Medical claims paid by Hong Kong insurers could double within a decade, a study has warned, raising concerns over the sector’s sustainability.

The findings, released on Tuesday, showed total medical claims in the city rose by over 60 per cent between 2019 and 2023, driven largely by a surge in inpatient bills, especially for day procedures.

“If such an increase continues at the same rate, it will raise serious concerns about the affordability of private health insurance for both employers and individuals, as the costs would be 50 per cent higher in five years and double within 10,” said Peter Yuen Pok-man, dean of Polytechnic University’s College of Professional and Continuing Education.

“Given the pace of the rise, the industry will not be sustainable, and therefore remedial measures must be introduced,” the professor, who led the study, said.

The research analysed over 10 million claims in 2019 and 2023, and found total reimbursements reached HK$17.73 billion (US$3.08 billion) in 2023, up 61 per cent from HK$10.99 billion in 2019.

The increase was mainly driven by inpatient claims, which grew by 75 per cent to more than HK$14 billion, compared with a 24 per cent growth in outpatient reimbursements.