Your Health
Your Health
Safeguarding your health with comprehensive health insurance plans will help prevent you and your family from suffering from financial loss as a result of an accident, illness or disability. It can provide an income while you are in the hospital, or cover the costs of your medical treatment or nursing care.
The importance of health insurance
Your Health
Types of Health Insurance Plans (Medical Reimbursement Focus)
As a licensed general insurance broker, we specialize in medical reimbursement plans—a key type of health insurance that covers actual costs related to treatment and recovery. Below are the main plans we can arrange:
Covers in-patient costs such as hospital room charges, surgery fees, doctor’s visits, and medicine during a hospital stay.
2. Personal Accident Medical Insurance
Offers coverage for medical treatment—including clinic visits and hospital care—resulting from accidental injuries.
We work with leading insurers to offer flexible and affordable medical reimbursement options, including:
Local and Regional Medical Plans
Cover treatments in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and other parts of Asia.
Worldwide Medical Protection
Select plans include coverage for treatment abroad, including in the US and Europe.
Cancer-Specific Medical Coverage
Get support for cancer-related costs such as chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies.
Add-Ons including Dental and Maternity
Customise your plan with optional dental check-ups, treatments, or maternity-related medical expense benefits.
FAQ
In short - yes, it is highly advisable. Hong Kong boasts a high-quality public healthcare system, but it is primarily reserved for permanent residents and can involve long waiting times for non-emergency treatments.
For foreigners, expatriates, and even locals seeking faster access to a wider choice of private hospitals and specialists, private medical care is essential. However, the costs are extremely high. A single hospital stay or a surgical procedure can easily amount to tens or even hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.
Having comprehensive health insurance ensures you do not need to cover these exorbitant bills out-of-pocket and allows you to focus on your recovery. While it is not a mandatory requirement for all visa types, having adequate medical coverage is a critical factor for immigration when applying for certain employment and dependent visas.
It can be hard to prevent an illness or accident, but you can definitely protect yourself from the financial stress of paying high medical bills.
The main applicant must be between 18 and 65 years. Some plans can be renewable up to age 80.
Health insurance plans in Hong Kong offer a range of benefits that you can select based on your needs and budget. Here are the key coverage options generally available:
Hospitalisation (Inpatient Cover)
This is the core of any health insurance plan. It covers medical expenses incurred during a hospital stay, including room and board, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, operating theatre charges, medicine, and diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRI scans). Given the exceptionally high cost of private hospitals in Hong Kong, this cover is essential.
Outpatient Cover
This covers medical treatments that do not require an overnight hospital stay. This can include visits to General Practitioners (GPs), specialists, physiotherapists, and prescribed medication. This benefit is often an optional add-on or comes with sub-limits, as it significantly impacts the premium cost.
Evacuation and Repatriation
This is a critical benefit for expatriates and frequent travellers. If you become seriously ill or injured in a location without adequate medical facilities, it covers emergency transport to the nearest suitable hospital. Repatriation covers the cost of returning you to your home country after treatment. Many plans also include the repatriation of mortal remains.
Dental Insurance
This is typically an optional extra. It can cover routine check-ups, scaling and polishing, fillings, and more complex procedures like root canals, crowns, or even orthodontics (braces). Coverage levels and annual limits vary significantly between plans.
Wellbeing and Optical
This benefit covers routine and preventive care. It often includes annual health check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings (e.g., mammograms). The optical portion usually covers eye examinations and may contribute towards the cost of corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) but typically excludes purely cosmetic purchases.
Maternity Cover
This is a crucial and often expensive addition. It covers pregnancy and childbirth, including pre-natal and post-natal check-ups, delivery costs, and complications. It is vital to note that maternity cover almost always has a waiting period (typically 10 to 24 months), meaning you must be insured for that period before you can claim for childbirth expenses. Planning ahead is essential.
