Policies Compare

What Each Policy Covers

UniMed/Accuro ParentStay — Bigger Health Protection

ParentStay is like a health insurance plan rather than simple travel cover. It’s designed to function more like Kiwi domestic health insurance - with structured treatment pathways and broader service access.

It includes:

• Hospital treatment (planned and emergency)
• Surgery (including private hospital arrangements)
• Specialist consultations and diagnostics
• Cancer treatment
• Some mental health support
• Optional modules for GP and prescription coverage

Strength: Better suited for applicants expecting more than emergency care - especially useful for long-duration stays.

Orbit Parent Boost - Strong for Emergencies & Repatriation

Orbit’s policy is structured like a travel medical plan with strong protections around major emergencies.

It includes:

• Emergency illness and injury treatment
• Specialist and hospital costs as part of an emergency
• Return travel home if medically necessary
• Return of remains

Strength: Best for applicants who want robust emergency cover and repatriation, without paying for routine or planned medical access.

What Isn’t Covered

Understanding exclusions is critical before you pay a premium.

ParentStay exclusions include:

• Routine GP visits
• Elective or cosmetic procedures
• Dental/optical care
• Ongoing chronic care

Orbit exclusions include:

• Routine GP visits or preventative care
• Elective or cosmetic procedures
• Dental/optical care
• Specialist consultations not related to emergency events
• Ongoing chronic care

Pre-Existing Conditions - The Reality Check

Both policies require full medical disclosure and underwrite applicants. That means:

• Your current conditions will be reviewed
• Insurers may impose specific exclusions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes complications)
• In some cases, insurance may be declined

This matters because health insurance is a visa requirement - a failed policy application can delay or stop your visa.

Best practice:
Submit your health history early in the visa process. If you already have a condition of concern, ask for a risk assessment before completing your visa application.

How to Apply

ParentStay

1. Get Approval in Principle from Immigration NZ
2. Complete application with health and personal history
3. Submit the immigration medical results.
4. Underwriting send offer of terms.
5. Pay the annual premium upfront.

Orbit Parent Boost

1. Get Approval in Principle from Immigration NZ
2. Complete the application with your health and personal history; you can pay to have pre-existing conditions considered for coverage.
3. Submit the immigration medical results.
4. Underwriting send offer of terms.
5. Pay the annual premium upfront.

In both cases, your start and end dates should align with what Immigration NZ requires.

Premium Cost Examples

Below are indicative annual premium ranges (in NZD). Final rates depend on age, health, county of origin and underwriting results.

These are examples only. Actual premiums vary with underwriting outcomes. These premium examples come from quotes generated on 28.12.2025.

Choosing the Right Policy for You

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Choose ParentStay If:

• You want broader health access in New Zealand
• You want cover for surgery or diagnostics
• You value a health insurance-style plan

Choose Orbit If:

• You want emergency cover only
• Repatriation and return-of-remains are a priority
• You are comfortable arranging routine care yourself

Final Thoughts

Both ParentStay and Orbit satisfy Immigration NZ’s health insurance requirement - but they serve different needs.

Base your decision on:

• Your health profile
• Your stay duration
• Your desire for comprehensive care vs. emergency safety net
• Your budget and underwriting outcome

When your health insurance aligns with your life goals in New Zealand, you can focus on what matters most: time with your family - watching grandkids grow, celebrating milestones, and building new memories.

Cover Yours Ltd (FSP769531) and Marc Hamilton (FSP306046) are registered Financial Service Providers and you can search the register here. Marc Hamilton is a member of the FSCL Disputes Resolution Service. Cover Yours Ltd and Marc Hamilton’s disclosures can be found here or by emailing marc@coveryours.co.nz