Waiving of Medical Charges (For Eligible persons)

Introduction

It has always been the Government’s fundamental philosophy that no one will be denied adequate medical care due to lack of means. To ensure that this principle will continue to be upheld after the Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform in January 2026, the Hospital Authority (HA) has put in place a Medical Fee Waiving mechanism to provide assistance to needy patients.

 

Target group

The recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), Level 0 Voucher Holders of the Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV) Scheme for the Elderly¹ and Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) recipients aged 75 or above (including those recipients under the Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme)² under Social Welfare Department (SWD) will be waived from payment of public medical fees upon presentation of identity proof and claim their waiver eligibility status each time they register for consultation and their waiver status could be confirmed through online eligibility checking.

Other than the above recipients of social security schemes, to assist the three vulnerable groups in the community, i.e., the low income group, chronically ill patients and elderly patients who have little income or assets, the medical fee waiver mechanism is in place to provide them with effective protection from undue financial burden. The following guiding principles were taken into account when the waiver mechanism was enhanced in 2003: (1) Public funds should be channeled to the vulnerable groups and to services which carry major financial risks; (2) There should be a set of objective and transparent criteria to assess a patient’s eligibility for exemption from payment of public medical fees. At present, both financial and non-financial factors should be considered; and (3) The enhanced mechanism should facilitate accessibility to services, while maintaining low administrative and operating cost of the existing mechanism.

Patients who could not afford medical expense at the public sector can apply for a medical fee waiver at the Medical Social Services Units of public hospitals and clinics or the Integrated Family Service Centres*, the Family and Child Protective Services Units and other designated service units of SWD (the service units of SWD). Medical Social Workers or Social Workers of the service units of SWD (MSWs / SWs) or Executive Officers (EOs) of Designated Team would assess the application with due consideration given to the financial, social and medical condition of applicants on a household basis.

¹ With effect from March 2017, Level 0 Voucher Holders of the Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV) Scheme for the Elderly are also waived from payment of public medical fees.

² Starting from 15 Jul 2017, the Medical Fee Waiving for public medical fees has been extended to cover OALA recipients meeting the eligibility criteria and from 1 Jun 2018, the Medical Fee Waiving arrangement is also applicable to Higher OALA recipients aged 75 or above. After the merger of Normal OALA and Higher OALA on 1 Sep 2022, the Medical Fee Waiving is also applicable to OALA recipients aged 75 or above (including Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme).

Financial consideration

The eligibility assessment conducted by MSWs / SWs / EOs would be on a household basis. The definition of “household”, first is to determine whether the patient is a dependent member of the household or not. A dependent is defined as a person who is unmarried AND either (i) under 18 years old; or (ii) 18-25 years old receiving full-time education. A patient who does not fulfil the above requirements is classified as a non-dependent patient. The following table lists out the definitions of household and core family member:

Patient Type	Household and core family member definitions
Dependent patient	The patient, his / her parents3 / legal guardians, and dependent4 siblings living under the same roof
Non-dependent patient	If married5 – the patient, his / her spouse, and dependent4 children3 (but not parents / legal guardians or siblings) living under the same roof If unmarried – the patient would be treated as a single person household (irrespective of whether parents / legal guardians or siblings are living under the same roof)

When there is other family members who are living with the patient’s household and their basic necessity for living is maintained by patient’s household (e.g. the family member is an elderly who is dependent on patient’s household, or adult with no / low income and unable to sustain independent living; or individual unable to take care of oneself by reason of mental or physical condition, etc.), patient / applicant can include these dependent family members into the means test by providing their income, asset and expenditures information for assessment.

MSWs / SWs will have discretion to adjust the household size based on their professional judgment on a case-by-case basis in light of special familial factors or circumstances that warrant exceptional consideration⁶.

