Private medical insurance--to have or not to have

Reasons for taking out or deciding against private medical insurance were studied by a telephone survey in a random sample of 389 Wellington households with telephones. Nearly 47% were covered by a medical insurance policy, the majority through group schemes, and that cover varies significantly by household income and age. For both those with medical insurance, and those with no policy, the main advantages seen were rapid and convenient access to hospital care, followed by security against future costs, and then to pay doctor's bills. Only a very small number (17) of households had claimed private hospital costs in the past year and the greatest use made of the policy was to pay general practitioner costs.