HFANZ executive director Roger Styles said 1.38 million New Zealanders now had health insurance, or 31.6% of the population.
Styles said the reduction in lives covered over the full September 2010 year was 8200, or 0.6%. More than half of those policies, 4700, were lost in the September quarter this year.
Coverage had been dropping since December 2008, which he put down to continued lower employment levels affecting the membership of group health insurance schemes at workplaces. Loss of coverage was most noticeable in the 30-59 age group.
"The reduction in coverage also reflects a price response, as continued claims cost growth has put upward pressure on premiums over recent years, most notably for older age groups," Styles said.
"This pressure is adding to the case for a rebate for the over-65s who hold on to their health insurance. We have been engaging constructively with the Government on this and are hopeful that fiscal conditions may allow the reconsideration of this policy in the near future."
Claims costs continued to rise in the September 2010 year, with insurers paying out $818 million, up $75 million or 10.1 percent on the September 2009 year. In the September 2010 quarter, $225 million in claims were paid.
Premium income was up 9.3 percent, or $80 million, on the September 2009 year to $939 million. Insurers earned $244 million in premiums in the September 2010 quarter, compared with $236 million in the June 2010 quarter.
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