The overall number of New Zealanders with health insurance rose in the quarter by 1000, to 1.333 million. But there was an increase of almost 3000 in the younger age group in the quarter.

Health Funds Association NZ chief executive Roger Styles welcomed the figures, saying the number of lives covered had been relatively static for the past five quarters.

He said this reflected the country’s economic stability and New Zealanders’ understanding that they would need to fund some of their future healthcare costs themselves.

Styles said the increase in the 25- to 35-year-old age bracket was possibly as a result of concentrated efforts by some insurers to attract a younger demographic with less expensive policies that provide cover for day-to-day health costs such as GP visits, physiotherapy, dental check-ups and glasses.

“The increase in younger people taking out health insurance is very pleasing because it indicates that they recognise the value of getting in early, before the onset of pre-existing conditions, to safeguard themselves for the future,” he said.

The over-65 age group also recorded an increase, largely due to the ageing population. The 35-49 age group has seen a much smaller decline over the past year than in previous years.

Styles said the statistics showed a sizeable number of New Zealanders appreciated the value of health insurance.

For the year to the end of December, lives covered dropped 2600, or 0.2%, the lowest recorded annual decline since September 2009.

Claims paid for the December 2014 quarter were $255.6 million, up 5.5% on the previous December 2013 quarter. Total claims paid for the year to December 31 were $989 million, up 4.8% on the previous year.

Premium income for the December 2014 quarter totalled $310 million, up $5.3 million or 1.7% on the September 2014 quarter. Annual premium for the year to the end of December was $1.21 billion, up 5.9% or $68 million on the December 2013 year.

The past year has seen a decrease in the number of lives covered by comprehensive health insurance (-9100), although there has been an increase in lives covered by elective surgical and specialist policies (+6500). Elective surgical policies continue to increase as a proportion of policies, now accounting for 67.5 percent of lives covered.