Media release from Sovereign

From next week Sovereign customers will get unprecedented access to some of the best medical specialists in the world, as its partnership with the international Best Doctors network kicks off.

Sovereign is the first New Zealand insurance company to offer the service, which gives eligible policyholders  with serious illnesses a comprehensive expert second opinion by recognised international health experts.

The innovative network was set up more than 20 years ago by two Harvard Medical School-affiliated physicians and now operates in 30 countries, giving more than 15 million people access to advice, reassurance and recommended treatment plans from more than 50,000 peer-appointed specialists when they need it most.

Sovereign's partnership brings New Zealand into the network, and it is marking the occasion with an exclusive introductory offer. Anybody who takes out a new TotalCareMax Living Assurance Comprehensive policy between 1 August and 30 September 2010 gets free access to the unique service for up to two years. 

Sovereign's clinical director, Dr John Mayhew, says: "Our partnership with Best Doctors means that these policyholders will get access to the three things that can help them the most if they're diagnosed with a critical illness: lump-sum payments, expert advice and support - and answers."

Sovereign will announce plans to make Best Doctors available to all new and existing customers in the coming months, as the offer is expanded.

Dr Mayhew says the network is an incredibly valuable resource for both patients and their doctors, allowing them to call on the very best minds in world health, when they need it most.

"We all know that healthcare services are under tremendous strain, in New Zealand and around the world. This is a proactive way to give our customers the confidence that they are getting the correct diagnosis and choosing the best treatment possible. For their doctors, it's more than just a second opinion. It's an unprecedented opportunity to tap into the some of the world's best health resources, and get additional expertise and guidance from the leading players in their fields," he says.

"We are lucky to have a high-calibre medical workforce here in New Zealand, considering the small size of the country. This is an ideal service to complement our quality care and enable New Zealanders to also have access to the level of international expertise that Best Doctors offers."