Health insurers have settled a case with the NZ Human Rights Commission over the practice of increasing premiums for older people.

While the country’s Human Rights Act, promulgated in 1993, allows health insurers to charge more for older patients, the commission’s action has led to the insurers co-operating to develop new actuarial guidelines. Key players in the formation of the new guidelines will be two lobby groups, Age Concern and Grey Power.

The health insurers will still be allowed to charge higher prices for older people, but the new guidelines will ensure there is an actuarial basis for doing so.