'Voluntary Insurance Won't Help Poor, Old Or Sick'

A concern group said on Monday that the government's new voluntary health insurance scheme is a good start when it comes to regulating the private market, but it won't benefit the elderly, people living in poverty, or even those who are sick.

Tim Pang, from the Patients' Rights Association, said 1.3 million people living with chronic illnesses, 1.4 million poor people and 1.2 million elderly people will not be able to afford the premiums and will have to continue to rely on the public healthcare system.

"Even with this voluntary healthcare plan, the government should continue to support all these people's healthcare needs through the public healthcare system," he told RTHK's Janice Wong.

Pang said it was surprising that the average premium for standard plans under the scheme offered by various companies has come in at HK$4,000 per year, below earlier estimates from the government.

He also warned that people could find the cost of some treatments, including surgery and cancer care, are not fully covered under these standard plans.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairwoman of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, Elaine Chan, said premiums are unlikely to shoot up dramatically in coming years.

Chan said that while prices will inevitably increase, competition in the market will keep the rises in check.