Private Hospital Room Charges in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s private hospitals offer many benefits such as high-quality equipment, English-speaking doctors and medical staff, and comfortable accommodations – all at a higher price than their public counterparts.

With one of the most developed medical systems in Asia, Hong Kong offers both public and private medical treatment to anyone with a valid visa and ID card. While Hong Kong’s public healthcare system is undoubtedly well-run, its lower cost means long waiting times and a lack of privacy or comfort.

Most expats in Hong Kong prefer to spend a little extra to take advantage of the SAR’s exceptional private healthcare. In this Pacific Prime Hong Kong article, we’ll take an in-depth look at private hospital room charges in Hong Kong so you can get a better idea of costs and budget medical costs.

How Are Private Hospital Room Charges in Hong Kong Calculated?

Private hospital room charges in Hong Kong depend on the type of room. The more you pay for the room, the more you pay for the doctor – even though the services are exactly the same. To put it simply, doctor’s fees in Hong Kong correlate to the room type.

What Are the Differences Between Room Types?

When calculating costs for medical treatment, keep in mind that your room type will have a direct impact on all other fees. It’s important to ask your doctor what his or her medical fees are according to room type, including a private room, semi-private room, and ward.

Private Room

A private room is a room that you have all to yourself. The room comes with an en-suite restroom and unique perks depending on what you pay. What’s more, private rooms always provide companion beds, which are either included in the room fees or come at an additional cost.

Semi-private Room

A semi-private room is one that you share with another person. The two beds are typically partitioned by a curtain to keep your area private. Restrooms are also shared. Some hospitals allow a companion to stay overnight for an additional fee.

Ward

As the least expensive option, the ward is a large room that a number of patients who require similar treatment share. Wards in private hospitals in Hong Kong can accommodate anywhere between 3 to 14 patients. Curtains are often used to separate beds for privacy and restrooms are shared.

Companion beds are not available in this type of room.

What Kind of Room Does My Insurance Cover?

You have to be careful when being admitted to a private hospital since your insurance coverage may not include a private room. If you choose a private room when your coverage limits you to a semi-private or ward level, you will not be reimbursed completely and may have to pay additional fees.

Your insurance provider may cover all costs if you are involuntarily upgraded. However, they will require a written note from the hospital stating that all other room types were occupied.

What’s Excluded from Hospital Room Rates?

Private hospital room rates are exclusively for stays, which means they don’t include fees for a doctor consultation, surgical operations, and anesthesia. What’s more, hospital room rates exclude the cost of medicines, medical supplies, meals, and laboratory tests.

While what’s excluded from hospital room rates varies, these rates typically do not include the following:

• Doctor consultation fees
• Surgical operation fees
• Anesthesia fees
• Nursing procedures
• Laboratory tests
• Diagnostic procedures
• Physical therapy
• Medicines
• Meals
• Medical supplies
• Use of equipment
• Accommodation for a guardian

Be sure to take the additional costs into consideration when budgeting your inpatient stay, especially since your room type determines your medical costs.

Room Rates at Hong Kong’s Private Hospitals

With benefits like more comfort, more privacy, and shorter waiting times, private hospital rooms in Hong Kong come at a significantly higher cost. Fortunately, the pilot program was launched in Hong Kong in 2016 to enhance price transparency for private hospitals.

Featuring 12 private hospitals in Hong Kong, the program encourages hospitals and doctors to offer an estimated budget for planned procedures or operations. Some hospitals are now offering packages, such as Union Hospital, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, and Gleneagles Hospital.

The following table offers a comprehensive breakdown of the costs of private rooms, semi-private rooms, and wards at Hong Kong’s 12 private hospitals in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD).

Hong Kong’s Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS)

The Hong Kong government introduced the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) in April 2019 to help offset the high costs associated with the SAR’s private healthcare system. Certified by the Food and Health Bureau, the VHIS provides individual health insurance to Hong Kongers through two plans.

Comprising the “Standard Plan” and “Flexi Plan”, Hong Kong’s VHIS is available to Hong Kong residents from 15 days to 80 years old. Those considering switching to a VHIS policy should carefully compare VHIS and standard health insurance in Hong Kong, such as coverage options and renewability.

Choosing a VHIS Plan

In most cases, switching to a VHIS standard plan isn’t advisable if you already have a medical insurance policy since you probably won’t keep all of your old plan’s coverage items. With that said, the Flexi Plan could be a better fit since you can add benefit items based on your needs.

But if you aren’t a Hong Kong resident, then securing a comprehensive health insurance plan is your best bet to avoid hefty out-of-pocket hospital payments.

Securing the Best Hong Kong Health Insurance Policy

Hong Kong’s private hospital rooms don’t come cheap, but they certainly have their advantages. Whether you’re looking for more privacy or shorter waiting times, having the right health insurance policy in place gives you peace of mind that your medical needs can be met, without breaking the bank.

As a reputable health insurance broker with over 20 years of experience, Pacific Prime Hong Kong can help you find the right health insurance for your needs. Our team of experts knows the ins and outs of private and public healthcare sectors in Hong Kong and can offer impartial insurance advice.

Contact us for a free plan comparison today!

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Jantra Jacobs

Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime Hong Kong

Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.

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