Information Centre
FAQs
About VHIS
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Q1. What is Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS)?
VHIS is a policy initiative implemented by the Health Bureau to
regulate indemnity hospital insurance plans offered to individuals by
insurance companies. The participation by insurance companies and
consumers is voluntary.
Under the VHIS, the participating insurance companies offer certified
individual indemnity hospital insurance plans (“Certified Plans”) for
consumers to purchase voluntarily.
Q2. What are the objectives of VHIS?
The policy objectives of VHIS are to -
(a) enhance the protection level of hospital insurance
products;
(b) provide the public with an additional choice of using private
healthcare services through hospital insurance; and
(c) relieve the pressure on the public healthcare system in the long
run.
Q3. What is the scope of VHIS?
VHIS covers insurance products which -
(a) provide hospital insurance protection of indemnity nature bought
by individuals for themselves and their families
VHIS does not cover insurance products which -
(a) provide non-hospital medical insurance protection e.g. outpatient
services; or
(b) provide non-indemnity medical insurance protection e.g. hospital
cash, critical illness cash plans; or
(c) are group insurance bought by employers for their employees
Q4. What are the differences between Certified Plans under VHIS and other
individual indemnity hospital insurance products?
Certified Plans are officially certified by the Health Bureau to have
met a number of standard features to enhance consumer protection,
including standardised policy terms and conditions, guaranteed renewal
up to the age of 100 years, and more comprehensive benefit coverage. For
details, please see Q8.
Q5. How is consumer interest protected under VHIS?
As in the case of all insurance businesses, the insurance companies
participating in VHIS and their business practices are subject to the
supervision and regulation of the Insurance Authority under the
Insurance Ordinance (Chapter 41). In addition, the insurance companies
registered as VHIS providers are required to comply with the rules of
the scheme, including the product compliance requirements and the code
of practice set by the Health Bureau.
Q6. When is VHIS implemented?
VHIS has been fully implemented on 1 April 2019. As from this date
-
(a) The participating insurance companies will start offering their
Certified Plans and accepting new applications#.
(b) The insurance policies issued under a Certified Plan effective and
with premium paid on or after 1 April 2019 will be eligible for tax
deduction under Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112).
(#) If you have already purchased an individual indemnity hospital insurance policy and your policy will be due for renewal on 1 April 2019 or afterwards, your insurance company (if participating in VHIS) will invite you for renewal into a Certified Plan or offer you a Certified Plan as an option. See also Q33 to Q35.
Protection offered by Certified Plans under VHIS
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Q7. What are Certified Plans?
All Certified Plans, including Standard Plans and Flexi Plans, must
meet or exceed the minimum product standard of VHIS.
(a) For the Standard Plans, the terms and benefits are standardised
with prescribed minimum, such as minimum benefit coverage and
amounts.
(b) For the Flexi Plans, they must provide basic protection equivalent
to Standard Plan coverage, plus a flexible top-up protection to suit
market needs subject to certain rules set out by the Health
Bureau.
Due to variety in product design of Certified Plans available in the
market, consumers are advised to check carefully the terms and benefits
of insurance plans, understanding their rights and obligations, and
making product and premium comparisons.
Q8. How attractive are the Certified Plans?
All Certified Plans must comply with the minimum requirements of
providing the following key product features -
(a) Standardised policy terms and conditions with minimum
benefit coverage and benefit amounts [The terms and
benefits are detailed in the Certified
Plan Policy Template].
(b) Guaranteed renewal up to age of 100 years - The
guarantee is irrespective of whether or not your health condition has
changed after the policy is in force.
(c) No “lifetime benefit limit” - Your benefits will
be continued until you reach 100 years of age*.
(d) Cooling-off period of 21 days - You can enjoy a
cooling-off period of 21 days during which you can cancel the policies
with full refund of premium.
(e) Premium transparency - You can access the premium
schedules of all Certified Plans on the website of the insurance
companies concerned and the official VHIS
website.