³Legally recognised adoptive parents/children or illegitimate children with proof of parentage are also included.
⁴A dependent is defined as a person who is unmarried AND either (i) under 18 years old; or (ii) 18-25 years old receiving full-time education.
⁵Including patient who is separated, divorced, undergoing legal proceedings to divorce or widowed.
⁶For example, MSWs may exclude a core household member from the financial assessment if he/ she leaves the home temporarily and stays oversea for study/ working holiday etc.

Patients who meet both of the following two financial criteria are eligible to apply for a medical fee waiver under the enhanced mechanism (patients who do not meet these criteria could provide other non-financial factors for the consideration of MSWs / SWs:

(a)

The patient's monthly household income does not exceed 150% of the Median Monthly Domestic Household Income (excluding foreign domestic helpers) (MMDHI) for 1-person household, or 100% of the MMDHI for household size ≥ 2, and

(b)

The value of the patient's household asset is within a prevailing asset limit in assessing eligibilities for applications for the Waiting List of Public Rental Housing (PRH) applicable to their household size. It should be noted that the first flat (self-owned or rented) resided in together by the patient's household will not be counted towards this asset limit, and households with elderly members will enjoy a higher asset limit than those without (taking into account the fact that most elderly citizens will no longer earn any income and have to depend on personal savings).

Median Monthly Domestic Household Income(excluding domestic helpers)(MMDHI)(HK Dollar)
By Household Size - 1^st Quarter 2026

Household Size	150% of the MMDHI	100% of the MMDHI	75% of the MMDHI
1	$15,450	-	$7,725
2	-	$24,200	$18,150
3	-	$40,200	$30,150
4	-	$55,100	$41,325
5 or above	-	$51,100	$38,325
Source: General Household Survey, Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR Government (The above figures were updated in May 2026 and subject to quarterly review)

Asset Limit for Waiving of Medical Charges (HK Dollar)

Household Size	Asset Limit (with no elderly member)	Asset Limit (with 1 elderly member)	Asset Limit (with 2 elderly members)
1	$295,000	$463,000	-
2	$400,000	$568,000	$736,000
3	$521,000	$689,000	$857,000
4	$608,000	$776,000	$944,000
5	$675,000	$843,000	$1,011,000
Note: The asset limit is raised by $168,000 for each elderly member (i.e. age ≥ 65) in the patient's family. Source: Housing Authority and Housing Department, HKSAR Government (The above figures were updated in April 2026 and subject to annual review)

Patients whose monthly household income is below 75% of the MMDHI applicable to their household size and pass the asset limit test will be considered for full waiving of medical fees at public hospitals / clinics.

There is a  Means Test Calculator  on the Medical Fee Waiving page of the HA’s website available for the patient / applicant to make a preliminary estimation of his / her household financial eligibility for Medical Fee Waiving; However, the result of the self-assessment is for reference only. To be eligible for assistance, the patient / applicant must submit a formal application and fulfil all of the above eligibility criteria including passing the financial assessment conducted by MSWs / SWs / EOs. In addition, when there are any changes in financial status of the patient’s household / CSSA status of the patient, the patient / the applicant can utilize the Means Test Calculator to check his / her eligibility regularly.

Non-financial consideration

MSWs / SWs would also consider the following non-financial factors, apart from the financial factors of household income and asset:

(a)	The patient's clinical condition as defined by the patient's frequency of use of different public medical services, and severity of illness;
(b)	Whether the patient is a disabled person, single parent with dependent children, or from other vulnerable groups;
(c)	Whether a medical fee waiver could provide incentive and support to solve the patient's family problems;
(d)	Whether a patient has any special expenses that make it difficult to pay for his/her medical fees at public hospitals/clinics; or
(e)	Other justifiable social factors.

MSWs / SWs would consider the above factors to ensure elderly or chronic patients who are frequent users of public medical services could obtain a medical fee waiver if needed. This list is not exhaustive and the MSWs / SWs will exercise discretion to grant waivers, where appropriate, to a patient with special difficulties (even if he/she fails to meet the financial criteria) on a case-by-case basis. The waiving mechanism and guidelines will be regularly reviewed to ensure needy patients of adequate medical care.

