Financial stress is emerging as a prominent pressure point for Singapore residents and Asia-Pacific households, even as Singapore’s overall vitality score remains broadly in line with last year, according to new research by Cigna Healthcare.
The Singapore findings are drawn from the Cigna Healthcare International Health Study 2025, which surveyed more than 11,000 people across 13 markets, including 1,000 respondents in Singapore and 4,000 across Asia-Pacific. The study finds that respondents in Singapore identify physical, mental, and financial well-being as key priorities, but rate their financial health lower than other aspects of their lives. Almost four in 10 respondents in Singapore (39%) described their financial well-being as “fair” or “poor,” pointing to ongoing cost-of-living and budget pressures that intersect with health and protection needs.
Singapore’s vitality score was 61.2 in 2025, compared with 61.4 in 2024. The proportion of respondents rating their overall well-being as “excellent” or “very good” rose slightly to 34% from 33%. Within this, family well-being received the highest rating (44%), followed by mental well-being (36%) and physical well-being (34%). Raymond Ng, CEO and country manager, Cigna Healthcare Singapore and Australia, said: “Health and vitality are key to building resilient communities. It promises the well-being of our workforce and enables us to grow and prosper as a society. While vitality and well-being levels held firm among Singapore residents, more needs to be done in today’s uncertain environment to tackle stressors that can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.”
At the regional level, the study indicates that Asia-Pacific lags global peers on self-reported well-being. Fewer than three in 10 respondents in APAC (28%) rated their overall well-being as “excellent” or “very good,” compared with 41% globally. Globally, respondents cited physical and mental well-being as the two most important elements of well-being. In APAC, financial well-being ranks as the third most important aspect, reflecting the role of economic uncertainty and rising living costs in the region.
Financial well-being is also identified as the weakest dimension overall in the study, signalling ongoing demand for arrangements that support both financial security and access to healthcare, including private medical insurance, income protection, and employer-sponsored benefits. Robert Peat, chief executive officer, Asia-Pacific, Cigna Healthcare, commented: “Asia-Pacific continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world. To sustain this momentum, communities and employers need to recognize that healthy people are the foundation of a healthy economy and implement measures to close the gaps in their well-being.”
In Singapore, the study shows that 79% of respondents report feeling stressed. The leading sources of stress are the current cost of living (53%), uncertainty about the future (47%), and personal finance (43%). For insurers, these pressures outline an environment in which household finances are under strain, with potential implications for coverage choices, lapse behaviour, and longer-term health risk.
Stress is also linked to physical symptoms. Nearly half (48%) of stressed respondents in Singapore said stress disrupts their sleep, compared with 38% across Asia-Pacific. Sleep disruption is associated with a higher risk of chronic conditions, which may affect long-term claims experience for both group and individual medical plans.
Mental health support remains relatively underused. Almost half (49%) of respondents said that poor mental health had a negative impact on them, yet 89% reported not receiving counselling or therapy in the past 12 months. Among those, 77% believed they did not need such support. The gap between reported impact and use of services points to a potential role for insurers, employers, and healthcare providers in expanding awareness, embedding mental health benefits, and addressing barriers to care.
The study also highlights self-reported exercise patterns that may support prevention-oriented strategies. More than a quarter (26%) of respondents in Singapore rated their exercise habits as “excellent” or “very good.” When asked how they manage their weight, two-thirds (66%) said they exercise regularly, compared with 61% across APAC, while only 4% in Singapore reported using medication for weight management. For health and life insurers, these findings may inform the design of preventive health programs, wellness-related benefits, and incentive structures that encourage regular activity and health monitoring, with the aim of influencing morbidity trends over time.
Singapore respondents also reported mixed but generally positive expectations about artificial intelligence in healthcare. Around 47% said they are positive about AI’s impact on healthcare, and 45% expect AI tools will help reduce wait times within three years. This is notable because Singapore respondents are 29% more likely than their peers in APAC to have delayed or avoided seeking care due to concerns about waiting times.
Reinforcing this pattern, a recent study commissioned by Prudential plc and conducted by Economist Impact found that a large majority of people in Singapore have delayed seeking medical care over the past year. According to the survey, 83% of respondents reported putting off medical attention at least once during that period. The research indicates that, despite Singapore’s established healthcare system and high reported patient satisfaction levels, many residents are still choosing to wait before consulting a doctor, often for personal and financial reasons.
Cigna Healthcare said if implemented effectively, AI tools in triage, diagnostics, and administrative workflows could help reduce some of these access barriers and shape how and when people use healthcare services. At the same time, nearly half of respondents (48%) expect a reduction in human interaction as AI becomes more common in healthcare settings. This presents a design question for payers and providers seeking to adopt technology while maintaining patient trust, perceived quality of care, and satisfaction with both insurers and healthcare professionals.