(f) Coverage extended to include -
(i)
Unknown pre-existing conditions - An
unknown pre-existing condition refers to a health condition, such as
sickness, which has existed but you are unaware of its existence
when applying for insurance coverage. According to the terms and
conditions, all Certified Plans will provide partial coverage of
unknown pre-existing conditions in the second and third year after
policy inception, at 25% and 50% respectively. Full coverage i.e.
100% will be provided from the fourth year onwards.
(ii)
Treatment of congenital conditions -
Cover investigation and treatment of congenital conditions which
have manifested or been diagnosed from the age of 8, subject to the
same reimbursement arrangement that applies to unknown pre-existing
conditions.
(iii)
Day case procedures - Cover
surgical procedures (including endoscopy) not conducted during
hospital stay (such as day procedure centres).
(iv)
Prescribed diagnostic imaging tests
- Cover Computed Tomography (CT scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI scan) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) conducted
during hospital stay or in an outpatient setting, subject to 30%
coinsurance. For example, if the expense incurred is $5,000, the
policy holder has to pay for 30% of the cost, i.e. $1,500, while the
insurance company has to pay for 70% of the cost, i.e. $3,500.
(v)
Prescribed non-surgical cancer
treatments - Cover radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted
therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy.
(vi)
Psychiatric inpatient treatments in local
hospitals - Cover psychiatric treatments during
confinement in Hong Kong.
(*) Some Flexi Plans that meet specified criteria can have lifetime
benefit limits. Please see Q9 for details.
Q9. Why are there some Certified Plans with lifetime benefit
limits?
In the hospital insurance market, there are some insurance plans that
are designed to provide high-end benefits. Such plans adopt lifetime
benefit limit to make the premiums more affordable. These plans can
cater to the needs of some consumers who need higher coverage, and
increase the flexibility of VHIS. To ensure that such plans are
regulated, only Flexi Plans that meet the following criteria can have
"lifetime benefit limit" -
(a) The annual benefit limit must be at least HK$5 million;
(b) The lifetime benefit limit must be at least HK$20 million or 4
times of annual benefit limit, whichever is higher; and
(c) There must be no itemised dollar limit for at least 10 of the 12
standard benefit items (i.e. the benefit items prescribed under the
Standard Plan framework).
As in the case of all Flexi Plans, the policyholders should be
provided with the option to switch to the Standard Plan without
re-underwriting upon policy renewal. This means that the policyholders
of the Flexi Plans with exemption mentioned above can continue to enjoy
protection under Standard Plan even if the lifetime benefit limit is
reached.
Q10. Is there any restriction on the choice of hospitals and doctors under
VHIS?
The basic protection of all Certified Plans (including the Standard
Plan in entirety, and the basic protection of Flexi Plans equivalent to
Standard Plan) provides free choice of hospitals and doctors. Top-up
benefits of Flexi Plans may link with a network of hospitals and
doctors.
Q11. Can I still use the public hospital services, and use the insurance
to pay for public hospital charges?
Yes to both questions. The purchase of Certified Plans is entirely
voluntary and will not affect your rights to use public healthcare
services.
Q12. Can I choose hospitals and doctors outside Hong Kong?
Yes. Top-up benefits of Flexi Plans may apply to certain geographical
regions. Standard Plan and basic protection of Flexi Plans equivalent to
Standard Plan are required to provide global coverage, except for
psychiatric treatments that are limited to Hong Kong.
Q13. Is hospital admission necessary for making insurance claims?
Not necessary. All Certified Plans must cover day case procedures
(such as endoscopies), prescribed diagnostic imaging tests and
prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments for which overnight hospital
stay is not necessary. If the attending doctor considers hospitalisation
medically necessary, the care received will also be covered.
Q14. Is dental treatment covered under VHIS ?
Standard Plan only covers dental treatments related to emergency
treatment and surgery during confinement arising from an accident. Other
inpatient and outpatient dental coverage may be provided as top-up
protection of Flexi Plans. Please consult your insurance company on the
exact coverage of each Certified Plan.
Q15. Are treatments of COVID-19 infection covered by VHIS?