Important Note for Hong Kong: Unlike some countries, there is no universal "standard" plan. Coverage varies dramatically between basic local plans and comprehensive international plans. It is critical to check the specific inclusions, exclusions, and annual limits for each benefit.
Choosing the right health insurance in Hong Kong requires careful consideration of your needs and the market's specifics. Here are the critical factors to evaluate:
I. Scope of Coverage: Inpatient vs. Outpatient
- Inpatient (Hospitalisation):This is the essential core of any plan. Ensure it covers room and board, surgery, anaesthetist, and diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs) within a hospital. Given the extremely high cost of private hospitals in Hong Kong, robust inpatient coverage is non-negotiable.
- Outpatient (GP/Specialist):This covers doctor visits, prescriptions, and physiotherapy without a hospital stay. It is often an optional add-on that significantly increases the premium. Decide if you prefer the flexibility of private clinics or are comfortable using public services for minor issues.
II. Understanding the Full Cost Structure
The cost isn't just the premium you pay annually. You must understand:
- Deductible (Excess):The fixed amount you pay out-of-pocket before the insurer starts paying (e.g., HKD 5,000 per claim).
- Co-insurance:The percentage of the bill you pay after the deductible is met (e.g., 20%).
- Annual Limit and Sub-limits:Check the overall maximum the insurer will pay per year. Also, look for sub-limits on specific items like room and board (e.g., a daily room rate cap of HKD 1,500) or surgery, which could leave you with a large shortfall.
III. Network of Providers & Flexibility
- Local Plans:Often have a defined network of doctors and hospitals. Using a provider outside this network may result in lower reimbursement or no coverage at all.
- International Plans:Typically offer greater flexibility, allowing you to choose any doctor or hospital, including those outside Hong Kong. This freedom comes with a significantly higher premium.
IV. Pre-existing Medical Conditions
This is a crucial factor in Hong Kong. You must fully and accurately declareany known medical conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol).
- Common Outcomes:The insurer will likely excludethat specific condition from coverage, apply a loading (increase your premium), or impose a moratorium period (where coverage for the condition is only granted after a long claim-free period).
V. Geographical Coverage
- Local-Only Plans:Only cover you within Hong Kong.
- Regional/Worldwide Plans:Cover emergency treatment abroad, which is vital for frequent travellers. Always check the area of coverage (e.g., Worldwide excluding USA, or Worldwide including USA) as this dramatically affects the price.
VI. Additional Benefits to Consider
- Maternity Cover:Almost always has a long waiting period (10-24 months). You must plan far in advance if you want this coverage.
- Dental, Optical, and Wellbeing:These are usually optional extras. "Wellbeing" typically covers routine check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings. Assess if these are important to you versus paying out-of-pocket.
- Medical Evacuation/Repatriation:A key benefit for expatriates, covering emergency transport to adequate medical facilities or back to your home country.
Eligibility for health insurance in Hong Kong is generally broad, but it depends on the type of plan and the insurer's specific underwriting criteria. Typically, you can qualify for a health plan if you are:
- A Hong Kong Permanent Residentresiding in Hong Kong or overseas.
- A Hong Kong Non-Permanent Residentholding a valid visa (e.g., an employment visa, dependent visa, student visa, etc.).
- A foreign nationallegally residing in or outside of Hong Kong (often applicable to international or expatriate plans).
Important Note: The primary factor for eligibility is not your residency status but your health condition. All applicants are subject to medical underwriting. This means you must disclose your full medical history, and the insurer will decide whether to:
- Offer coverage at a standard premium,
- Apply exclusions for pre-existing conditions,
- Apply a premium loading (increase the cost), or
- Decline coverage altogether.
If you are unsure about your eligibility based on your specific circumstances, please speak to our advisor for guidance on which plans you may qualify for.
Many corporate medical policies have low coverage, hence you might need to pay more out of your pocket if you have a high medical bill from being sick or injured. You should do research and find out what your corporate plans cover to see if you would want to apply for your own healthcare plan.
