The FSC’s latest Insight & Trends report shows an increased take-up in private healthcare, and concludes the sector is needed to help address what it calls a healthcare crisis in New Zealand.
Richard Klipin, the organisation’s outgoing CEO, who’s about to join Australia’s National Insurance Brokers Association as its CEO, says although people are living longer, their health is not improving with age.
“As the pace of life span speeds up, we aren’t seeing an equal improvement in our health span and as such, research indicates we are living half our lives in moderate or poor health,” he says.
“Older people have a significant part to play in our society and with many working longer.
“We urgently need to look at how our public and private health systems can work together to enable a healthier ageing population to play an active part in society.”
According to FSC research, there has been an increase in Kiwis taking health cover in New Zealand, with 37% of survey respondents saying they had health insurance in 2023, up from 32% in 2022.
The FSC says medical is the second most common type of insurance after life insurance and ahead of critical illness cover. However, cost of living pressures is cited by 55% of those who cancelled their health cover last year.
The FSC’s report highlights that:
- There is a looming social healthcare crisis as people live longer, but not healthier
Download the full report. - The number of Kiwis with health insurance increased to 1.45 million last year
- The most concerning health issue reported is mental health
- Life expectancy has increased by 11 years from 71 in 1960 to 82 in 2021
- Women are likely to live around 3.5 years longer than men according to Stats NZ
- 86% of New Zealanders report they are good health (OECD average is 68%)
Klipin says: “‘Increasing collaboration with the private sector and utilising the private sector’s skills and priorities is a key driver in our policy priority to deliver accessible and affordable healthcare in our Blueprint for Growth, to enable New Zealanders to maintain their wellbeing for as long as they can.”
See our report: FSC’s CEO to Take Reins at Australian Association