Nib Holdings New Zealand reported a 3.8 per cent lift in earnings as it stepped up its focus on innovation and customer experience but the outlook for both New Zealand and Australia was guarded.
The ASX-listed company said underlying operating profit in New Zealand rose to $27.4 million in the year to June 30 from $26.4 million in the prior year. It increased its number of policyholders by 2.8 per cent to 102,696, while its premium revenues were up 1.9 per cent to $214.9 million. Claims, meanwhile, were down 3.1 per cent to $117.2 million.
Nib New Zealand is part of one of Australia's largest health insurers - Nib Holdings - which today reported a 20 per cent gain in underlying annual operating profit to A$184.8 million. Its net profit was up 11 per cent to A$133.5 million.
According to Nib Holdings, "more than ever communities across Australia and New Zealand need private health insurance in order to cope with burgeoning healthcare spending and already stressed public systems."
Despite this, market conditions in both Australia and New Zealand "continue to be difficult with modest growth prospects" and that is due to macroeconomic factors including affordability and negligible growth in discretionary spending, it said.
