Health insurance in Hong Kong.
Public hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
The rules
What Hong Kong asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- Public rates are for eligible persons
The Hospital Authority sets 3 kinds of charges: public rates for eligible persons, public rates for non-eligible persons, and non-subsidised rates.
Source: ha.org.hk - HKID holders are eligible
Eligible persons include holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card. Children who live in Hong Kong and are under 11 also count.
Source: ha.org.hk - Some HKID holders are left out
The exception is a card obtained through a previous permission to land or remain. If that could be you, ask the Hospital Authority before you rely on public rates.
Source: ha.org.hk - Non-eligible persons pay far more
From 1 January 2026, an in-patient bed costs HK$200 a day for an eligible person and HK$3,100 a day for a non-eligible person. Non-eligible patients also pay a HK$31,000 deposit on admission.
Source: www3.ha.org.hk - Register for an HKID within 30 days
If you are 11 or over and allowed to stay more than 180 days, you must register for an identity card within 30 days of arrival.
Source: immd.gov.hk - Uninsured visitors face high bills
The UK government warns that treatment for uninsured foreign visitors to Hong Kong is expensive. It tells visitors to have cover for local treatment and medical evacuation.
Source: gov.uk
Eligible persons, such as HKID holders, pay low public rates at Hospital Authority hospitals and clinics. People who are not eligible pay higher public rates. Whether your card counts depends on how you got it, so check before you rely on it.
Source: ha.org.hkLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
Hong Kong has a big private hospital sector, and the public price gap is large for people who are not eligible. A plan that covers private care and your whole family is worth comparing before you land.
- Local plans
Plans sold in Hong Kong. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in Hong Kong.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in Hong Kong and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What it costs
Published prices in Hong Kong.
List prices from insurers and official schemes. Your quote depends on your age, health and the cover you pick.
- Public bed: HK$3,100 a day if non-eligible
Eligible persons pay HK$200 a day for the same bed from 1 January 2026. Non-eligible patients also pay a HK$31,000 deposit on admission.
Source: www3.ha.org.hk - Specialist clinic: HK$850 a visit
The non-eligible rate at a public specialist out-patient clinic, plus HK$90 per drug item. Eligible persons pay HK$250 and HK$20.
Source: www3.ha.org.hk - Giving birth: HK$74,000 minimum
The minimum obstetric package for non-eligible persons who booked and had antenatal checks at a public hospital. Non-booked cases pay at least HK$130,000.
Source: ha.org.hk
What to look for
Choosing a plan in Hong Kong.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Private hospital cover
If you may not be an eligible person, public care is not a cheap fallback. Check the plan covers private hospitals you would actually use.
- Inpatient limits
A non-eligible bed costs HK$3,100 a day at a public hospital. Check the yearly and per-stay limits can cover a long stay.
- Maternity, if you are non-eligible
A non-eligible mother pays at least HK$74,000 to give birth in a public hospital. Check the plan’s maternity limit and its waiting period.
- A VHIS Certified Plan
Plans certified under the government’s Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme let a taxpayer deduct up to HK$8,000 of premiums per insured person.
Step by step
Getting covered in Hong Kong.
- 01Register for your HKID within 30 days. Required if you are 11 or over and allowed to stay more than 180 days. Book it soon after you land.
- 02Check if your card makes you eligible. Most HKID holders pay eligible person rates. A card obtained through an earlier permission to land or remain may not count, so ask the Hospital Authority.
- 03Choose private cover before you need it. If you may be non-eligible, a public bed costs HK$3,100 a day. Compare plans by inpatient limit and the private hospitals near you.
- 04Keep your premium receipts. If your plan is a VHIS Certified Plan, you can claim up to HK$8,000 per insured person under salaries tax. The receipts are your proof.
- 05Book early if you are pregnant. Non-eligible mothers who book and attend Hospital Authority antenatal checks pay HK$74,000. Without a booking it is HK$130,000.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Assuming public hospital prices apply to you. They apply to eligible persons only.
- 02Waiting for your HKID before buying cover. You may still not be eligible, so check how your card was obtained.
- 03Buying a plan with a low inpatient limit, then facing a bill at HK$3,100 a day.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need health insurance to move to Hong Kong?+
We did not find an official rule that makes it a condition of a work visa. Cover is still wise, because treatment for people who are not eligible for public rates is expensive.
Can expats use Hong Kong public hospitals?+
Yes, but the price depends on whether you are an eligible person. HKID holders are, with an exception for some cards. Everyone else pays non-eligible rates.
How much does a public hospital bed cost in Hong Kong?+
From 1 January 2026, HK$200 a day for an eligible person and HK$3,100 a day for a non-eligible person, plus a HK$31,000 deposit for non-eligible patients.
When do I need a Hong Kong ID card?+
If you are 11 or over and allowed to stay more than 180 days, register within 30 days of arrival.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
04PhilippinesThe retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
09GermanyEveryone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
14QatarMost visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
28Dominican RepublicThe residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
34IndiaWe found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
36BrazilThe digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.