Aging Population

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving forward with upgrading provident funds (PVD) under the concept of "save early, save more, save wisely" to ensure members have sufficient retirement savings. As of December 31, 2025, the total value of all PVD funds exceeded 1.6 trillion baht, with over 3.1 million members across 349 funds and more than 25,000 employers. However, over 95% of members have an average PVD balance of only 1.5 million baht upon reaching retirement age, which is below the minimum required retirement savings of 5 million baht, and 69% contribute less than 2,500 baht per month. The SEC is currently amending the PVD Act to introduce automatic enrollment, provide flexibility for members to temporarily suspend contributions, and enhance the PVD Individual Statement as a financial planning tool. The new regulations are expected to take effect in 2028.

APCO has launched a new formula of Mylife100A, targeting the longevity market and capitalizing on the trends of anti-aging and health restoration, while boosting sales through the BIM Advisor channel. The company expects the longevity market to continue growing as consumers shift toward preventive healthcare, particularly among the increasing elderly population. The company has therefore developed a new formula using innovative immunotherapy from mangosteen with synergistic effects, which has the potential to slow degeneration, reduce inflammation, and help lower risk factors for dementia such as Alzheimer's. Research findings are set to be published in an international academic journal within September. For the domestic market, the company uses BIM Advisor as the main channel to reach customers directly and is currently preparing to expand into international markets through a partnership with INFINITUM GLOBAL HEALTH (IGH), a partner from South Africa. Plans include an initial order of 1.5 million bottles of the mylife100 anti-aging formula with HIV management in the first year, and the partner will travel to Bangkok on September 7 to discuss operational plans, with a target to start exports within 2026. Meanwhile, for the second quarter of 2026, the company reported total revenue of 44.25 million baht and net profit of 11.06 million baht, while the first half of the year saw total revenue of 93.81 million baht and net profit of 28.95 million baht.

Costco is making its first major move into Medicare by partnering with nonprofit insurer SCAN Health Plan to offer Costco-branded Medicare Advantage and Supplemental plans. SCAN Group CEO Sachin Jain said the partnership aims to simplify the Medicare experience for older adults, leveraging Costco's strengths in pharmacy, vision, and hearing aids. The plans will initially launch in two states for Medicare Advantage and one state for Medicare Supplemental, though specific states and product details are not yet disclosed due to federal regulations. Jain noted that 70% of SCAN members are already Costco members, and the partnership seeks to provide transparent, reliable benefits. SCAN, which has around 460,000 members across six states, is uncertain about new member numbers but believes the partnership could transform the Medicare Advantage landscape.

The global atrial fibrillation market is projected to grow from USD 21.4 billion in 2026 to USD 38.7 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%, according to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The market expansion is driven by rising prevalence of the condition, an aging population, and increasing adoption of advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies. Antiarrhythmic agents account for about 55% of the therapy landscape, while monoclonal antibodies are emerging as an investigational approach. Nearly 60 catheter ablation and left atrial appendage closure devices are marketed or under development, with catheters representing approximately 40% of current treatment devices. North America is expected to remain the largest regional market, while Asia-Pacific is projected to see the fastest growth. Hospitals currently account for more than 80% of the end-user market. Key companies profiled include Abbott, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Sanofi.

Villa Kunalai Public Company Limited (KUN) has announced that its 4th series of high-risk secured bonds for 2026, maturing in 2028, which is the final bond lot of 2026, received full subscription from institutional and high-net-worth investors during the offering period from August 20–21 and 24, 2026. The bonds have a term of 2 years and 3 months, with an annual interest rate of 7.40%, paid quarterly. They are secured by collateral valued at up to 1.5 times the offered bond amount, primarily consisting of vacant land within the "Navara Rangsit" project. The company will use the raised funds to develop the Longevity Living project "Navara Rama 2" to create a comprehensive Health Ecosystem. It is currently in negotiations for joint ventures with both domestic and international partners, with expectations to commence concrete operations within 2027. Additionally, the funds will be used to repay debt and roll over bonds maturing in November 2026, amounting to 108 million baht, to enhance liquidity. Furthermore, on August 30, 2026, the company is set to launch "Club Suma" under the "Navara Rangsit" project, a clubhouse valued at over 100 million baht, under the concept "Where Nature Meets Everyday Living," to elevate the quality of life for residents and create a new landmark for residential areas in the Rangsit zone.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on the 26th its budget request for fiscal 2027, with a total general account of 36.58 trillion yen, up 4.4% from the initial budget for fiscal 2026, marking a record high. The increase is driven by rising social security costs due to an aging population. The ministry is prioritizing the strengthening of drug discovery and advanced medical care, and will begin supporting companies that develop innovative new drugs. Wage increases for care workers are listed as a "matter request" without specifying amounts, with the intention to finalize details during the budget formulation process at the end of the year.

