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Cancer Guide: Most Common Cancer in Hong Kong, Causes & Risks

 

12-min read

Updated on 2026-5-19

Author: AIA Content Editorial Team

A woman using a computer to review insurance and financial information, comparing the coverage scope and policy options of cancer insurance.
With advances in medical technology, there are now more treatment options available for cancer. However, when facing a long recovery period and the high cost of targeted therapy drugs, relying solely on savings or basic medical insurance may not be enough to fully cover the related expenses. What are the key features of cancer insurance plans on the market? How do they differ from general medical insurance or critical illness insurance? And if you have had cancer before, can you still apply for coverage? In this article, we will explain these questions one by one to help you with your cancer insurance comparison.

The Real Challenges of Cancer Treatment: Budget Planning and Protection Gaps

According to statistics from the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, there were 37,953 new cancer cases recorded in 2023, with lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer being the three most common types of cancer in terms of incidence.¹
 
Today, cancer treatment methods are more diverse than in the past. In addition to traditional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, there are also targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy, making a total of six common treatment approaches.² However, the cost of treatment is often very high. Taking targeted therapy drugs as an example, the average monthly cost for lung cancer treatment can reach HKD 53,000 to HKD 137,000, while targeted therapy expenses for breast cancer can also range from HKD 20,000 to HKD 82,000.³ These long-term expenses, which can easily amount to hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, are undoubtedly a heavy financial burden for ordinary families.

Cancer Insurance Comparison: How Is Cancer Insurance Different from General Medical Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance?

When facing the medical costs associated with cancer, planning protection early is a common approach. But how exactly is cancer insurance different from general medical insurance and critical illness insurance?

Dedicated Cancer Insurance vs. General Medical Insurance

General medical insurance is designed to cover a wide range of illnesses and  hospitalisation expenses, and it usually comes with a "maximum benefit per disability" or "itemised benefit limits." When dealing with a serious illness such as cancer, which requires extensive medical resources, the coverage amount of general medical insurance may not be sufficient to fully cover expensive chemotherapy or targeted therapy drug expenses.
 
In comparison, dedicated cancer insurance provides more targeted support for cancer-related hospitalisation, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Some high-end cancer medical plans may even offer full reimbursement within specified limits, depending on policy terms and personal circumstances, which can greatly reduce the patient's out-of-pocket burden.

Lump-Sum Payout vs. Reimbursement-Based Coverage

When planning health protection, it is helpful to first understand the fundamental differences between different claim mechanisms.
 
  • Lump-sum payout plans (such as critical illness coverage): When the insured is diagnosed with a serious illness covered by the policy, such as cancer, the insurance company will pay out a lump-sum cash benefit. This payment is not restricted in use. It can be used not only for medical expenses, but more importantly, to cover income loss during treatment, daily family expenses, or even mortgage repayments.
  • Reimbursement-based plans (such as medical insurance or cancer insurance): These plans mainly compensate for actual medical expenses incurred. As long as the expenses are eligible under the policy terms, the insurer will reimburse them according to the benefit percentage or policy limit.
Before taking out a policy, it is advisable to learn more about critical illness coverage and  medical insurance based on individual needs, and then make a suitable choice.

Understanding Key Areas of Coverage: Carcinoma in Situ, Targeted Therapy, and Extended Care

When choosing cancer protection, carefully reviewing the key definitions in the policy can help avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses at the time of claim.

Is Carcinoma in Situ (Stage 0 Cancer) Covered?

Carcinoma in situ is known as "stage 0 cancer," meaning that the malignant cells remain within the original tissue and have not spread to nearby organs. Although the cure rate is very high, early surgery or treatment is still required.4 In general, traditional critical illness insurance may not cover carcinoma in situ. However, many advanced plans on the market now include carcinoma in situ and early-stage cancer within their scope of coverage.⁵ Before applying, it is important to pay attention to each product's policy terms regarding covered conditions, organ definitions, and waiting periods.

Coverage for Targeted Therapy and Non-Hospitalisation Treatment

Modern cancer treatment is different from the past. Many treatments, such as outpatient chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, may no longer require hospitalisation.⁴ Therefore, some protection plans may cover "non-hospitalisation treatment" and extend to related care services such as physiotherapy or nutritional consultation. The scope of coverage and claim conditions vary from one product to another, so it is advisable to review the policy terms carefully before applying. 

