nib State of the Nation Parenting survey: Why over half of Kiwi parents don’t have health insurance

A recent State of the Nation parenting survey conducted by nib highlighted a worrying trend: a significant number of New Zealand parents aren't covered by health insurance. Is this blind faith in the public health system, or are there deeper financial realities at play? The report revealed some eye-opening statistics about the barriers that Kiwi parents face when it comes to health insurance. Take a look at some of the key numbers below.

Why don’t parents have health insurance?

Unsurprisingly, price is a major contributing factor as to why New Zealand parents don’t take out health cover. 77% of the parents surveyed said health insurance is too expensive (up from 71% in 2022). 

Education was also a factor, with 16% of parents believing they needed to learn more about health insurance before taking it out. This lack of education or information proves to be more of a barrier for Māori and Pasifika parents (29%).

Worryingly, 11% of parents didn’t think health insurance was necessary, and 12% said they hadn’t given health insurance much thought. 8% of parents said that they were planning on purchasing health insurance but hadn’t gotten around to it. 

What about those who do have health cover?

46% of the Kiwi parents surveyed do have health insurance in place, and this number was significantly higher for Asian parents at 62%. Of all those with health insurance, 64% had made a claim in the past. 

The survey revealed why Kiwi parents don’t have health insurance, but it also delved into why they do, with the top reason being that it gives them confidence that their family can access health services when they need them.

Despite New Zealand’s publicly funded health system, most people are aware of significant wait times when it comes to using this system. As such, 48% of parents said they took out health cover to get quicker access to medical services than if they used the public system.

When it came to access to health insurance, 33% of parents reported that their health insurance was subsidised or fully paid for by their employer. 

While these statistics are great to see, we can’t forget about the barriers that many New Zealand parents face when considering health insurance.

How can we break down the barriers?

As advisers, we understand what motivates our clients and what might be holding them back. We strive to make sure that every family has the right kind of cover when they need it to avoid financial difficulties in the future and safeguard their families. 

At Union Plus, we don’t dole out insurance policies like candy; we work to make sure that you understand how insurance works, what you are covered for, and the importance of having cover in place should the worst happen. 

We work with a number of different insurance providers, which means we have access to a wide range of insurance policies for every situation, and every budget. 

If finances are a barrier, we can help you decide what to prioritise and work out the best value cover for your circumstances. If education is a barrier, we take the time to guide you through the process, making sure you understand how it works every step of the way.

If you’ve been thinking about getting cover but don’t know where to start or it all seems too complicated, take 5 minutes out of your day to get in touch with us and get the ball rolling. We’re here to make protecting your family as painless and stress-free as possible.