As in the case of all medically necessary treatments, eligible
expenses on the treatments of COVID-19 infection (including expenses
incurred for hospitalisation, day case procedures and prescribed
diagnostic imaging tests in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the world) must
be covered as part of the basic protection offered by all VHIS Certified
Plans. The basic protection refers to the terms and benefits of Standard
Plan or that part of Flexi Plans equivalent to the terms and benefits of
Standard Plan.
Q16. What about treatments due to adverse reactions to COVID-19
vaccinations?
The treatments likewise fall within the scope of basic protection
offered by all VHIS Certified Plans. See Q.15 for details.
Q17. What is the meaning of an unknown pre-existing condition and how is
it covered under VHIS?
An unknown pre-existing condition refers to a health condition, such
as sickness, which has existed but you are unaware of its existence when
applying for insurance coverage.
According to the terms and conditions, all Certified Plans will
provide partial coverage of unknown pre-existing conditions in the
second and third year after policy inception, at 25% and 50%
respectively. Full coverage i.e. 100% will be provided from the fourth
year onwards.
Choice of insurance companies
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Q18. How many insurance companies will participate in VHIS?
We have published the list of participating
insurance companies on the official VHIS website, and will
update the list regularly.
Q19. How can I know if an insurance company participates in VHIS?
Upon successful registration as a VHIS provider, the insurance
companies are required to disclose their registration status to
consumers at least through their company websites. You may also check
the list of
participating insurance companies through the official VHIS
website.
Choice of insurance plans
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Q20. Is there only one choice of Certified Plan?
No. In addition to Standard Plan that all the participating insurance
companies must offer, they are allowed and encouraged to offer Flexi
Plans that provide top-up protection, such as higher benefit amount and
wider benefit coverage.
Q21. What is the difference between Standard Plan and Flexi Plans?
Standard Plan benchmarks the minimum complying requirements of VHIS.
As the policy terms and benefits of Standard Plan are standardised, the
Standard Plans offered by different insurance companies will be
virtually the same (except for very limited minor allowable
variations).
Flexi Plans offer basic protection equivalent to Standard Plan
coverage, plus a flexible top-up protection such as higher benefit
amounts and wider benefit coverage, which vary from plan to plan and
company to company.
Q22. How many Certified Plans are available for application?
As of 31 March 2025, there were 95 Certified Plans available in the
market (including Standard Plan and Flexi Plans) which altogether
offered 522 products. For details, please visit the official VHIS website.
Q23. Are there hospital insurance products other than Certified Plans
available for my choice?
VHIS is a voluntary scheme for both insurance companies and consumers.
Insurance companies are allowed to offer non-VHIS hospital insurance
plans alongside Certified Plans. Consumers have the freedom to choose
which insurance plans best suits their needs.
Premiums
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Q24. Are the premiums of Certified Plans regulated by the Health
Bureau?
The Health Bureau does not regulate the premiums of Certified Plans.
However, the participating insurance companies have to publish the
premium schedules of their Certified Plans that facilitate comparison
and the premium schedule of
all Certified Plans of insurance companies can be accessed on
the official VHIS website.
Q25. Do the premiums vary by age and gender?
Yes, in general.
Q26. Can the insurance companies adjust the premiums when renewing my
policy?
Yes, but the rate of adjustment in your case must equally apply to
other customers within the same age-gender group of your insurance
plan. This restriction can prevent the insurance companies from treating
you unfairly.
Buying a Certified Plan
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Q27. When and from where can I buy a Certified Plan?
You can search for participating insurance companies and Certified
Plans on the official VHIS website.
If you do not have any individual indemnity hospital insurance cover
now or your insurance company has not joined VHIS, you are encouraged to
consider purchasing a Certified Plan.
Q28. Is there any age limit for subscription?
The participating insurance companies are required to consider
applications from Hong Kong residents aged between 15 days and 80
years.
Q29. Can I subscribe a Certified Plan if I am not a Hong Kong
resident?
