Rise in Health-Insured Kiwis Continues

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The number of New Zealanders covered by health insurance continues to rise and now totals around 1.4 million, according to the Health Funds Association’s (HFANZ) latest statistics.

The HFANZ says this continued rise reflects the ongoing value people are getting out of having health insurance.

The numbers for the September quarter showed the total number of lives covered was:

  • Up 2200, or 0.2 percent, for the quarter
  • Up 7900 or 0.6 percent for the year to end September

Figures indicated the majority of that growth continued to be within the 25-40 age group.

HFANZ Chief Executive, Roger Styles …more New Zealanders are insuring their health

HFANZ Chief Executive, Roger Styles, says employer-subsidised health insurance plans were continuing to prove attractive to both workers and their bosses as part of the focus on wellness in the workplace.

“In addition to the availability of wellbeing and wellness initiatives that many of our insurers now offer, health insurance means getting a better level of service through faster access to treatment when it’s needed and increasing options to access treatments and drugs not funded or provided in the public sector,” he said.

The numbers also indicated a rise in the number of older New Zealanders with health insurance, which Styles explained was due to the ageing population and an acknowledgement by many policyholders that maintaining their cover was sensible in the face of increasing difficulty accessing public-funded healthcare, such as elective surgery.

Styles added that claims paid were up to $369 million for the quarter, an increase of 7.9 percent on the September 2018 quarter.