Dr. Amnuay Ua-areemitr, Director and Hospital Director of Ekachai Medical Care Public Company Limited (EKH), revealed during an Opportunity Day that the company's Q2 2026 net profit was 60.18 million baht, up 27.88% from the same period last year. For Q3 2026, revenue is expected to continue growing due to full-quarter recognition of new projects. The company aims to become a specialized hospital under the JUMP+ Business Plan, targeting 2028 revenue of 1.94 billion baht through the development of Khun Hospital, BLUM Hospital, and the expansion of W Center in the Wellness & Longevity segment, which is expected to open fully in September 2026. Meanwhile, Khun Hospital's Rama 2 branch has a bed occupancy rate of 95-99%, with plans to add 10-15 more beds in early to mid-2027. The Ao Nang branch, which recently opened about two months ago, has a bed occupancy rate of 10-20% and is expected to turn profitable when occupancy reaches 30%.

Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store disclosed its 2026 semi-annual report on the evening of August 26, reporting first-half operating revenue of 2.89 billion yuan and total profit of 163 million yuan. The company adhered to its dual-engine strategy of "big health plus new consumption," with progress across its modern commerce, health and elderly care, and biomedical segments. In modern commerce, the company advanced store renovations, introduced first stores and benchmark brands, and created younger-oriented consumption scenarios. In health and elderly care, Ankangtong won 82 projects, while overseas subsidiary Natali completed the acquisition and integration of several UK elderly care companies. In biomedicine, Qilu Stem Cell completed filings for two new technologies, and Dendreon China's Provenge is in Phase III clinical follow-up. The company said it will continue to seize opportunities in the silver economy and the cell and gene therapy industry to promote high-quality development.

BDMS disclosed that the third quarter of 2026 trend is clearly recovering, with hospital revenue in July 2026 growing 8% from the same period last year, accelerating from just 1% growth in the first half. This was supported by Thai and international patients, including the insured group. The bed occupancy rate rose to 65% from 55% in the second quarter of 2026 and was above the 60% level of the previous year. Revenue from insured patients grew 11%, Thai patients grew 9%, and international patients grew 6%. Excluding Cambodia and the Middle East, growth reached 14%. The Middle East market is starting to recover, with August appointment bookings rising to more than 3,500 from about 2,000 in April. BDMS is also continuing to expand beds and specialty centers, and investing in the WellEra project with a budget of 29 billion baht, which is expected to begin affecting EBITDA and free cash flow from 2030.

Techno Medical Public Company Limited, or TM, reported first-half net profit of 14.10 million baht, up 33.3% from the same period last year, with total revenue of 354.45 million baht, up 3.4%, as sales of medical equipment and consumables rose to 336.62 million baht after shifting strategy to focus on low-cost imports from China and raising prices in the second quarter of 2026, lifting gross profit margin from sales to 40.5%. Service revenue under The Parents project reached 14.21 million baht, up 34.6% year-on-year, with an average of 45 to 50 nursing home users per month and an occupancy rate of about 80%, or an average of 50 beds. The company is confident The Parents will reach break-even by the end of this year, targeting service revenue of about 4 million baht per month, while also expanding into wellness with hormone therapy services that use AI to calculate individual hormone levels, plus home care services sending nurses and medical assistants to care for the elderly. The TPTC training center has just produced its latest class of 25 assistants, ready to work immediately.

Medical office properties have separated themselves from the broader office market, with 67% of nearly 500 medical office properties resold since 2024 appreciating in value compared to 52% for general office, according to Yardi Matrix's August 2026 national report. Medical office accounted for 26.2% of office starts in 2025, up from 11.0% in 2020, while general office starts fell 73.0% over the decade to 11.4 million square feet. National office vacancy stood at 17.7% in July, and office-using jobs fell 0.3% over the year, even as education and healthcare employment rose 2.4% year-over-year. The gap was widest in metros with aging populations, with Tampa leading at 90% appreciation for medical office versus 71% for general office. Yardi Matrix expects medical office to remain well positioned as the population ages, with another 29.5 million square feet of office space under construction nationally.

