Important Notice to Medicus Members

Change of Insurance Provider

Aon/NZI will no longer be offering renewal to Medicus members with effect December 1, 2025.

The Medicus Board has considered it’s and our Members’ position and have elected to recommend members renew their cover with New Zealand Medical Indemnity Insurance Ltd (NZMII). They are offering an very comparable policy to your current one with NZI and at the same/very similar cost. They were established around 20 years ago and currently have over 5500 policyholders. They and Medicus have been the two providers of a full insurance policy providing professional indemnity cover to health professionals in NZ, which carries better and greater certainty of cover than that provided by MPS, which is subject to the discretion of the UK Board, and which, on occasions, is declined.

Choice of New Provider

Your move to NZMII is important as you will be covered for any claims arising after the onset of your new policy, even though the claim may relate to an event/date prior to taking out the policy. If for any reason, you choose to join MPS rather than NZMII, you will need to ask Aon/NZI for run-off cover, as MPS would only provide cover for claims arising from events after your membership is taken up. This is an important distinction.

If you have a claims history with NZI, we suggest that you request a copy of this from Aon, as you may be asked to provide this to NZMII, when you apply for one of their policies. Failure to reveal any previous claims history when you apply may compromise your new policy. While it is unlikely a claims history will affect acceptance of your application by MZMII, or your premium, it is important you declare it, if you are asked to do so. Aon can provide you with a copy of your claims history, upon request, and this would avoid your having to document it all again.

Applying For Transfer to NZMII

Application is easy, and NZMII will be expecting it. They are looking forward to welcoming all previous Medicus members as their policyholders.

Application for professional indemnity cover with NZMII should be made at ……

Matters Arising After Your New Policy Is in Place

Once you have been provided with a policy by NZMII, dealings with Medicus will end, and all requests for assistance will need to be directed to NZMII, as Medicus will be winding up once the last member’s policy with Aon/NZI has lapsed. It is expected that NZMII will engage Drs Peter Robinson and Roderick Mulgan, as medico-legal advisors, and Gaeline Phipps as a member of their legal panel. This means there will be some continuity with the people from Medicus who have assisted you in the past.

Existing Complaints

If you have an ongoing complaint already being managed by Aon/NZI, this will continue to be managed by them, through to resolution, even though you switch to NZMII at the time of renewal. Assistance with existing complaints remains the responsibility of your present policy and insurer as you were their policyholder when the complaint was first received (so-called “claims-made” basis).

Existing or New Run-off Cover

If you currently have run-off cover with Aon/NZI, or are now retired and planning to move to run-off cover, you should still sign with NZMII, with the expectation they will provide free run-off cover for up to 6 years, from the date you first moved to run-off cover.

Final Remarks

Medicus and your Board have been pleased to support you over a number of years with the provision of what has been a secure, assured professional indemnity cover, as distinct from the discretionary cover of a Mutual Society, that has historically been what health professionals in NZ, and many countries have relied upon. NZMII was established for the same purpose as Medicus, and we are confident a choice by you to move your policy to NZMII is the right one.

Richard S Stubbs MD FRCS FRACS

Chairman

Medicus Indemnity NZ Inc.