Hong Kong’s new voluntary health insurance plan kicks in, but government expects possible benefit adjustments
- The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme was designed to relieve burden on city’s public health care system
- But critics say the long-awaited plan does not do enough to cover medical expenses
Hong Kong’s new voluntary health insurance plan officially kicked in on Monday, with a senior official saying benefit amounts could be revised amid recent criticism that the programme does not provide adequate coverage.
“We believe there must be adjustments. But the frequency and extent of adjustments will be decided after we have collected more data,” Fong said on a radio programme. He added that the government would collect data from insurance companies and private hospitals after the scheme had been in place for a while.
Twenty-four out of the 25 officially approved standard plans, which offer basic protections such as a maximum claim of HK$750 (US$95) per day for hospital room and board, went into effect on Monday. All 13 “flexi plans”, which provide higher benefits and wider coverage, also took effect.
Under the current arrangement, benefit amounts offered in standard plans are prescribed by the Food and Health Bureau. These amounts are also the minimum requirements for “flexi plans” certified in the scheme.
According to information released by the bureau on Friday, the average annual premium for a standard plan would be HK$4,000, lower than the HK$4,800 estimated in a consultancy report based on 2017 figures.