Aveanna Healthcare announced that California's 2027 budget will include a meaningful pediatric private duty nursing rate increase effective January 1, 2027, ending a four-year advocacy push. The company reported second-quarter revenue of roughly $670 million, up 13.7% year over year, with adjusted EBITDA up 8% to $95.4 million. Aveanna also raised full-year guidance to more than $2.68 billion in revenue and more than $365 million in adjusted EBITDA. Private duty services revenue per hour rose just 1.7% to $44.62, while cost of revenue per hour jumped 7.8% to $31.74. The company closed the Family First Homecare acquisition in early June and expects integration to finish by late in the fourth quarter.

Costco is partnering with nonprofit insurer SCAN Health Plan to offer Costco-branded Medicare Advantage plans in two states and a Medicare supplement plan in a third state, pending regulatory approval. SCAN already operates Medicare Advantage plans and serves nearly 460,000 members across six states. The companies are also looking at integrating the plans with services Costco already offers, including a revamped pharmacy experience, over-the-counter benefits, and audiology services. CEO Ron Vachris said selecting SCAN as a partner to deliver a better healthcare experience for seniors is an extension of Costco's commitment to members. The move could deepen Costco's relationship with older Americans and give them more reasons to keep their memberships.

Siam Commercial Bank has joined with Thewa Insurance to launch a new travel insurance product on the SCB EASY application, extending coverage up to age 80 to support an ageing society. The new product comes in two forms: Easy Global Trip for overseas travel and Easy Sabai Trip for domestic travel. Key features include coverage for older customers, the option to add coverage as needed, and purchase through the app with an electronic policy issued immediately. Customers who buy Easy Global Trip between 15 August 2026 and 31 October 2026 will receive a Central e-Voucher.

Praram 9 Hospital, or PR9, said its third-quarter 2026 operating performance is showing growth compared with a year earlier, driven by a rise in foreign patients, especially from the Middle East and Myanmar, as well as more Thai patients returning for treatment. Its second-half strategy is to upgrade care for complex diseases such as kidney disease, heart disease and brain disorders, along with robotic surgery, to attract foreign patients who fly in directly for treatment. Foreign patients currently account for about 27% of the total, with Myanmar and Middle Eastern patients together making up more than half of all foreign patients. The company is confident that 2026 revenue will grow by a single-digit percentage as planned, and is also watching opportunities from Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccines, as well as government policy that could shift civil servant welfare benefits to a health insurance system, which would create a new customer base for private hospitals.

Sunflower Pharmaceutical Group's controlling subsidiary, Sunflower Pharmaceutical Group Hengshui Defeier Co., Ltd., recently received a drug registration certificate for glucosamine sulfate capsules issued by the National Medical Products Administration. The drug is registered as a Category 4 chemical medicine, classified as an over-the-counter product in Class A, with specifications of 0.25 grams calculated as glucosamine sulfate or 0.314 grams calculated as glucosamine sulfate sodium chloride, indicated for primary and secondary osteoarthritis. The company said the approval will further enrich its rheumatology and bone disease product pipeline in the elderly care segment. Through the implementation of its blockbuster single product and category cluster strategy, it will strengthen the company's competitive edge in chronic disease medications for the elderly and inject new momentum into performance growth. At the same time, the company cautioned that the launch and promotion of the drug are affected by multiple factors including national policies, market conditions, and corporate operating strategies, and that sales scale and performance outcomes remain uncertain.

Lawmakers have introduced legislation to eliminate the first two income-related Medicare premium surcharge tiers that now affect nearly 10% of beneficiaries, up from the original top 5% target. The Kean-Kim Medicare Premiums Reduction Act of 2026, sponsored by Representatives Tom Kean Jr. and Young Kim, would remove surcharges for single filers earning between $109,000 and $171,000 and joint filers between $218,000 and $342,000, saving married couples up to $5,784 annually. A separate bill, H.R. 3007 from Representative Kevin Kiley, would create a one-time lifetime exclusion for capital gains from the sale of a primary residence from IRMAA calculations. The surcharge acts as a cliff, so earning just $1 over the threshold triggers the full year's premium increase, and mandatory retirement distributions at age 73 can push retirees over the line. The legislation faces funding challenges because eliminating the lower tiers would reduce revenue for the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