Validity period of waiving

A medical fee waiver granted by the MSWs / SWs / EOs after assessment will either be one-off or valid for a period of time. The MSWs / SWs / EOs have the discretion to decide the exact period based on a patient's actual needs and conditions with the longest period being eighteen months. For convenience of patients who frequently needs Specialist Out-patient (SOP) service, the MSWs / SWs / EOs may, based on individual patient’s condition, in advance grant medical fee waiver for SOP service. To make the system more user-friendly, the waiver issued by MSWs / SWs / EOs is applicable to not only the institution he / she is admitted, attends or obtains the waiver, but also other public institutions under the HA or the Department of Health that provide the same service, including in-patient service, out-patient services and community services etc.

When patient has an approved application (“first application”) with submission of document(s) for financial assessment, there is no need to submit financial documents for financial assessment for applying medical fee waiver within 18 months from the approval of first application, if the household’s financial conditions remain stable without significant changes affecting the waiver eligibility. Waiver may be granted up to 18 months from the approval date of the first application. If all related approved application(s) is / are under financial reassessment due to changes in patient’s household financial / composition status, post-approval check or other reasons, the above streamline arrangement may be terminated immediately without prior notice.

Application for a medical fee waiver

Patients who have financial difficulties in paying medical expenses could apply for Medical Fee Waiving. They can bring along original and copy of relevant documents as follows and approach Medical Social Services Units of public hospitals and clinics or the service units of SWD during office hours and submit the completed application form for assessment. Other persons may submit an application for the patient. Such other persons are, a parent / guardian on behalf of his / her child under the age of 18, a person duly authorized by the patient (need to submit the completed authorization letter), a guardian appointed under the Mental Health Ordinance, or any person may apply as the agent of the patient who is incapable / incompetent.

(a) Identity documents of patient / applicant / all family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment

• Hong Kong Identity Card / Passport / Travel document or other identity documents

(b) Proof of the patient and all family members who have been included in financial assessment to be living under the same roof

• Tenancy agreement of public housing unit

(c) Proof of household income from the patient and all family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment

• Employed persons:
  Bank passbooks, bank statements, salary statement, documents issued by employers for proving their income, Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme pay records, tax return statement or the notice of assessment, and other documentary proof of income (e.g. bonus / allowance / commission / part-time income / lump sum gratuity / monthly pension, etc.) for at least the past 6 months
  
• Self-employed / business operators:
  Profit & Loss Account, Tax return statement, income declaration, other proof of income
  
• Unemployed persons:
  Documentary proof of unemployment (e.g. termination letter, notification by an employer to an employee who is about to cease to be employed, medical proof, proof of enrollment in a full-time programme for study, proof of looking for jobs, etc.)
  
• Other income:
  Contribution (e.g. family / living expenses given / fees paid for family member by relative(s) and friend(s) not residing with the family), maintenance payments, rental income from e.g. property / land / carpark / vehicle / vessel, the regular payout provided under the annuity scheme / insurance policy / reverse mortgage, etc.

(d) Proof of household capital asset held or owned by patient and all family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment, including all assets under their names regardless of being individually or jointly held, in Hong Kong or outside Hong Kong

• Bank passbooks, bank statements, bank record of active / inactive / closed accounts for at least the past 6 months relating to all the individual and joint accounts⁷ including saving deposit, time deposit, club deposits, foreign currency deposit, investment, shares and securities services, current account, integrated account, Jockey Club betting account, etc.;
• Documentary proof of self-employed / business operators, e.g. Business Registration Certificate, balance sheet, company account statements, etc.;
• Documentary proof of annuity scheme / insurance policies with investment or saving element (e.g. investment-linked insurance policies, life insurance and annuity scheme), such as monthly statement or annual report;
• Documentary proof of annuity scheme / insurance policies with investment or saving element (e.g. investment-linked insurance policies, life insurance and annuity scheme), such as monthly statement or annual report;
• Documentary evidence of stock, shares, warrants, funds, bonds and other investments owned;
• Documents proof of the ownership of the properties (including properties under reverse mortgage) / land / parking spaces, e.g. Demand Notes for Rates, Demand Notes for Government Rent, mortgage repayment schedule, etc.;
• Screenshot of e-wallet account no., transaction records for the past 6 months and balance (e.g. PayMe / Alipay HK / WeChat Pay)
• Asset held in trust of others / asset entrusted to others / other assets (e.g. cheques in transit)

