Hong Kong to cover up to 40,000 yuan in medical bills for some elderly in mainland care homes
Under pilot scheme, government will pay up to 10,000 yuan in medical consultation fees and 30,000 yuan for hospital expenses for some care-home residents
Authorities will cover medical bills for some elderly Hong Kong retirees living in care homes in mainland China up to a maximum of 40,000 yuan (US$5,600) annually, the welfare minister has said as he revealed more details about government plans to tackle ageing and poverty issues.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han on Monday brushed aside concerns over expenditure rising through the new pilot scheme to cover medical fees.
Under the scheme, the government will annually pay up to 10,000 yuan in medical consultation fees and 30,000 yuan for hospital expenses for elderly Hongkongers eligible for subsidised residential care services in neighbouring Guangdong province.
Sun said welfare authorities had bought urban-rural basic medical insurance for the elderly receiving subsidised residential care services on the mainland, but it typically only covered 50 per cent of outpatient services and 70 per cent of inpatient ones.
The pilot scheme will help to cover the remainder of the bill and provide more reassurance to the elderly who choose to retire in care homes across the border.