Brookdale Senior Living reported second-quarter results that management framed as proof its turnaround is taking hold, even as occupancy growth keeps arriving slower than the company originally expected. The senior living operator reaffirmed its full-year guidance of 8% to 9% RevPAR growth and adjusted EBITDA between $502 million and $516 million, pointed to a shrinking pool of underperforming communities, and unveiled two acquisitions meant to turn leased real estate into owned assets. Second quarter RevPAR climbed 8.2% year over year, while consolidated occupancy reached 82.4%, up 230 basis points from a year earlier and the 57th straight month of year-over-year occupancy gains. Brookdale closed on the 244-unit Brookdale Galleria in Houston for $23.4 million at the end of June, and announced plans to buy 17 communities it currently leases for approximately $157 million, a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter and lift 2027 EBITDA and cash flow. Management called the pace of improvement in its weakest communities not sufficient, and full-year consolidated occupancy is now projected to land around 83%, while leverage stood at 8.4 times adjusted EBITDA, above the company's own target of under 6 times.

According to an announcement by the Japan Pension Service, public pensions will be revised upward for the fourth consecutive year in fiscal 2026, with the national pension revision rate at 1.9 percent and the employees' pension at 2.0 percent. As a result, the full national pension benefit will rise by 1,300 yen per month from the previous year to 70,608 yen per month. The average benefit including the employees' pension will be 150,289 yen per month, with men receiving 169,967 yen and women 111,413 yen, showing a large gap by gender. Materials from the Pension Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare show that among employees' pension recipients, about 49.8 percent receive 150,000 yen or more per month. In addition, the latest financial review showed for the first time that the macroeconomic slide will ensure the sustainability of the system and that real pension amounts are projected to increase for younger generations.

