News release - for immediate use
14 December 2006
Health insurance coverage up
Thousands more New Zealanders signed up to major medical health insurance in the September quarter according to
statistics released by the Health Funds Association of New Zealand (HFANZ).
An increase of 10,700 lives covered was recorded for major medical insurance in the September quarter. This was partly
offset by a drop of 6,400 lives covered by comprehensive health insurance, meaning a net increase of 4,300 lives covered
in the quarter.
At the end of September a total of 1.362 million New Zealanders were covered by health insurance, up 11,000 on September
2005.
HFANZ Executive Director, Claire Austin, says the industry is pleased that the number of people with health insurance is
continuing to grow, despite recent increases to premiums on the back of general health sector inflation and higher
claims costs.
“More New Zealanders are becoming aware of the benefits of having health insurance, including the fact that they can
avoid public waiting lists for elective procedures. People are also aware that the earlier you take out health insurance
the better.
“Recent data collected for some common elective procedures shows private health insurance funds a similar number of
procedures as are carried out publicly each year.
This is good news for the Government too, as it helps relieve pressure from the public system. The statistics show a 6%
jump in the value of claims paid for the year to September 2006, increasing $32 million from the previous year to $567
million.
ENDS