Mental health coverage is increasingly seen as an important factor in health insurance plans across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, according to new data from a YouGov survey.
The survey, conducted in four key APAC markets, revealed that 18% of respondents consider mental health coverage essential when choosing an insurance plan. An additional 41% believe it is important, though not a deciding factor, while 32% remain neutral. Only 9% of respondents do not see mental health coverage as necessary.
Indonesian consumers showed the highest prioritisation of mental health coverage, with 28% of respondents indicating that it is essential.
Australians follow at 21%, while respondents from Singapore and Hong Kong appear less focused on this aspect of coverage, showing more flexibility in choosing plans with or without mental health support.
Willingness to pay higher premiums for comprehensive mental health coverage is also notable, with 63% of respondents across APAC willing to consider higher costs for such services. This trend is particularly evident in Indonesia, where 77% of respondents indicated they would pay more for comprehensive mental health coverage.
However, high premiums remain a key barrier for 52% of respondents across the region, with Australian consumers most concerned, at 56%.
In both Singapore and Indonesia, lack of awareness about available mental health coverage, along with the stigma surrounding mental health treatment, were identified as additional barriers to expanding mental health services in insurance offerings.
When asked about specific mental health services, 37% of respondents said that coverage for both inpatient and outpatient mental health care would be a key factor in their decision to choose an insurance provider. Other important services included mental health screenings (35%) and preventative mental health programs (31%).
Regarding the promotion of mental health services, 37% of respondents across APAC believe insurers should take an active role in promoting mental health coverage alongside physical health. This viewpoint was especially prevalent in Australia, where half of respondents supported such initiatives.
However, 43% of consumers believe that any promotion should be tied to the cost of the insurance plan, with respondents in Hong Kong (56%) and Singapore (50%) most likely to express this view.
Currently, 55% of APAC respondents have health insurance. An additional 14% are uninsured but plan to acquire coverage, while 26% neither have insurance nor intend to buy it in the next 12 months. Singapore has the highest insurance penetration, with 77% of residents holding insurance, followed by Hong Kong at 67%.
The YouGov survey was conducted online between Sept. 26 and 30, with a sample size of around 5,000 adults across the four markets.