The United States is facing rapidly rising demand for senior housing as the Baby Boomer generation ages, but efforts to increase supply are running into resistance from long-time older residents who do not want large projects to change their neighborhoods. Bloomberg Businessweek highlights the case of Rockridge, a residential district in Oakland, California, where homes sell for millions of dollars and many residents hold liberal political views. Yet when large senior housing projects were proposed for the area, strong opposition emerged. Around 300 Rockridge residents banded together to oppose two proposed senior housing developments that, if fully built, would add 618 units to a supply-constrained market. The first project is a seven-story building on the former site of a Red Cross blood donation center. The other proposal calls for towers of 31 and 25 stories on land currently occupied by Trader Joe's, and opponents have dubbed that project the Trader Joe's terrible towers. The problem is likely to intensify with demographic shifts. This year, the first Baby Boomers turn 80. A 2023 study published in JAMA found that the average age at which older adults move into senior housing is about 84. The number of Americans aged 80 and older is projected to double to 29.4 million by 2045. Demand for senior housing has remained at record highs since 2025, with average occupancy at 92.5 percent. NIC MAP estimates the United States needs about 582,000 additional senior housing units by 2030 to meet demand, but construction has been steadily declining, and most existing senior housing in the country was built before this century. Another obstacle is that many people in their 60s and 70s do not yet think they will need to move into senior housing. Rodney Harrell of the AARP Public Policy Institute calls this phenomenon Peter Pan Syndrome, the feeling that while other people may age and need help, we ourselves are likely to be the exception. The problem is that the need for this type of housing often arises suddenly, such as after a fall, after a hospital stay, after the death of a spouse, or after losing the ability to drive. At that point, some older adults find they can no longer stay in their own homes, but their communities offer no alternative other than large single-family houses. This situation is playing out across the United States, with senior housing developers facing opposition from the very demographic that is their target market, from Milwaukee and the Chicago suburbs to Stamford, Connecticut. Reasons range from loss of green space and fire safety concerns to density and changes to community character. In Rockridge, the key issues are affordability and neighborhood identity. Myrna Walton, 84, a member of Upper Broadway Advocates, insists her group is not opposed to building housing, but is opposed to high-rises. One of the contested projects proposes towers of 31 and 25 stories near the Rockridge BART station, with 371 independent living units, 18 assisted living units, and 26 memory care rooms, along with dining facilities, a swimming pool, and a fitness center, but no affordable housing. Walton argues the area's urgent need is not market-rate housing but affordable housing. However, building affordable housing in the Bay Area is extremely expensive, with construction costs for a single apartment potentially reaching 800,000 to 1 million dollars, making many projects unworkable without public subsidies. As a result, even some affordable housing activists support adding market-rate homes because they see every new unit as new housing supply. The Rockridge developer has not disclosed proposed rents, but points to a nearby senior living facility, Merrill Gardens, which charges about 6,000 dollars per month for a studio and up to 13,350 dollars for a two-bedroom unit, including meals, transportation, housekeeping, and 24-hour staffing. Walton acknowledges that she herself is in the project's target demographic and may eventually want to move into senior housing near her family, but she still believes the 31- and 25-story towers are too large and may not benefit the surrounding community much. On the other side, Lori Droste, director of housing and planning policy at SPUR, argues that building affordable housing is essential, but it should not be used as a reason to stop building other types of housing. If communities choose to build nothing and wait for a perfect project, the affordability crisis will worsen, especially as wealth from the AI industry may push up the purchasing power of high-income earners and crowd out other buyers. One idea supporters advance is moving chains, based on supply and demand. When more market-rate housing is built, people with purchasing power move in, freeing up their previous homes and creating a chain of supply that cascades to other groups. If both Rockridge projects, totaling 618 units, are built, and just one-third of residents move from nearby areas, hundreds of existing homes could be released back onto the market. Another paradox lies in the wealth of long-time homeowners in California. Many Rockridge homes are now worth more than 2 million dollars, but long-time owners may pay property taxes on assessed values below 500,000 dollars because California's Proposition 13 limits increases in assessed value for tax purposes. As a result, many older homeowners hold assets worth millions of dollars but face very low carrying costs, giving them little incentive to sell or downsize. At the same time, they may feel that senior housing at 10,000 dollars a month is too expensive. The problem also affects younger generations, because when older adults remain in large homes, those homes do not return to the market for younger families. Micki, 78, who still lives in a three-story house she bought 42 years ago, puts it bluntly: if a suitable condo or senior housing were built near her home, she and her husband would be interested in moving. Because we old people are still in our own homes, those homes are not being passed on to younger families, and I think that is bad for the whole community. Community resistance is beginning to lead to compromise. On August 19, the developer of the Trader Joe's site announced revised plans, reducing building heights from 31 and 25 stories to 26 and 23 stories, moving loading docks away from residential streets, adding retail space open to the general public, and setting aside space for a grocery store with the goal of keeping Trader Joe's in its current location. The Rockridge case reflects a conflict unfolding in many parts of the United States, as the country needs to build more housing to address both the housing crisis and an aging society, while existing residents must choose between preserving the familiar character of their neighborhoods and accepting greater density to create housing for the next generation, and for themselves in the future.

Ekchai Medical Care Public Company Limited, or EKH, has approved the establishment of Koon Bangna Company Limited to operate a specialist hospital for palliative care. The hospital is expected to officially open for services within 2028. Koon Bangna Hospital will have 45 to 50 beds, with a total investment value of 270 million baht and registered capital of 300 million baht, starting with initial registered capital of 30 million baht. The shareholding structure consists of Ekchai Nursing Home Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of EKH, holding 75 to 80 percent, Narai Property Company Limited holding 15 percent, and a group of medical personnel holding 5 to 10 percent. Funding will come from the company's working capital. Dr. Amnat Ua-areemit, director and hospital director, said that this collaboration with business partners who have expertise is an important step in building strength, in line with the policy to expand specialist hospital businesses for the elderly and dependent care centers, which is a market with high growth potential.

Allianz Ayudhya Assurance has launched My Prime Legacy Ultra A99/6, a life insurance plan with a six-year premium payment period and coverage up to age 99. The sum assured starts at 10 million baht and can go up to 300 million baht, with the opportunity to receive dividends. The product targets customers who want to plan for wealth and legacy transfer, especially high-net-worth individuals, family breadwinners, and business owners who need to prepare a lump sum for their family or business succession. If the insured dies, the beneficiary will receive the highest of 100% of the sum assured, 101% of total premiums paid under the conditions, or the policy surrender value, plus the opportunity to receive dividends in the event of death from policy year 6 onwards. If the insured survives to the maturity date at age 99, they will receive the higher of 100% of the sum assured or 101% of total premiums paid under the conditions, and may also receive dividends at maturity. Policyholders can borrow up to 50% of the policy surrender value at a fixed interest rate of 4.5% per year. Applicants aged 18 to 70 with better-than-standard health may receive a 10% discount on premiums paid, while policies with a sum assured of 20 million baht or more receive an additional 5% premium discount.

Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited, or MTL, has upgraded its cashless health insurance claim service through a contractual credit system in partnership with Whiteplai Company Limited, the provider of the iClaim system. More than 400 public hospitals nationwide are now connected to the system, covering both outpatients and inpatients. Sara Lamsam, Chief Executive Officer of MTL, said the collaboration helps customers avoid preparing cash or credit card limits in advance and reduces the process of collecting documents for later reimbursement. The network is also being expanded through the MTL Smile Hospital Network project to major regional and provincial hospitals such as Lampang Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital, and Hat Yai Hospital. Dr. Sopon Mekthon, Chairman of Whiteplai, said digital technology will connect operations between healthcare facilities and insurance companies, from eligibility checks to claim submission, increasing public access to government services and premium clinics more conveniently.

Phyathai Hospital Network and Paolo Hospital Network have launched the Addwise Comorbid platform, Thailand's first intelligent physician assistant system, to proactively assess risk in patients with comorbidities and the elderly. Dr. Anantasuk Apairat, Chief Medical Officer, said that the traditional treatment model, which focuses only on resolving specific symptoms, is insufficient for creating long-term health outcomes. This platform helps doctors assess risk across nine major body systems, following the Value-Based Healthcare concept that measures success primarily through patient health outcomes. On the technology side, Dr. Jet John Thepratongwaja explained that the software was developed on a Review of Systems foundation, integrating algorithms based on international Evidence-Based Medicine principles and Clinical Practice Guidelines. It serves as a clinical decision support system, while diagnosis and treatment decisions remain under the clinical judgment of the attending physician. At the same time, the hospital networks have created a new role for medical personnel as Longevity Assistants to connect patient data, doctors, and digital systems, and have established the Addwise Comorbid Academy to provide training and issue standard work certifications. This model adjustment builds on more than 40 years of medical experience of the Phyathai-Paolo network, aiming to create a New Standard of Care for Thailand's public health system.

Sonida Senior Living reported strong second quarter 2026 results, with same-store weighted average occupancy up 240 basis points year over year to 87.8% and same-store community net operating income growing 16.9% with margin expanding 250 basis points to 32.6%. Total portfolio normalized FFO per share was $0.48, and the company completed a $380 million five-year term loan with Ally Bank on August 7 to refinance debt and extend maturities. As previously disclosed, the company completed its acquisition of CNL Health Properties Inc, or CHP, on 03/11/2026, and 14 communities, more than a quarter of the CHP SHOP portfolio, transitioned to Sonida management as of July 1. The company is under contract to acquire approximately $88 million of assets expected to generate mid-teens unlevered IRR and accretion to normalized FFO and NAV per share.

From April 2026, the threshold for suspending old-age pension benefits for working elderly has been raised from 510,000 yen to 650,000 yen per month, easing pension reductions for seniors who receive employees' pension while working. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's fiscal 2024 overview, the number of people aged 65 and over who work while receiving employees' pension reached 3,444,000, an increase of 215,000 from the previous year. Under the new standard, if the combined total of salary and employees' pension is 650,000 yen or less, the full pension is paid. For example, in a case where monthly salary is 460,000 yen and pension is 100,000 yen, totaling 560,000 yen, the pension was reduced by 25,000 yen per month before the revision, but after the revision there is no reduction, allowing the person to receive 300,000 yen more per year. Financial planners explain that this revision expands work options for the elderly.

Vimut Hospital Holding has launched ViMUT Metabolic Health and Endocrine as a new growth area, focusing on personalised metabolic and endocrine care to tackle non-communicable diseases, or NCDs, which kill around 400,000 Thai people each year and cause economic losses of approximately 1.6 trillion baht per year, equivalent to 9.7 percent of GDP in 2019, according to World Health Organization data. The company has developed services into five clinical pathways: Metabolic Reset, Thyroid Wellness, Sarcopenic Obesity Care, Menopause and Weight, and Diabetes Care, under the Understand, Design, Measure, Partner care framework to assess risk, treat, and monitor health continuously. Dr Nipat Kulapkaew, Chief Executive Officer, said this approach shifts the conversation from asking about weight to caring for overall metabolic health, using medical data, nutrition, exercise, and health behaviour to plan care jointly between doctors and multidisciplinary professionals.

