Following the APRC’s report on the Cost of Elderly Healthcare in Asia Pacific, our latest publication examines the insurance challenges resulting from rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) driven by societal aging.
NCDs include diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease, which account for over 65 percent of disease burden in Asia-Pacific. With the incidence of NCDs increasing with age, societies with an aging demographic face a growing challenge to manage the burden of disease. The analyses presented in the report reveal:
- Societal aging is projected to increase the prevalence of NCDs by 40 percent across Asia-Pacific by 2030.
- With a significant portion of healthcare costs paid out-of-pocket in many parts of Asia, rising costs will make private insurance an increasingly important funding source for healthcare.
- The rise in prevalence of NCDs could increase insurance premiums by up to four times, threatening the affordability and viability of healthcare insurance.
While the focus of the analysis in this report is on the impact to healthcare insurance, the interdependency of the sustainability of insurance and the broader health ecosystem mean that addressing these challenges is a collective responsibility for all stakeholders, including governments, insurers, employers, and individuals.