Yes, but the insured person must be a Hong Kong resident for the
purpose of tax deduction. According to the rules of VHIS, the
participating insurance companies are required to consider applications
for Certified Plans in relation to insured persons being Hong Kong
residents aged between 15 days and 80 years. However, it is at the
discretion of the companies whether to consider applications in relation
to insured persons being non-Hong Kong residents according to their
business practices.
Q30. Is there guaranteed acceptance of application for a Certified
Plan?
The participating insurance companies may decline an application after
a fair and reasonable underwriting process in accordance with the
principles set out in the Code of Practice under
VHIS.
Q31. Is premium loading or exclusion of particular illnesses
allowed?
Yes, provided that there are pre-existing health conditions or other
health risks such as smoking habit, family medical history and
occupational hazard.
Q32. The insurance company accepts my application for VHIS coverage on the
condition that certain specified illnesses are subject to a lower class of
benefit coverage. Is it permitted?
The said situation is permitted for Flexi Plans when the product
design encompasses a higher benefit layer by default and a lower benefit
layer for the known pre-existing conditions of the insured person, and
all the benefits are subject to the minimum protection as benchmarked by
the Standard Plan.
Q33. Will my insurance policy issued under a Certified Plan not be
renewed?
No, unless important information (such as pre-existing health
conditions) required in the process of application is not provided
accurately and completely.
Q34. If I already have an individual indemnity hospital insurance
coverage, how can I switch to a Certified Plan?
If your insurance company has participated in VHIS, it must offer its
existing policyholders of individual indemnity hospital insurance an
opportunity to switch to Certified Plans. The timing of the migration
may depend on the renewal cycle of your existing insurance policy or
other arrangements that your insurance company may offer. You may wish
to approach your insurance company or agent/broker.
Q35. If my insurance company has participated in VHIS, when will it
arrange migration for me?
Please check with your insurance company direct.
Most insurance companies have arranged or are planning to arrange
migration for existing customers as soon as possible. In any event, the
offer of migration must be made within 10 years starting from the full
implementation of VHIS on 1 April 2019.
Q36. What is the migration arrangement?
The migration arrangement may take one of the following forms -
(a) Direct renewal from your existing plan into a Certified Plan
(i.e., Same plan with VHIS features incorporated) at your next policy
renewal; or
(b) Beside your existing plan, you are given an option to change to a
Certified Plan (Different plan with VHIS features incorporated). In this
case, you may be subject to re-underwriting and required to disclose
your latest health conditions. If your enrolment is rejected or you
refuse to accept the reunderwriting result, you may still stay insured
with your existing plan.
Q37. Can the insurance company pick and choose which customer to migrate
and which does not?
No, the insurance companies are required to offer migration for all
their existing individual indemnity hospital insurance policyholders.
Insurance companies are also required to treat policyholders fairly in
the migration process.
Q38. Can I reconsider my decision after purchasing a Certified
Plan?
Upon successful application, you may reconsider your decision of the
purchase of a Certified Plan. You have the right to cancel it with full
premium refund during the cooling-off period (at least 21 days) provided
that no claim has been made.
Tax deduction
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Q39. How can an insurance policy qualify for claiming tax deduction under
VHIS?
In order to be eligible for claiming tax deduction under VHIS, an
insurance policy must meet all the following criteria -
(a) The policy provides coverage of a Certified Plan under
VHIS;
(b) The policyholder is a personal income taxpayer or his/her
spouse;
(c) The insured person is the policyholder or the policyholder's
“specified relatives” as defined under the Inland Revenue Ordinance
(Cap. 112); and
(d) The insured person is a Hong Kong resident*.
(*) Including Hong Kong Identity Card holders, and people aged under 11 who are not Hong Kong Identity Card holders but their parents are Hong Kong Identity Card holders when they were born or adopted. For detailed definitions, please refer to Inland Revenue Ordinance Cap. 112.
Q40. Who can claim tax deduction for the premium paid for an eligible VHIS
policy?
Any taxpayer who or whose spouse is the policyholder of an eligible
insurance policy.
Q41. What is the definition of “specified relatives”?