Principal Capital Public Company Limited, or PRINC Group, reported medical service revenue for the second quarter of 2026 of 1.56 billion baht, up 11.03 percent from the same period last year. This brought first-half revenue to 3.10 billion baht, growth of 8.22 percent. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, or EBITDA, from core operations in the quarter reached 106.7 million baht, up 93.39 percent, while first-half EBITDA stood at 232.0 million baht, up 26.82 percent. The growth came from the expansion of its hospital network, including the acquisitions of Thanakan Hospital and Por Paet 1 and 2 Hospitals, as well as the opening of Phitsanuvej Kamphaeng Phet Hospital in June. The company now operates 19 hospitals across 15 provinces. It plans to open a new building at Phitsanuvej Phichit Hospital in October and a full-scale cancer centre with radiation therapy services at Phitsanuvej Hospital in January 2027.

Ekachai Medical Care Public Company Limited, or EKH, reported second-quarter net profit for 2026 of 60.18 million baht, up 27.88 percent from the same period last year. Total revenue came in at 342.88 million baht, up 22.35 percent, supported by higher patient volumes at Khun Hospital Rama 2, the Heart and Vascular Center, and the EKI-IVF fertility center, which benefited from the return of Chinese clients. The company expects performance to keep growing in the second half of the year, driven by a full quarter of operations at Bloom Hospital and growth at the existing fertility and heart and vascular centers. It is also moving ahead with three new projects: Khun Wattanapat Hospital, a 36-bed facility specializing in elderly care; Bloom Hospital, a 50-bed facility specializing in mental health and psychiatry; and a Premium Wellness and anti-aging medicine center in Building C, a 60-bed extension of Ekachai Hospital. Revenue recognition from these projects is expected to begin from the third quarter of 2026 onward, and the company maintains its full-year revenue growth target of at least 20 percent.

Abacus Global Management reported second quarter 2026 results that exceeded its own guidance, with total revenue of $73.0 million, up 30% year over year, and adjusted net income of $27.1 million, above the high end of its $24 million to $26 million forecast. Adjusted EPS was $0.28, up 22% from $0.23 a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA rose 27% to $39.9 million. The company's Life Solutions segment drove growth with revenue of $65.4 million, a 38.3% increase, while longevity fund inflows reached $544.2 million in the first half, surpassing its $500 million target. Management provided third quarter guidance of $26 million to $28 million in adjusted net income and reiterated full-year adjusted net income of $100 million to $106 million. The company also announced the launch of its first registered interval fund, the ABX Longevity Growth and Income Fund, and a $53 million minority investment in Manning & Napier.

CVS Health announced a revamp of its weight management program to improve access, affordability, and support for GLP-1 medications. The company is collaborating with Eli Lilly and Company to provide eligible Zepbound and Foundayo patients an additional access point at CVS Pharmacy through the CVS Health app, with transparent pricing including cash-pay options expected by early fourth quarter of 2026. CVS Pharmacy offers all FDA approved GLP-1s, and MinuteClinic digital weight loss visits have been lowered to $29, the most affordable option in the market, available 24/7 with no membership or recurring monthly fee. The program combines an online visit with a licensed clinician, same-day medication pickup at 9,000 local CVS Pharmacy locations, and in-person pharmacist support in one connected experience. CVS Pharmacy also participates in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which runs through December 31, 2027, offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries certain GLP-1 medications for $50 per month.

Humana's Medicaid managed care plan, Humana Healthy Horizons, is teaming up with HealthStream in Indiana to strengthen the state's home-care workforce. Under the initiative, Humana is sponsoring 1,000 Home Health Aide scholarships to help remove financial barriers for people entering the caregiving field. The program uses HealthStream's Career Network to reach rural and underserved communities, and Humana is also deploying HealthStream's CoachUp Care platform, predictive analytics and training tools to help providers recruit and retain caregivers. The collaboration targets high caregiver turnover, as home-care providers have an average annual turnover rate of 77%, while Humana says trained home-care aides are more than twice as likely to remain employed after three months and 64% more likely to stay after six months than workers without comparable training. Early results show 81% of participating providers achieving above-average caregiver retention, with providers that improved retention reporting an average 43% increase.