Many adults in Hong Kong report putting off medical care due to concerns about access, information, and affordability, according to a new Economist Impact study commissioned by Prudential plc.
The report, “Patient Voices Hong Kong: How clarity, cost and choice shape care,” is based on a survey of 1,153 residents conducted between April and May 2025 and interviews with local experts. While 67% of respondents described local healthcare services as convenient, a significant share reported uncertainty about how to navigate the system once a health issue arises. More than half of those surveyed (55%) said they are unsure where to seek care when they experience health problems, and the same proportion said they do not feel they have enough information to make treatment decisions.
Among respondents who had visited a general practitioner in the previous year, 52% said the experience was inconvenient, citing waiting times, booking processes, and other access barriers. Physical access continues to play a role. One in four respondents said they found it difficult to reach healthcare facilities using available transport options, indicating that location and connectivity influence how and when people seek care.
Cost is a prominent concern for Hong Kong respondents. Some 53% said they are worried they will not be able to afford the care they need, and 56% reported that the cost of medical services in the past year was higher than they had expected. The findings suggest many residents rely on public provision and informal support rather than private insurance to manage healthcare spending. One in five respondents said they use government‑subsidised healthcare or public insurance, 18% depend on financial support from family members, and 15% pay out-of-pocket. Only 13% reported using private health insurance as their main way of paying for care, pointing to relatively limited reliance on private cover in meeting day‑to‑day medical needs.
Almost three in five respondents said they had delayed care in the past 12 months. The most commonly cited reasons were viewing symptoms as not serious enough (24%), needing to care for children (24%), and wishing to avoid placing a burden on relatives (24%). Despite delays and long waiting times, many respondents stayed with existing providers: 22% did so because of proximity and 21% because they trusted their current provider.
Respondents also indicated that the impact of treatment on work and family life is an important consideration. Around 31% said they prefer care options that interfere as little as possible with daily routines and support a faster return to normal activities. Candy Au Yeung, chief customer operations and health officer at Prudential Hong Kong Limited, said predictability and guidance can influence how people engage with the system. “When people face a health concern, what they need most is clarity and the peace of mind that they will get the help they need,” Yeung said.
A companion study in Singapore points to similar patterns of delayed care, even where multiple care options are available. The Economist Impact report, “Patient Voices Singapore: towards more informed and seamless care,” based on a survey of 1,024 adults conducted between April and May 2025, found that 83% of respondents had postponed seeking medical care in the past year. Survey participants most often cited personal and family considerations rather than system capacity as reasons for postponement. These included a perceived need to prioritise work over self-care, concern about becoming a financial or caregiving burden on family, a view that symptoms did not warrant medical attention, and reluctance related to previous negative experiences with care.
The Singapore findings also highlight information gaps and uncertainty around where to start the care journey. According to the report, 61% of respondents said they do not feel they have the right information to decide on treatment options, and 60% said they often do not know where to go when something is wrong. When asked what gives them the greatest sense of support and confidence in seeking care, 39% of Singapore respondents said they value healthcare that has minimal impact on daily routines, while 31% said they want guidance through the care process.
In Singapore, concerns about affordability and bill predictability persist despite the presence of a structured public financing system, including MediShield Life, MediSave, and MediFund, alongside Integrated Shield Plans. Among respondents who delayed care, 23% cited cost as a reason. Slightly more than 60% said they worry about being able to pay for necessary treatment, and about half said medical bills in the past year were higher than they had anticipated.
The survey findings in Hong Kong and Singapore come against a backdrop of sustained medical inflation globally. WTW’s 2026 Global Medical Trends report projects that healthcare costs will rise by 16.9% in 2026, up from 15.5% in 2025 and above the 14% average increase expected across Asia-Pacific. Global health insurance costs are forecast to increase 10.3% in 2026, following estimated growth of 10% in 2025 and 9.5% in 2024. Asia-Pacific is projected to see the largest regional increase at 14%.
For insurers, reinsurers, and employer-sponsored plans in Asia, the combination of rising medical trend, delayed utilisation, and persistent concerns about affordability and system navigation is likely to affect product design, pricing, and health management strategies. The Patient Voices findings suggest that, alongside benefit levels, clarity, guidance, and cost visibility will remain important considerations for health and protection offerings in the region in 2026.
