Medical insurance reforms could hit the healthy with higher premiums, industry claims
People who make few claims will subsidise chronic patients and may even quit scheme
The insurance industry fears frequent claims by chronic patients may push up all premiums for the government's proposed voluntary health insurance scheme, representatives claim.
Under reforms that went to public consultation on Monday, even residents with pre-existing health conditions will be guaranteed acceptance by private health insurance policies. Patients would be reimbursed 25 per cent of the treatment cost in the second year of insurance, half in the third year and the full cost from the fourth year onwards.
The government has earmarked HK$4.3 billion over 25 years in subsidies for high-risk patients, and HK$256 million annually for tax rebates.
Currently, most private health insurance policies do not cover pre-existing illness. Insurance companies may also increase an individual's premium if they have claimed higher medical expenses.
While the reforms may prove popular with chronic patients, Chan Kin-por, a lawmaker representing the insurance sector, said he was worried that healthy people could be hit with higher premiums and could even quit the insurance scheme.
"According to the proposal, if [relatively] few people have higher reimbursements, the cost will be spread to others. Premiums for everyone will rise," Chan told RTHK radio.