A specified relative of a policyholder refers to the policyholder's -
(a) Spouse;
(b) Children* aged less than 18 / aged 18 to less than 25
receiving full-time education / aged 18 or above but incapacitated for
work by reason of physical or mental disability;
(c) Brothers or sisters* aged less than 18 / aged 18 to
less than 25 receiving full-time education / aged 18 or above but
incapacitated for work by reason of physical or mental disability;
or
(d) Parents or grandparents* aged less than 55 but eligible
to claim an allowance under the Government's Disability Allowance Scheme
/ aged 55 or above.
(*) Step and adopted relationship also apply. For detailed definitions, please refer to Inland Revenue Ordinance Cap. 112.
Q42. Is there any limit on the amount of premium of eligible policies that
can claim tax deduction?
Yes, the premium that a taxpayer can claim tax deduction is up to
$8,000 per insured person in each assessment year. See the following
example that two taxpayers purchase VHIS policies for themselves
respectively -
Policyholder
Insured person
Annual Premium Paid
Eligible premium amount (capped at $8,000 per insured
person)
Assumed tax rate
Amount of tax saved
Taxpayer A
Taxpayer A
$5,000
$5,000
17%
$850
Taxpayer B
Taxpayer B
$12,000
$8,000
17%
$1,360
Q43. Is there any limit on the number of eligible policies for which I can
claim tax deduction?
No. See the following example that a taxpayer purchases VHIS policies
for himself and his specified relatives -
Policyholder
Insured person
Annual Premium Paid
Eligible premium amount (capped at $8,000 per insured
person)
Amount of tax saved (assuming tax rate is 17%)
Taxpayer
Taxpayer
$5,000
$5,000
$850
Taxpayer
Spouse
$7,000
$7,000
$1,190
Taxpayer
Mother
$9,000
$8,000
$1,360
Taxpayer
Son
$3,000
$3,000
$510
Taxpayer
Grandmother
$12,000
$8,000
$1,360
Total
---
$36,000
$31,000
$5,270
Q44. How much is the amount of tax deduction that I can enjoy?
The amount of tax deduction will depend on the number of VHIS policies
claimed, the amount of premiums, and the tax rates that apply in your
case. See the following example -
Policyholder
Insured person
Annual Premium Paid
Eligible premium amount (capped at $8,000 per insured
person)
Assumed tax rate
Amount of tax saved
Taxpayer A
Taxpayer A
$9,000
$8,000
17% (highest marginal tax rate)
$1,360
Taxpayer B
Taxpayer B
$7,000
$7,000
15% (Standard tax rate)
$1,050
Taxpayer B
Taxpayer B's Daughter
$4,000
$4,000
15% (Standard tax rate)
$600
Taxpayer C
Taxpayer C's spouse
$6,500
$6,500
10%
$650
Q45. If an insurance policy covers a Certified Plan as well as a life
insurance plan, will the total premium of this policy be eligible for tax
deduction?
No, only the premium paid in relation to the Certified Plan is
eligible for tax deduction.
Q46. If a personal income taxpayer is already subject to the standard tax
rate of 15%, can he/she save taxes by claiming tax deduction for qualifying
premium of VHIS policies?
Yes. The net assessable income can be reduced by the amount of the
qualifying premium before the standard tax rate applies. The tax savings
are equivalent to the multiple of the qualifying premium and 15% in this
case.
Q47. When is the tax deduction under VHIS effective?
The tax deduction has been effective in the assessment year starting
from 1 April 2019. This means that the policies issued under Certified
Plan that are effective and with premium paid on or after 1 April 2019
are eligible for the tax deduction.
Q48. If I have any questions about tax deduction under VHIS, what should I
do?
You may browse the FAQs page maintained by the Inland Revenue
Department (IRD), or contact the IRD.
Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire
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Q49. What is the Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”)? How
would it be applicable to VHIS?
