Chetwynd J
Department of Community Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine.
N Z Med J. 1989 Mar 8;102(863):107-9.
Data on ownership of private medical insurance were collected from a fully national sample of over 1000 adults. Findings were compared with those of a study undertaken in 1981. Private medical insurance was owned by 40% of the sample, an increase from the 35% ownership in the earlier study. The increase has been predominantly amongst nonMaori New Zealanders and women have increased ownership more than men. Insurance ownership was most common amongst the middle age group (36-50 years) but it has increased significantly amongst the older groups. Greatest areas of growth in ownership were in Auckland and Wellington where proportionate ownership was 52% and 50% respectively. Medical insurance was employer provided amongst 15% of those with insurance, the same proportion as found in the earlier study. Employer subsidy to insurance was evident also. Major reasons to take out insurance were for primary care purposes, so as to overcome the cost barrier to general practitioner services. Other reasons mentioned included avoidance of waiting for treatment and increase in choice of specialist or hospital. Reasons for giving up insurance were cost of premium, disillusionment with benefits and disqualification through age or illness.
关于私人医疗保险拥有情况的数据是从全国范围内1000多名成年人的完整样本中收集的。研究结果与1981年进行的一项研究结果进行了比较。样本中有40%的人拥有私人医疗保险，高于早期研究中35%的拥有率。增长主要集中在非毛利新西兰人当中，女性的拥有率增长幅度超过男性。保险拥有率在中年群体（36 - 50岁）中最为普遍，但在老年群体中也有显著增长。拥有率增长最大的地区是奥克兰和惠灵顿，其相应的拥有率分别为52%和50%。在拥有保险的人群中，15%的人的医疗保险是由雇主提供的，这一比例与早期研究相同。雇主对保险的补贴也很明显。购买保险的主要原因是用于初级保健，以克服看全科医生的费用障碍。提到的其他原因包括避免等待治疗以及增加选择专科医生或医院的机会。放弃保险的原因是保费成本、对保险福利的失望以及因年龄或疾病而失去资格。
