International studies have linked untreated ADHD with poorer mental and physical health outcomes, higher mortality, and reduced life expectancy. Reinsurance-sector analysis has reported higher ADHD prevalence in prison populations and significant social and economic costs at a population level. For New Zealand insurers, these patterns intersect with product strategy, underwriting, and claims. Growing awareness, expanded diagnostic capacity, and persistent inequities may lead to more ADHD and ASD disclosures at application and claim stage. At the same time, health policies that exclude ongoing treatment for these conditions may face continued scrutiny from advisers, group schemes, and institutional buyers as public policy moves to broaden access to diagnosis and medicines. In that context, Southern Cross’ clarification sits within a wider industry discussion about how to distinguish between insurable, episodic medical events and long-term neurodevelopmental and mental health support, and how to set and explain those boundaries to the market.
