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Drawing on a year of collaborative research and detailed analysis, Gen Re’s CI Analytics Asia team is pleased to announce the completion of the Malaysia Critical Illness (CI) Data Insights 2019–2024 study in July 2026.
Based on approximately 6.4 million in‑force policies and more than 108,000 claims, the study provides an updated view of the Malaysian CI insurance market and how it has evolved since the 2015–2019 study. We thank all participating companies for their continued support and contributions.
The Malaysian CI market expanded over the study period, with in‑force policies rising from 5.5 million in the 2015–2019 study1 to 6.4 million in the current 2019–2024 study, representing growth of 16%.
Average sum assured rose from MYR 83,000 in 2019 to MYR 89,000 in 2024, up about 7%. Over the same period, consumer prices in Malaysia rose by around 9% between 2019 and 2024 based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data published by the Department of Statistics Malaysia.2 With sum assured up about 7% against roughly 9% inflation, coverage has edged lower in real terms. This reinforces the case for periodic coverage reviews so that protection keeps pace with the rising cost of living.
Malaysians continue to buy CI coverage early in life. The average issue age held broadly steady at 25, up just one year from the previous study,3 even as the national median age rose from 28.3 years4 in 2017 to 30.9 years5 in 2024. New policyholders remain a distinctly younger group than the overall population.
The study also points to a shift in what buyers want. Policies issued between 2019 and 2024 show growing demand for more comprehensive products, including plans offering broader coverage and multiple payouts. With cover typically bought so young, and multi-pay products commonly waiving future premiums once a major CI claim is paid, policies can stay on the books for decades, adding weight to the pricing assumptions that underpin them.
As CI products broaden in scope, the claims profile is shifting on two fronts: the mix of claim severity, and the age at which claims arise. Late Stage (Major) CI claims remain the largest category, but Early Stage (Minor) CI claims rose from 2.8% in 2019 to 3.1% in 2024, reflecting greater uptake of products covering these conditions.
Claimants are also getting older. The average age at claim held steady at 50 to 52 years but rose across every category versus the previous study,6 with the largest increase in death claims. The causes of those claims remain sharply split by sex. For women, cancer is the dominant driver, accounting for 70% of major CI and death claims in 2024; for men, heart attacks and other heart-related conditions lead, at 38%. Heart disease claims rose for both sexes relative to the previous study, strengthening the case for insurers to invest in cardiovascular wellness and customer engagement.
Colorectal cancer has become one of the leading cancer sites for both men and women, and the overall pattern has converged: the three leading cancer sites for each sex now match those seen in Singapore’s earlier 2015–2019 study.7
That convergence is clearest in the rankings. Among men, colorectal ranks first, ahead of prostate and lung; prostate has displaced nasopharynx since the last study.8 The prostate cancer share is likely to keep rising as the portfolio ages, given that it is typically diagnosed at older ages.9 Among women, breast cancer leads, followed by uterine and colorectal.
Colorectal’s prominence across both sexes is a notable trend, and a hopeful one. It is among the most preventable cancers, since screening can catch and remove precancerous polyps10 before they develop, which makes awareness and early detection increasingly valuable as Malaysia’s population ages.
The Malaysia CI market continued to mature between 2019 and 2024, supported by growing coverage, strong participation and sustained demand for protection. Yet the study also revealed evolving claim patterns, greater product complexity and shifting health risks. Continued monitoring of claims experience will be key to keeping CI products aligned with the needs of Malaysian consumers.
We look forward to sharing detailed results with participating companies over the coming weeks. For questions about the study or future participation, please get in touch with the CI Analytics team.
All endnotes last accessed on 7 August 2026.
