Become an Affiliated Provider
Southern Cross welcomes the opportunity to talk with suitably qualified healthcare providers about joining the Affiliated Provider (AP) programme.
How to initiate an Affiliated Provider agreement
If you provide rooms-based services, you can contact a Southern Cross partnership manager to discuss an Affiliated Provider agreement.
For surgical services, the hospital or facility generally holds the agreement with Southern Cross. You should contact the hospitals or facilities you work at and speak to the person who looks after Affiliated Provider agreements with Southern Cross. The hospital or facility will then negotiate an Affiliated Provider agreement with Southern Cross.
Things to consider before becoming an Affiliated Provider
To become an Affiliated Provider to Southern Cross, practitioners must:
- have vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand for your area of practice
- have a current practising certificate
- be working from a facility that meets certain quality standards (if applicable).
In addition, we take into account:
- member demand for services
- your geographic location/region
- the services you are offering and area/s of expertise
- national/regional coverage
- price.
By joining the programme, Affiliated Providers are part of a sustainable private healthcare sector that remains accessible and affordable for more New Zealanders. Southern Cross welcomes the opportunity to talk with suitably qualified healthcare providers about joining the Affiliated Provider (AP) programme.
Sustainable
Our main aim is to ensure the long-term viability of the private healthcare system for our members, healthcare professionals and healthcare service providers alike.
Affordable
We aim to improve the affordability of health insurance for New Zealanders by agreeing prices for healthcare services through the Affiliated Provider programme.
Accessible
The Affiliated Provider programme’s role is to ensure members have easier access to expert private healthcare services from a range of qualified practitioners.
The Affiliated Provider programme
The Affiliated Provider programme was first established in 1997 with the aim of ensuring a wide range of New Zealanders have timely, affordable and sustainable access to private healthcare.
Affiliated Providers are doctors, specialists and facilities that provide Southern Cross members with healthcare services at agreed prices. By contracting with healthcare providers, we aim to minimise the impact of rising healthcare costs on members’ premiums, so they can continue to access private healthcare.
With the support of over 2,430 healthcare providers across 35 specialties, the programme, as of 30 June 2023, accounts for over 63 per cent of all Southern Cross’ claims costs.