Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 9:17 am
Press Release: AIA NZ
Leading life and health insurer AIA NZ today released its
latest Claims
Compass, reporting $790 million in total claims paid for
the year ended 31 December 2025, supporting more than
789,000 New Zealanders.
Of this total, more than $93.5
million was paid to support customers with heart-related
claims, reflecting both how common heart disease is in New
Zealand and the increasing complexity and cost of
treatment.
According to the New Zealand Heart
Foundation, heart disease claims the life of someone in New
Zealand every 90 minutes – almost 7,000 people each year
– making it the country’s single biggest killer.[1]
Maddie
Sherlock, AIA NZ Chief Customer Officer.
Photo/Supplied
AIA NZ Chief
Customer Officer Maddie Sherlock says the figures highlight
the very real impact heart disease is having on individuals,
families and communities.
“Heart disease
often strikes people in the middle of their working lives,
and its impact can be sudden and lifechanging. These
claims represent real people who need certainty, care and
support at a time when it matters
most.”
Spotlight on heart
claims
Heartrelated claims were most prevalent
among men aged 40 to 69, who accounted for the largest share
of heart claims in 2025. Heart attacks and heart disease
made up the majority of claims, followed by diagnostic
procedures and valverelated conditions.
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While women
generally present as healthier overall, men were
significantly more impacted by heart disease across most age
groups.
Heart Foundation Medical Director, Dr Gerry
Devlin says that while there have been significant advances
in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, it remains
the leading cause of death in New Zealand.
“The
prevalence of heart disease reinforces the importance of
awareness, prevention, early detection and access to timely
treatment.
“Heart disease occurs in both men and
women, tending to affect men at a younger age,” says Dr
Devlin, “but understanding personal risk factors and
seeking regular check-ups can make a real
difference.”
More than 195,000 New Zealanders are
currently living with heart disease[2],
which has been identified as one of the five major
noncommunicable diseases responsible for over 90% of
deaths in New Zealand.
Rising health claims and
growing complexity of care
Of the $790 million paid
in total claims in 2025, $177.31 million related
specifically to health insurance claims. Alongside heart
claims, AIA NZ continues to see growth in highvalue
medical claims, including chemotherapy and complex spinal
procedures.
Several factors are contributing to rising
claims costs across the industry,
including:
Pressure on the public health system,
leading more customers to seek private treatment
soonerImproved diagnostic capability and treatment
optionsMedical inflation, with the cost of scans,
procedures and hospital stays increasing faster than general
inflation.
In response to rising claim volumes
and medical inflation across the industry, Maddie says AIA
NZ is adapting its approach to help keep protection
accessible and sustainable for customers.
“New
Zealanders are benefiting from advances in medical treatment
and earlier diagnosis, but these innovations often come at a
higher cost.
“That’s why our focus is
on continuing to evolve our products and services, including
more targeted and flexible cover options, and greater
investment in prevention, early intervention and
rehabilitation, so customers can access timely,
highquality care while we work to manage affordability
over the long term,” says
Maddie.
Supporting customers across
life’s challenges
In 2025, AIA NZ provided claims
support across a wide range of health, life and income
protection needs. This included:
Accepting 91% of
all claims received$257.73m paid in life insurance
claims$142.45m paid in trauma
claims$108.69m paid in income protection
claims$21.35m paid in total permanent disablement
claims.
Claim payments were highest among
customers aged 50 to 59, reflecting a life stage where
serious illness, injury and income disruption are more
likely to intersect.
Together, these insights
illustrate the importance of understanding your health
earlier and taking steps to reduce risk over
time.
“At AIA NZ, our Purpose is to help people live
Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. While we support customers
when they need to make a claim, we’re equally focused on
helping people better understand their health so they can
take action earlier – whether that’s through regular
health checks, speaking with their GP or tools like AIA
Vitality that support prevention and early
intervention.
“Knowing your health can make a
meaningful difference, both to your quality of life and to
reducing the likelihood and severity of illness later on,”
says Maddie.
[1] New Zealand
Health Survey.
[2]
Ibid.
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