OrbitProtect
OrbitProtect International Student
Two-tier student insurance for New Zealand with the OrbitPay card for cashless GP and pharmacy visits — meets visa requirements.
At a glance OrbitProtect
FromFrom NZD $669–786/yr
Age Limit5–60 (61–65: 75% higher premium; 66–80 on application)
Visa Compliant Yes
Last updatedOctober 1, 2026
01Choose Your Plan
Available Plans
Compare coverage tiers and pick the plan that fits your needs.
02Coverage Comparison
Compare Plan Coverage
See exactly what each plan covers side by side.
| Feature | Student Lite | RecommendedStudent Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coverage | ||
| Deductible / Co-pay | No excess on medical claims. NZD $150 excess on personal-effects claims, NZD $50 on personal liability. | No excess on medical claims. NZD $150 excess on personal-effects claims, NZD $50 on personal liability. |
| Additional Benefits | ||
| Mental Health | Mental illness treatment covered up to NZD $20,000 when referred and diagnosed by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist (suicide and attempted suicide are excluded). | Mental illness treatment covered up to NZD $20,000 when referred and diagnosed by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist (suicide and attempted suicide are excluded). |
| Repatriation | Evacuation or return to your home country when OrbitProtect decides it is medically necessary: travel costs unlimited, plus up to NZD $20,000 for continuing medical costs (up to 12 months). Reasonable extra airfare back to NZ if you resume your studies within 6 months (at least half of the policy period, and at least 15 days, must have been left). Travel and accommodation for up to 2 people to be with you in hospital: up to NZD $100,000. Same in Lite and Prime. | Evacuation or return to your home country when OrbitProtect decides it is medically necessary: travel costs unlimited, plus up to NZD $20,000 for continuing medical costs (up to 12 months). Reasonable extra airfare back to NZ if you resume your studies within 6 months (at least half of the policy period, and at least 15 days, must have been left). Travel and accommodation for up to 2 people to be with you in hospital: up to NZD $100,000. Same in Lite and Prime. |
| Visa Compliant | ||
| Visit Student Lite→ | Visit Student Prime→ | |
Student Lite
Student PrimeRecommended
Core Coverage
Deductible / Co-pay
No excess on medical claims. NZD $150 excess on personal-effects claims, NZD $50 on personal liability.
No excess on medical claims. NZD $150 excess on personal-effects claims, NZD $50 on personal liability.
Additional Benefits
Mental Health
Mental illness treatment covered up to NZD $20,000 when referred and diagnosed by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist (suicide and attempted suicide are excluded).
Mental illness treatment covered up to NZD $20,000 when referred and diagnosed by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist (suicide and attempted suicide are excluded).
Repatriation
Evacuation or return to your home country when OrbitProtect decides it is medically necessary: travel costs unlimited, plus up to NZD $20,000 for continuing medical costs (up to 12 months). Reasonable extra airfare back to NZ if you resume your studies within 6 months (at least half of the policy period, and at least 15 days, must have been left). Travel and accommodation for up to 2 people to be with you in hospital: up to NZD $100,000. Same in Lite and Prime.
Evacuation or return to your home country when OrbitProtect decides it is medically necessary: travel costs unlimited, plus up to NZD $20,000 for continuing medical costs (up to 12 months). Reasonable extra airfare back to NZ if you resume your studies within 6 months (at least half of the policy period, and at least 15 days, must have been left). Travel and accommodation for up to 2 people to be with you in hospital: up to NZD $100,000. Same in Lite and Prime.
Visa Compliant
03Coverage
What's Covered
Benefits and coverage details.
Included
OrbitPay card lets you pay GPs and pharmacies directly — no claim forms
Two pricing tiers (Lite and Prime) so you can match cover to budget
Unlimited medical, evacuation and repatriation
Underwritten by nib nz limited, rated A (Strong) for financial strength by S&P Global Ratings
Brochures and online quotes available in English, Mandarin and Korean
Not Covered
Lite plan has no automatic luggage cover (extras only on request)
Pre-existing conditions require a NZD $45 assessment plus extra premium
Lite plan excludes kidnap-and-ransom benefit (covered in Prime up to NZD $50,000)
Prime is more expensive than Uni-Care for similar 12-month cover
04Pricing
Pricing by Age
Monthly net premium by age group. No hidden fees.
Age GroupMonthly Premium
Fulfills insurance obligation
05FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about OrbitProtect International Student
OrbitProtect sells its International Student plans for students who must hold medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand. The insurance requirement comes from the Code of Practice for the pastoral care of international learners, administered by NZQA; your school checks that your policy meets it, so confirm with your school that it accepts OrbitProtect.
After buying a Prime or Lite policy you receive an OrbitPay card you can use like an EFTPOS card at registered NZ GPs and pharmacies. The provider charges OrbitProtect directly, so you don't pay upfront and don't submit a claim.
For 2026, Lite is NZD $669/year and Prime is NZD $786/year (verified on the OrbitProtect 'Premium changes' page). These standard premiums apply to ages 5–60; ages 61–65 pay 75% more, and ages 66–80 are considered on application.
Only two benefits differ. Prime includes automatic cover for your belongings (up to NZD $10,000 in total, NZD $3,000 per item) and kidnap-and-ransom cover (up to NZD $50,000). Lite has neither: your belongings are covered only if you specify them on the policy for an extra premium of 2% of their value. All other benefits are the same in both plans, including unlimited medical expenses, evacuation or return home, mental-illness treatment up to NZD $20,000, and the extra airfare back to NZ after an evacuation.
Not automatically. You can apply for pre-existing condition cover at policy purchase. OrbitProtect charges a NZD $45 assessment fee; if approved, you'll pay an additional premium and the policy may exclude maintenance treatment for the condition.
Ready to Get Insured?
Check the latest terms and prices for OrbitProtect International Student on the provider's official website.