nib sees need for kiwis to take more control

nib sees need for kiwis to take more control of their own health and well-being

The CEO of New Zealand’s second largest health fund, nib New Zealand, says recent comments about the unmet need for elective surgery underline the importance of kiwis proactively taking control of their own health and well-being through private health insurance.

nib NZ CEO Rob Hennin said that New Zealanders are significantly underinsured. “Only 30% of kiwis have health and medical insurance”, says Hennin. “When you add to this the increasing number of people who are cancelling or downsizing their cover – you arrive at a scenario that sees New Zealanders increasingly leaving their health and quality of life in the hands of the public system. ”

According to Health Funds New Zealand, for the year ending September 2013 the number of lives covered in the health insurance market was down 13,500 – a net average loss of 37 lives per day.

Hennin says that the time for a shake-up of New Zealand’s health and medical insurance industry is well overdue. “It’s clear that the affordability and flexibility of cover is a big issue for many New Zealanders. Nib has entered the market on a mission to encourage increased uptake of health cover by offering more affordable private hospital cover and everyday cover for dental, optical, GP and physio treatments.”

ENDS

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