The SUQ is defined under the Best Practice on Standardising
Underwriting Questionnaire for Individual Indemnity Hospital Insurance
Plans (“Best Practice on SUQ”) issued by the Hong Kong Federation of
Insurers (“HKFI”). The Best Practice on SUQ aims to lay down guiding
principles and design a standardised template (i.e. the SUQ) with a view
to defining the scope of health-related information that consumers are
required to disclose when applying for individual indemnity hospital
insurance coverage.
All VHIS Providers are required to adhere to such Best Practice on SUQ
and adopt the SUQ when handling applications for VHIS Certified Plan
coverage signed by the applicant on or after 1 January 2022.
Q50. When is the Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”) adopted
under VHIS?
All VHIS Providers are required to adhere to the Best Practice on SUQ
and adopt the SUQ when handling applications for VHIS Certified Plan
coverage signed by the applicant on or after 1 January 2022.
Q51. How can the Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”) enhance
consumer protection?
The SUQ clearly sets out the scope of health-related information that
consumers are required to disclose when applying for individual
indemnity hospital insurance coverage, and adopts simplified wording and
a standardised format for easier comprehension by consumers, thereby
strengthening consumer protection and increasing market
transparency.
Q52. In addition to the Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”),
will the insurance company ask me to provide additional information or
undergo medical examination?
Based on the information provided in the SUQ, the insurance company
may have follow-up questions related to the conditions reported, which
may include requiring you to provide further information or undergo a
medical examination for underwriting purpose.
Q53. What should I pay attention to when filling out the Standardised
Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”)?
Regardless of the format of the questionnaire, based on the insurance
principle of utmost good faith, anyone who wants to purchase insurance
is required to be honest and provide the insurance company with all
pertinent facts and circumstances to the best of his/her knowledge and
belief, so that the insurance company could be fully informed of all the
risks involved. Once this principle is violated, the insurance company
may have the contractual right to repudiate the policy.
Q54. I have suffered from a certain disease, but the insurance company did
not ask about such disease in their questionnaire. Do I still need to
declare it?
The Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”) has defined the
scope of health-related information that consumers are required to
disclose and covers the areas of risk assessment from insurance company.
If an insurance company does not ask a certain standardised question
from SUQ during application, it means that the company has waived using
that health-related information for underwriting purpose. Thus, the
applicant does not need to disclose any information if not being
asked.
Q55. I suffered from a disease before the disclosure timeframe in the
Standardised Underwriting Questionnaire (“SUQ”), do I need to disclose
information related to the disease?
(a) Scenario 1 : You had fully recovered from the relevant disease
before the disclosure timeframe (e.g. past 5 years) and no further
treatment or follow up is required throughout the disclosure
timeframe
No.
For example, the required disclosure timeframe in the standardised
question is 5 years for a certain disease. If an applicant had such a
disease 7 years ago and was fully recovered 6 years ago with no further
treatment or follow up required until the time of application, there is
no need to disclose such information. Even if the insurance company
obtains some health information from other sources that is beyond the
scope or required disclosure timeframe set in the SUQ, the insurance
company should not use such information for underwriting application for
VHIS Certified Plan coverage.
(b) Scenario 2 : You did not fully recover from the relevant disease
at the start of the disclosure timeframe
Yes.
For example, the required disclosure timeframe in a standardised
question is 5 years for a certain disease. If an applicant had such a
disease 7 years ago, but did not fully recover from it at the start of
the disclosure timeframe, all information (e.g. treatment and follow up
details etc.) related to the disease during the disclosure timeframe
should be disclosed as requested in the questionnaire, regardless of
whether the applicant has fully recovered at the time of
application.
Q56. If I have already applied for VHIS Certified Plan coverage and am
awaiting the application result, can I request my insurance company to
re-underwrite my application by using the Standardised Underwriting
Questionnaire (“SUQ”)?
Starting from 1 January 2022, you may request your insurance company
to use the SUQ to re-underwrite your application if the insurance
company has not yet issued the new VHIS policy to you. Yet, if you
applied for VHIS Certified Plan coverage and signed the application form
before 1 January 2022, and your insurance company has already issued the
new VHIS policy to you, the insurance company has the right to refuse
re-underwriting using the SUQ.