Skip Header
Home Achieve your Financial Wellness Financial wellness insights

Purchasing medical insurance for better protection

15 Jan 2021

Life is an unpredictable journey and the occurrence of accidents or disease is out of your hands. Medical expenses related to these occurrences can be excessive, but medical insurance may lessen the financial burden. 

1. Common types of medical insurance

Medical insurance can be classified into individual or family plans. While the coverage may differ, the following items are usually covered by both plans:  

  • Inpatient costs, including hospital ward, surgery, nursing, testing and specialist fees
  • Fixed cash benefit during hospitalisation
  • General or specialist outpatient fees, including consultation, medication, testing or diagnosis expenses

A benefit limit is usually set for each item, and certain situations are not covered. You should therefore read your policy thoroughly. It should also be noted that the amount of your premium will depend on your age, gender and health condition.

2. Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme

The government introduced the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) in 2019, with the purpose of regulating and enhancing the protection of individual inpatient medical insurance policies. This provides incentive for more citizens to purchase medical insurance and take advantage of private healthcare, thereby alleviating the pressure on the public healthcare system.

Insurance companies and citizens can voluntarily choose to participate in the scheme. Participating insurance companies will introduce medical insurance products certified by the Food and Health Bureau. Some of the benefits of VHIS include:

• Renewal up to age 100

Most insurers have set the upper age limit for medical insurance plans at 65. On the other hand, anyone age 15 to 80 can participate in VHIS, with guaranteed renewal up to age 100. The coverage of VHIS products is also more extensive than other medical insurance plans on the market. Psychiatric treatment, congenital conditions which have manifested or been diagnosed since the age of 8 and unknown pre-existing conditions have recently been added to the list of covered items.

• Tax-deductible premiums

The government offers tax deductions to citizens who have purchased voluntary medical insurance as an incentive. In each year of assessment, the tax-deductible amount for each insured person is capped at HK$ 8,000. The amount is deducted from taxable income, rather than being directly deducted from “tax payable”.

For example, if a taxpayer purchases voluntary medical insurance for herself and her parents, there is significant tax savings as illustrated below:

Premium schedules of VHIS products are more transparent, and applicants are entitled to a cooling-off period of 21 days, during which they can cancel their policy and receive a full refund of the premium.

None

Understand Financial Wellness

Understand the definition and importance of being financial well

None

Determine your Financial Wellness

Assess your personal financial wellness with our easy-to-use tool

None

Retirement Savings Guidelines

Rules of thumb that make retirement planning simple