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We are pleased to share that the 9th edition of our Critical Illness Data Insights for the Hong Kong market, covering the period from 2019 to 2023, was completed in March 2025.
To improve timeliness and relevance, we adopted a new approach to this round: focusing on one market at a time rather than conducting a multi-market study simultaneously. This allowed us to deliver insights to the industry more promptly. Data collection from participating companies began in the latter part of 2024, and with the support of AI tools, we successfully released the results in March this year.
Critical illness (CI) remains one of the top-selling products in Hong Kong. With participation from 10 companies, we estimate that this study covers over 95% of the market. The number of inforce policies grew healthily to 4.9 million by the end of the study period, and we collected over 69,000 claims—marking a significant increase from previous editions. This larger dataset has enabled deeper insights into a broader range of conditions and age groups.
Our findings indicate a continued long-term deterioration in CI incidence for both genders. Moreover, the selection effect has narrowed compared to the last study.
As in previous years, the majority of claims continue to stem from cancer, heart conditions, and stroke, accounting for 87% of male and 94% of female claims.
Cancer continues to be one of the key contributors to the overall deterioration trend observed in our study. Among the various cancer types, several warrant close monitoring due to their emerging patterns and impact.
Thyroid cancer has been a persistent concern for the industry, with signs of deterioration first noted in our seventh study. In the current edition, we observe a rapid worsening trend across both genders, primarily driven by the Mainland Chinese Visitor (MCV) business. The MCV male incidence rate from the Hong Kong study has surpassed Mainland China’s incidence rates, based on the previous Mainland China study (cutting off at 2020). For females, the rate of deterioration remains consistent with earlier findings from the same segment.
While smoking is a well-established risk factor for lung cancer, global efforts to reduce smoking rates have not curbed the rising incidence of lung cancer among females—particularly non-smokers. Research suggests that contributing factors for lung cancer may include exposure to cooking oil fumes, secondhand smoke, genetic mutations such as EGFR, and air pollution.2
Another possible driver of the increased incidence is the growing popularity of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in China.3 While LDCT has enabled earlier detection, especially among non-smoking women, there is growing concern about overdiagnosis—particularly in individuals who do not fall into traditional high-risk categories.
While most major cancer types in our study show a clear deterioration trend, colorectal cancer presents a more encouraging picture, with signs of slight improvement. This positive shift may be linked to the Hong Kong Government’s introduction of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme in 2016.
As of the end of 2024, over 510,000 citizens have participated in the programme. Among them, 15% received positive results from the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Of those who underwent follow‑up colonoscopy, 52% were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas (polyps), and 4% were found to have colorectal cancer.4
This data suggests that early detection efforts are making a meaningful impact, and we hope this trend continues as awareness and participation grow.
Over the past two decades, we have consistently observed a significant deterioration trend in female breast cancer incidence, averaging around 2.4% per annum. While the current study still reflects a worsening trend, the pace of deterioration appears to have slowed. This moderation may be partially attributed to the COVID‑19 pandemic, during which many individuals avoided medical facilities unless absolutely necessary so fewer women were getting screened. We hope to confirm whether this is a sustained trend in our next study.
As our CI portfolio matures and the number of claims increases, prostate cancer has emerged more prominently, now ranking as the third most common cancer among males. Notably, we observe a sharp deterioration in incidence among more advanced age groups when compared to the previous study.
Following cancer, cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of claims. Among the four core markets we regularly study – Hong Kong, Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore – Hong Kong has historically shown the lowest incidence rates and a stable trend. Unfortunately, this study reveals a deterioration in CVD experience in Hong Kong as well.
It is unclear whether this shift is linked to the COVID‑19 pandemic, but it is plausible that prolonged periods of reduced physical activity and more sedentary lifestyles during lockdowns may have contributed.
Two key risk factors – smoking and body mass index (BMI) – continue to show strong correlation with CVD incidence. With many insurers now offering wellness platforms, there is an opportunity to encourage healthier lifestyles through better diet, increased physical activity, and smoking cessation. These efforts may help reverse the trend and improve future outcomes.
The juvenile segment continues to be a vital part of the CI business, particularly in the Hong Kong market. We have been at the forefront of innovation in this space by offering coverage for specific juvenile conditions. While cancer has traditionally been the leading cause of claims in this segment, this study marks a notable shift: Autism has now overtaken cancer as the top cause of claims among boys.
The highest incidence rates are observed in the 0 to 4 age group, with a peak at age 2. Boys are approximately four times more likely to be diagnosed with severe autism than girls. Although early intervention and treatment are critical for improving long-term outcomes, CI products are typically designed to provide a lump-sum benefit for severe cases.
This raises an important consideration: While definitive diagnosis of severe autism before age 3 can be challenging, we are already seeing admitted and paid claims for children as young as age 0. This trend underscores the need for ongoing evaluation of product design and claims assessment criteria in light of evolving diagnostic practices.
We hope you find this edition of our Critical Illness Data Insights both informative and thought-provoking. With each successive study, the growing depth and breadth of data have enabled us to uncover more nuanced trends in the prevalence, incidence, and impact of critical illnesses across the Hong Kong market.
This year’s findings highlight several important developments:
We extend our sincere thanks to all participating companies for their invaluable contributions in preparing, validating, and submitting data. Your support makes it possible to generate insights that benefit the entire industry.
Should you have any questions, or if you are interested in participating in future studies – or would like Gen Re to conduct a similar study for another market—please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would be delighted to engage further.
Lastly, stay tuned. In the coming months, we’ll be sharing additional insights from this study, including condition-specific trends, age and gender breakdowns, and cross-market comparisons that we believe you’ll find equally compelling.
