Local HK Mass Market Health

The typical Hong Kong individual plan will be bought on price and emphasise reimbursement of routine smaller bills.

In a bid to perhaps discipline the medical profession, the typical Hong Kong plan will be riddled with limitations and caps that make it especially difficult with a hospital claim where you will find it hard to be sure as to exactly what you can claim.

Part of the problem in Hong Kong is that the medical profession is a powerful lobby that will pressure the government to restrict entry of foreign doctors, in part by requiring them to sit added qualifying exams and in part by possibly arguing Hong Kong already has 'enough' doctors.

Another part of the problem is that the scale of fees set down by the HK Medical Association is a non binding guide. So if the removal of a skin cancer for example is regarded as a minor operation with a cap of HKD5,000 in the policy, but the doctor charges HKD50,000 for his time and skill, then you will be forced to pay the difference.

The Bupacare and Bupa Healthnet are good examples of local individual and group policies.