AIA offers Best Doctors to NZ advisers in response to wellbeing research

In response to the 2021 New Zealand Adviser Wellbeing research report, AIA New Zealand is extending the highly sought-after Best Doctors service to financial advisers.

According to Sam Tremethick, Chief Partnership Insurance Officer, “Best Doctors is a fantastic offering, supporting our employees, corporate customers - and now advisers - with the option of securing a second expert medical opinion on any medical diagnosis.”

The NZ Adviser Wellbeing research AIA launched last week showed that 20 percent of advisers surveyed are seeking or have sought medical care for stress, 15 percent have been advised by their doctor that they are in a high-risk category for heart disease or stroke, and 41 percent had a moderate to high mental health risk – almost double the risk of the general NZ population.

“We want to help bring about change for advisers, and are proud to be able to offer this to any advisers in New Zealand that have a relationship with us.”

Best Doctors is a telehealth service that provides access to international specialists and New Zealand registered mental health clinicians. Providing world-class advice and support when it is needed most, Best Doctors supports customers with diagnosis, treatment, and information, providing the confidence to make informed health decisions.

The AIA offer also includes access to Best Doctor’s market-leading Mental Health Navigator service, which provides direct online access to a multidisciplinary team of mental health experts including psychologists and psychiatrists.

Dr Lorelle Drew, Lead Consultant Psychiatrist for Best Doctors in New Zealand, explains further: “The need for mental health services has been on the rise for several years and Covid-19 has seen an increase in this need for support and care.  Access to services through virtual care has also been on the increase, which provides benefits such as people being seen safely and without the stress and disruption of long travel, parking and childcare arrangements for example. 

“Through Best Doctor’s Mental Health Navigator it is much easier to access psychiatrists and psychologists with timelier assessment, treatment, and recovery as a result,” says Drew.

“We know mental wellbeing is an area of significant concern in New Zealand, with depression the leading cause of disability worldwide,” adds Tremethick. “Through the Mental Health Navigator we can help NZ advisers get the right advice and information they need, so they can prioritise their mental health.

“We believe it is important to take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, which is why we are thrilled to have this benefit extended to include advisers’ immediate families as well, so they can also receive the right advice and support.”

To take advantage of the Best Doctors offer through AIA, advisers should contact their AIA Business Development Manager who will guide them through the sign up process.