H1 2026 Health Insurance Premiums 643.8 Billion Yuan; Life Down 0.67%, Property Up 15.29%

The National Financial Regulatory Administration released the insurance industry operating results for the first half of 2026. The data showed that in the first half, the insurance industry achieved original insurance premium income of 3.86 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.25%. The 2026 Government Work Report for the first time explicitly proposed to 'accelerate the development of commercial health insurance,' marking the elevation of commercial health insurance from a market-driven development stage to a national policy deployment.

By insurance type, health insurance premiums in the first half reached 643.8 billion yuan, up 3.45% year-on-year. By institution, life insurance companies' health insurance premiums were 458.3 billion yuan, down 0.67% year-on-year; property insurance companies' health insurance premiums reached 185.5 billion yuan, up 15.29% year-on-year. The strong growth of property insurance companies' health insurance became the main force driving the overall health insurance premiums.

The faster growth of property insurance companies' health insurance business compared to life insurance companies is mainly due to differences in product attributes and channel capabilities. Property insurance companies focus on short-term medical insurance, with flexible product iteration, low average premium per policy, and strong adaptability to internet channels; life insurance companies mainly focus on long-term critical illness insurance, with long product cycles and high innovation difficulty, currently in a window period of transitioning between old and new product power.

Several institutions have recently deployed in the health insurance field. Pacific Health Insurance and Ant Affu announced a long-term strategic cooperation, jointly launching a new product with an intelligent agent. Ping An Health Insurance and LeFit Sports reached a cooperation intention around exercise behavior incentives and active health management. Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance, together with Shanghai Chenxi Technology Group Co. , Ltd. , launched a health protection product for individuals with pre-existing conditions called 'Ru'an Kang PLUS' (Breast Health PLUS), focusing on protection for the post-surgery breast cancer population.