Can You Still Buy Insurance After Having Cancer? Understanding the Impact of Pre-existing Conditions

If you have previously had cancer or already have a precancerous condition, does that mean insurance is no longer available to you? Based on risk assessment, insurance companies usually do not cover "pre-existing conditions" that showed symptoms before application. If you hide your medical history during application process, the policy may later be considered invalid if you need to make a claim.
 
However, some plans on the market may offer limited underwriting opportunities for people who have recovered and remained recurrence-free for a certain period, such as more than 5 years. In some cases, insurers may also offer coverage for illnesses affecting other body parts while applying exclusions to the previously affected area. The key point is that all medical history must be disclosed truthfully during application. If you are unsure about your own condition, you may consider scheduling a consultation with a professional financial adviser to assess suitable options based on your needs.

How to Choose the Right Cancer Protection Plan?

  • Everyone's financial situation and risk tolerance are different. When choosing a plan, you may refer to the following criteria:
  • Assess the factors that affect premiums: Premiums are usually influenced by factors such as age, gender, and smoking habits. Female readers should note that because women in certain age groups face a higher risk of breast cancer or gynaecological cancers, premiums for women in those age ranges are often slightly higher than for men.
  • Review your existing protection gaps: First, understand the benefit limits of your employer-provided group medical insurance or your own basic medical insurance. Then, calculate how much you may need to pay out of pocket if you are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer.
  • Build a protection portfolio: Depending on your personal budget, it is generally advisable  to use cancer protection and critical illness coverage as enhanced supplements to your basic medical insurance. In most cases, a single insurance product cannot cover every risk. A combined protection strategy often creates the strongest financial safety net. 

Cancer Insurance Comparison FAQs

This is mainly based on differences in cancer risk between genders in certain age groups. Statistical data shows that women in younger to middle age groups have a higher incidence of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and other gynaecological cancers. Insurance companies assess risk based on large-scale data, so for relevant age groups, women's premiums are usually slightly higher than men's.

A waiting period refers to a specific period of time after the policy takes effect, usually ranging from 30 to 90 days. If the insured develops symptoms or is diagnosed with cancer during the waiting period, the insurance company will generally not provide compensation. This arrangement is designed to prevent people from applying for insurance only after they are already ill, thereby maintaining fairness in the insurance system.

It depends on the policy terms. Although most common cancers are covered, some policies may apply exclusions to specific types of early-stage cancer, carcinoma in situ, or very slow-growing low-stage tumours, such as early-stage prostate cancer or skin cancer. Before applying, it is essential to read the benefit schedule and exclusions carefully.

Basic medical insurance usually comes with itemised benefit limits. When dealing with very high expenses such as targeted therapy drugs costing hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, long-term immunotherapy, or outpatient chemotherapy, there is often a large out-of-pocket gap. Dedicated cancer insurance or critical illness coverage can provide targeted high benefit limits or a lump-sum cash payout, which plays a crucial supplementary role in covering long-term recovery expenses.
*This information is owned by AIA, and may not be copied or reproduced without AIA's written consent. You may not copy or store this content on any other website or content platform.
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This information contains general information only and is intended for distribution in Hong Kong only. It does not constitute any sales advice and/or product recommendation. Before applying for any insurance product, customers must complete a Financial Needs Analysis and apply based on their actual protection needs and affordability. The product information in this document does not contain the full terms of the policy. For details on product features, terms and conditions, exclusions, and key product risks, please refer to the relevant product brochure and policy contract. This promotion is not applicable to cases involving plan changes from other insurance products to the promoted insurance products (basic plans or riders, if applicable). If you wish to review a sample policy contract before applying, you may request one from AIA. Life insurance policies are long-term contracts. If you surrender the policy in the early years, the amount you receive may be significantly less than the total premiums paid. ​    ​
  
For details on product features, terms and conditions, exclusions, and key product risks, please refer to the relevant product brochure and policy contract. 

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1. Hong Kong Cancer Fund. Cancer Statistics. [Online sources]. accessed on 14 March 2026.
2. Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre. Cancer Treatment Methods. [Online sources]. accessed on 14 March 2026.
3. MoneyHero.​【標靶藥】癌症標靶治療/價錢/副作用及政府資助資格2026​.  [Online sources]. accessed on 14 March 2026.
4. Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre. ​原位癌是什麼？剖析癌症進化史​. [Online sources]. accessed on 14 March 2026.
5. Consumer Council. ​癌症保、一般醫保／危疾保險大檢閱​. [Online sources]. accessed on 14 March 2026.

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