Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 9.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.6bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Insurers have raced to maintain viability and combat rising costs
- Reinsurance costs and policy maintenance expenses have become more intense as upstream costs ramp up.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Public health expenditure has grown over the long term, intensifying pressure on the Central Government
- Long-term growth in public health expenditure is putting strain on the Central Government (Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa), with increasing numbers of over 50s and rising healthcare costs outpacing the health budget.
Biggest companies in the Health Insurance in New Zealand
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
Southern Cross Health Society | 1,815.4 | |
NIB Holdings | 429.0 | |
Union Medical Benefits Society Limited | 107.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Elective surgery cover, Comprehensive cover and Minor medical cover. Elective surgery cover is the largest segment of the Health Insurance in New Zealand.
Trends and Insights
Demand for elective surgery cover has increased
- Elective surgery cover includes surgeries and other medical procedures for ailments and injuries that don’t require immediate treatment. Generally, policyholders are referred from a general practitioner to a specialist before scheduling an elective procedure.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry operators predominantly provide health insurance. Firms in the industry underwrite policies covering hospital, medical, dental, pharmaceutical and funeral expenses.
What's included in this industry?
Elective surgery cover Comprehensive cover Minor medical coverCompanies
Southern Cross Health SocietyNIB HoldingsUnion Medical Benefits Society LimitedPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ELECTIVE SURGERYPREMIUMSLOSS RATIOIndustry Code
ANZSIC 6321 - Health Insurance in New Zealand
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Insurers have ridden the wave of higher premiums to generate more revenue. Higher upstream policy maintenance and claims payout costs have forced insurers to ramp up their po...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
New Zealand has an ageing population. This trend has placed more pressure on the healthcare sector, with private health memberships continuing to grow, especially among those...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Rural health insurance branches are becoming few and far between. Online distribution has developed an effective outreach, rendering regional branches costly and inefficient.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Health insurers compete on branding and reputation. Ideal cybersecurity, customer service and benefit payouts attract customers looking to ensure they have the safest and mos...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The Health Insurance industry is highly concentrated between the two largest operators. The strength of the industry's two major companies prevents other entrants from compet...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Southern Cross Health Society's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of NIB Holdings's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Union Medical Benefits Society Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Southern Cross Health Society, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for NIB Holdings, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Union Medical Benefits Society Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Soaring insurance costs are pushing buyers towards alternative options to avert health risks. Policyholders are weighing up the benefits of staying with their provider as opp...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Most health insurance revenue flows through not-for-profit business structures. Nevertheless, recent spiking premiums have created profit margin buffers in 2023-24.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand in 2024?
The market size of the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand is $2.6bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Health Insurance in New Zealand industry in 2024?
There are 29 businesses in the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand, which has grown at a CAGR of 6.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand has been growing at a CAGR of 9.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Health Insurance market in New Zealand?
The biggest companies operating in the Health Insurance market in New Zealand are Southern Cross Health Society, NIB Holdings and Union Medical Benefits Society Limited
What does the Health Insurance in New Zealand include?
Elective surgery cover and Comprehensive cover are part of the Health Insurance industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Health Insurance in New Zealand?
The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is Southern Cross Health Society.
How competitive is the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Health Insurance industry in New Zealand.
Related Industries
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Competitors
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Complementors
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View all industries in New Zealand
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in New Zealand include:
- Statistics New Zealand
- New Zealand Company Register
- Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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