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UniMed has added a powerful new preventative health tool to all their Health Plans as an Active Benefit. It's a skin-check app from SkinVision, that helps you keep on top of changes to your skin from anywhere, at any time.
UniMed have partnered with SkinVision to provide health plan holders with access to a mobile app that will enable you to take control of your skin health and support you in detecting skin cancer early.
SkinVison are a health-tech company that developed the mobile app that uses AI and dermatologists to provide a risk indication for skin spots from a user's photo and stores images to track changes over time. Whilst it's not a diagnostic tool, it is a powerful preventative one designed to empower users to monitor their skin and know when to seek medical advice from a professional.
If you have a UniMed Health Plan, this benefit gives you quick, AI-supported assessments to help spot potential issues early.
Here’s what makes this new benefit worth paying attention to.
Why early skin checks matter
New Zealand has some of the world’s highest rates of skin cancer, with around 80% of cases linked to UV exposure. Our climate, outdoor lifestyles, and high summer UV levels all increase risk and even small changes in your skin can be important.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand and accounts for around 80% of new cancer diagnoses each year.
Our melanoma death rates are the highest in the world, driven by three key environmental factors:
- Intense UV Radiation: Our geographic location places us directly under the ozone hole, exposing us to exceptionally high levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
- Clear Skies: Unlike countries with urban smog that can filter UV rays, New Zealand’s clean, clear air offers little protection from the sun.
- Proximity to the Sun: During summer, the Earth’s orbit brings the southern hemisphere closer to the sun than the northern hemisphere experiences in its summer, intensifying UV exposure.
In 2022, 535 people died of skin cancer (317 deaths were from melanoma and 218 deaths from non-melanoma).
This means that more New Zealanders die each year from melanoma than on our roads.
The good news?
When detected early, most skin cancers are highly treatable. That’s why regular skin checks whether at home, with your GP, or using digital tools like this app play such a crucial role in protecting your long-term health.
What to keep an eye out for
Skin cancer doesn’t always look the same, but there are key changes worth monitoring
Warning signs may include:
- A new spot on the skin that appears suddenly or a spot that looks or feels different from surrounding spots.
- A spot that changes in size, shape, or colour.
- A spot that has irregular or fuzzy borders, or mixes multiple colours (brown/black/red/pink).
- A spot that itches, bleeds, crusts or doesn’t heal.
If you notice any of these, or if something doesn’t look or feel right, it’s important to book a skin-check with a dermatologist.
How early detection made the difference
The SkinVision app uses advanced AI technology combined with dermatology-expert oversight to assess moles and other skin spots.
With this new UniMed benefit, you have access to a simple, supportive way to stay proactive about your skin health:
- Scan suspicious spots,
- Receive an immediate risk assessment and recommendations for next steps, putting you in control of your skin health from home.
- Store images to track changes over time, making it easier to notice subtle shifts you might otherwise miss.
By spotting an issue early, you may avoid a more serious diagnosis and get access to treatment sooner.
Eligibility and next steps
Eligible plans: This skin-check benefit is only available to Members with Primary Care plans (Primary Care, Primary Care Extra and #care4U) and Hospital Select plan.
Not covered? If you don’t currently hold one of these policies, you’ll need to purchase the plan first before you can access the benefit. You can find out more about these plans and sign up here.
A Final Thought from Us
Skin health can change quickly but, w ith tools like UniMed’s skin-check app so can your ability to catch things early. Now taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated, small moments of proactive action can make a meaningful difference later.
If this benefit is available to you, it’s well worth trying it out.
Your future self will thank you.
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