AXA Survey: 68% of Hong Kong Residents Have Sought Medical Care in Mainland China
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
AXA Hong Kong and Macau released findings from a survey of 600 Hong Kong citizens on Monday, revealing that 68% of respondents have received medical services in mainland China . The survey highlights growing acceptance of cross-border healthcare as Hong Kong faces mounting medical inflation and extended waiting times. Nearly 90% of respondents expressed concerns about their ability to access timely and affordable treatment locally. In response, AXA announced the launch of a new insurance product targeting the Greater Bay Area healthcare market.
Key Points
- Survey conducted among 600 Hong Kong residents aged 30 to 50; 68% reported having used mainland medical services
- 87% worried high medical costs would prevent them from accessing optimal treatment; 88% concerned long waiting times could cause them to miss critical treatment windows
- Top motivations for seeking mainland care: cost-effectiveness (57%), faster specialist access (44%), and advanced medical technology (36%)
- Key barriers identified: unfamiliarity with mainland medical system (47%), complex appointment procedures (37%), unclear billing and insurance claims (36%)
- 97% of respondents said specialist referral services would make them feel more secure; 95% valued having dedicated care coordinators
- AXA launching the Guangdong-Hong Kong Watchful Medical Insurance Plan on September 9, offering 100% reimbursement for mainland network hospitals
- Annual premium for a 50-year-old male is HK$8,714, approximately one-third to one-half the cost of standard medical insurance
- Plan features annual coverage limit of HK$2.5 million and lifetime limit of HK$10 million; not a VHIS product
Why It Matters
The survey findings underscore how Hong Kong's healthcare challenges are driving residents toward mainland options, with implications for the city's medical tourism industry and insurance sector. AXA's new product targets the mid-market segment seeking cost-effective cross-border coverage, positioning itself as a solution to both medical inflation concerns and the practical barriers preventing more Hong Kong residents from accessing Greater Bay Area healthcare services .
The survey findings underscore how Hong Kong's healthcare challenges are driving residents toward mainland options, with implications for the city's medical tourism industry and insurance sector. AXA's new product targets the mid-market segment seeking cost-effective cross-border coverage, positioning itself as a solution to both medical inflation concerns and the practical barriers preventing more Hong Kong residents from accessing Greater Bay Area healthcare services .