" Thank you for your offer to assist me with NZ information. I have been assigned the project of re-designing our remuneration packages for three of our Australian expat, staff whilst in NZ. During my recent visit, I met with a representative from Southern Cross in an endeavour to outline their corporate health programes. My questions at this stage are as follows: Is Southern Cross the major player in corporate health plans? Whilst you were in NZ, were you provided with private health insurance as part of your remuneration package? Is so, what did this incorporate? Do you know of others (ie, through your work network) who were provided with this benefit? If so, is it worth me contacting the companies to investigate their benefit scheme further? What are the tax implications if our expat.s are on our Australian payroll? I look forward to hearing from you soon. Kindest Regards Stephanie Lofting Kellogg (Aust.) Pty Limited Benefits and Compensation Analyst - Asia Pacific "

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" Stephanie, Southern Cross IS the major player, as it has its own hospital as well. Another major health insurance service is provided by Aetna, and you''ll find them in all major cities. There are probably more, but you''ll have pretty good coverage with either of those two. Sometimes with both companies, you can organise a group insurance plan, where if you have a certain number of employees join up, everyone gets a small discount. Regarding the tax implications, NZ has a pretty basic tax system and the health insurance probably wouldn''t be tax deductible to individual employees in NZ - not sure about in Australia though. If the Company pays the health insurance on behalf of the employees, it may be subject to Fringe Benefit Tax (the Company pays it). Hope that helps some! Kim Jenkins kpmg Accountants Phone: 31 20 656 7614 Fax: 31 20 656 8400 E-mail: jenkins.kim@kpmg.nl "

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" - Southern Cross is considered the most comprehensive private health care provider, as well are having private hospitals they have private accident and emergency rooms. They offer quality care and are offer extremely helpful staff Whilst you were in NZ, were you provided with private health insurance as part of your remuneration package? Is so, what did this incorporate? - As a NZer working in NZ I was provided health care for myself (and family - husband and children). This seems the norm for a lot of bigger companies. Often the company will provide the ''regular'' scheme but you can pay the extra monthly cost if you wish to upgrade to a more comprehensive coverage plan. The regular scheme covers 80% of your medical bills from memory. Do you know of others (ie, through your work network) who were provided with this benefit? - All employees in my company were offered this health care coverage as a perk! I don''t believe its rare for this to be offered as teh company for father worked for also paid for their employees coverage. If so, is it worth me contacting the companies to investigate their benefit scheme further? What are the tax implications if our expats are on our Australian payroll? Southern Cross would probably be able to provide you with some of this information. When we joined the company a Southern Cross representative can be to discuss the plans with us to make sure we fully understood every thing on the scheme. I can''t imagine there would be tax implications on Australian based expats - movement of employees between Australia and NZ happens all the time (there are no restrictions for either nationality working in the others country). Let me know if I can help you any more, in fact I believe Southern Cross was such a good private health care provider even now that I''m accompanying my partner overseas assignment I still continue to pay my monthly premium to Southern Cross so I can still enrolled on the scheme when I get back. Regards Natalie "

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