We’re now past the halfway point of winter, but we’ve still got a few more weeks of the cold and gloomy season. If the winter blues have been creeping up on you and you’ve been feeling under the weather both physically and mentally, we’ve put together some tips that just might help.

If you think of your body like a vehicle, you’ll be able to figure out several parts of it that should be checked to keep you healthy. Similarly to your car, you should be conducting a health WOF regularly to make sure your human engine is running smoothly. Here are a few essential checks that should be part of your next health WOF.

There are plenty of reasons why people don’t get life insurance sorted, but the reasons you have life insurance far outweigh these. It only takes one decision to get advice and get it sorted, and you can rest assured that you and your family will be protected should the worst happen.

Everywhere you look, there’s an article or opinion piece on gut health and what we should and shouldn’t be eating. One week, you’re told eating more fibre is good for you, the next, it’s not. It can be easy to get confused about how to keep your gut healthy, so to help you make sense of some of these ideas, we’re putting six common myths about gut health to the test.

When 24-year-old Denham Wisdom and his partner Rhi took out insurance, they did so ‘just in case’ something were to happen to them. Three years later, a motorcycle accident changed their world.

Speaking about his experience, Denham has some wise words: “I think getting life insurance is very important, especially when you own your own home or have a family. You never know when something could go wrong.”

With life insurance, you’re paid out a lump sum which can contribute to sustaining your family financially in the event of an unfortunate incident. Having life insurance when you’re young and don’t have any dependents might seem unnecessary, but the second you start to build a family, it’s important that you protect those who depend on you financially.

If something were to happen to you, you want to ensure that your family is taken care of; you might want to make sure they’re able to continue to live in the family home, or that childcare costs are covered.

Some insurance providers also offer great benefits for your children when you take out life insurance, including 6 months of free cover for newborns, and even free trauma insurance for children.

It’s Men’s Health Week! Did you know that New Zealand men are 20% more likely to die from heart disease than women? Or that 1 in 4 men won’t live to see retirement? Those are some pretty scary statistics, so this Men’s Health Week is all about the things men can do now to help improve their health outcomes.

We’ve put together a few ideas to get you started on your journey to becoming a healthier, happier Kiwi man.

New Zealand news sites are inundated with stories of those who are diagnosed with cancer and are required to spend thousands upon thousands (if they can) for treatment that isn’t funded by Pharmac.

Pharmac is often painted as the bad guy in many of these situations, and in a lot of cases, it’s easy to see why. However, to avoid being held ransom by the entity that must make many complex decisions about whether certain treatments should be subsidised, it’s important to know what your options are. Don’t rely on Pharmac to get the treatment you need, because it’s not always that black and white.

With all of the unprecedented weather events that have happened this year, it’s no surprise that many Kiwis are now reevaluating their appetite for risk. A survey commissioned by the Financial Services Council found that 76% of respondents said that recent weather events have prompted them to think about how they protect themselves and their families.

More and more people are seriously considering their financial position and what they would do if things were to go wrong. Where once they may have dismissed the idea of getting insurance in favour of spending money elsewhere, New Zealanders are now prioritising getting the right cover sorted.

Making a claim on your insurance is the sole reason to get insurance in the first place, so it’s important to understand just how the process works, and what it involves.

Of course, every insurance provider will have a different way of dealing with claims, but we’ve put together some general answers to the most commonly asked questions about insurance claims to give you a better understanding.

Lunch breaks are absolutely key, no matter what industry you’re in, but we often get so busy that we forgo taking a break and grab something on the go instead. Taking a lunch break is actually more important for your physical and mental health than you think. It’s a good chance to rest, reset, and fuel your body for the afternoon ahead.

To help you make the most of your lunch break and avoid fatigue and burnout, try some of these great tips.

With the cost of living for the average Kiwi household increasing by 8.2%, it makes sense that we would be thinking of ways to lower our everyday expenses. During times like these, many people decide to forgo getting their health insurance sorted, or they cancel their cover entirely to have money for other things.

This is understandable, but having the right health insurance in place is especially important during tough economic times - if something goes wrong, you want to know that you’ll be able to afford the treatment you need.

To help you save on your health insurance so you can keep costs down whilst also keeping yourself protected, we’ve put together some tips for you to consider.

Winter tends to be a time when we slow down and are much more sedentary, because who wants to be out in the freezing rain? However, to try to keep any winter colds at bay, we need to keep as active as possible. So how can we stay active when we’re working and it’s miserable outside? Here are a few easy things to try.

This is a question that’s asked a lot by Kiwis, and it’s an important one to consider. Many people often dismiss the idea of even trying to get insurance if they know they have a condition that’s likely to not be covered. But they don’t take into account the fact that the insurance provider might just surprise them.

At Union Plus, we work for you and negotiate on your behalf. Our advisors are skilled at finding the best solution for you - not just selling you the most expensive cover!

We understand that each situation is unique, and ‘every dollar counts’. Put us to the test today, and see how much you could save.

As a Union member you have exclusive financial benefits available to you - simply book in for free, no-obligation financial advice with one of our trusted advisers today and receive a voucher to match your first month’s premium (up to $100).

Known as the ‘sunshine’ vitamin, vitamin D is naturally produced in our bodies when we are exposed to sunlight. Because we need a good dose of vitamin D to strengthen our bones, muscles, and overall health, it’s important that we get enough of it - especially when the sun’s rays are sparse.

To help you make sure you’re getting enough of this wonderful vitamin, here are a few ways to increase your vitamin D intake and give your health a boost!

There are many different types of personal insurances out there, and whilst it might be easy to distinguish between your cover for your house, car, and contents, figuring out the difference between the other types of personal cover can be tricky.

One of the most common questions people ask is what’s the difference between Life insurance and Health insurance? Often people assume they are one in the same, but there’s actually a few important differences to note.

To help you understand why both are equally important types of cover, we’ve put together some information on each to make it easier.

If you’re a shift worker, it can be hard to stay on top of your health, especially when your usual waking and sleeping hours are disrupted. Because many shift workers often see fluctuations in their weight and overall health, it’s important to prioritise a healthy diet as much as possible. Here are a few tips that might just help!

It’s a common question that gets asked by New Zealanders when it comes to getting health insurance sorted - after all, why should you pay for something that you can get for free? But the reality is not as black and white as that. There are many occasions where ACC just doesn’t fit the bill, and it’s not designed to. That’s where personal insurances like health and life cover come in.

The Financial Services Council (FSC) recently released their latest research report, ‘Money and You - Taking Cover.’ Surveying over 2,000 Kiwis, their study reveals some interesting insights into the financial wellbeing of New Zealanders and their relationship with health insurance.