(e) Proof of household major expenses by patient and all family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment

• Documentary proof of mortgage payments, rental receipts, debit notes, bills of medical expenses, etc.

Patient with family members holding valid Medical Fee Waiving

For patients with family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment that holding valid medical fee waiver certificate, they are not required to go through a full financial assessment. The HA will refer to the financial data submitted at the time of application of household members and will only request patients to provide necessary or missing information based on actual circumstances. And the patients will receive a waiver with the same assistance level and validity end date. If all related approved application(s) is / are under financial reassessment due to changes in patient’s household financial / composition status, post-approval check or other reasons, the above streamline arrangement may be terminated immediately without prior notice.

For Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) Recipients aged 74 or below

OALA recipients aged 74 or below could submit supporting documents of OALA payment, exempting the submission of below documentary proof for financial assessment

Exempted submission of proofs	Including 1 OALA recipient	Including 2 OALA recipients
1-person Household	Exempt submission of asset proofs	N/A
2-person Household	Exempt submission of income proofs	Exempt submission of income and asset proofs

Remarks:

1. MSWs / SWs / EOs will base on the financial condition of at least past 6 months of patient and family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment for assessing the eligibility of medical fee waiver. According to individual case merit, the MSWs / SWs / EOs may request for other documents, and / or information on financial condition for more than past 6 months, make enquiries on transactions such as purpose of individual withdrawal / deposit transaction and the details of income / expenditure record etc., and / or contact the patient / his / her family member(s) / related parties for clarification, provision of additional documentary proof / explanation and verification of information when necessary in order to assess and calculate the financial condition of patient’s household.
   
2. During the application process, MSWs / SWs / EOs will request patient / applicant to re-submit all up-to-date information if the supporting document(s) provided is not up-to-date, or the information submitted are required to be updated.
   
3. If the financial / composition status of the patient’s household of the patient changes after the submission of the application or the provision of declaration, and during validity period of waiver which would affect the patient’s eligibility for medical fee waiver, the patient must notify the HA immediately and provide all relevant information to MSWs / SWs / EOs for financial reassessment as appropriate. Information includes but not limited to:

   	(i)		Change of employment status (including being employed, self-employed, change of job / resigning etc.)
   	(ii)		Change of income (actual monthly income / bonus / end of year payment / pension, or changes of amount to the aforementioned items etc.)
   	(iii)		Change of sources of financial resources (e.g. maintenance paid / financial contribution from family and friends / monthly compensation / compensation received on a regular basis, or changes of amount to the aforementioned items etc.)
   	(iv)		Change of family situation (e.g. change of number of family members living under the same roof, marital status etc.)
   	(v)		Change of assets (e.g. receipt of insurance compensation, changes of amount to bank accounts or other investment products etc.)

4. Applicant can also utilize the Means Test Calculator to preview his / her eligibility resulting from the above changes.
5. If the applicant authorized by patient for handling the application could not present original copy of identity document(s) of the patient / family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment, MSWs / SWs / EOs may consider to accept the copy of identity document(s) for application purpose, except situations where the original copy of identity document(s) of the patient / family members living under the same roof who have been included in financial assessment must be provided for verification of identity with other Department during the waiver application.
6. As application process takes time, the patient / applicant should approach MSWs / SWs / EOs to submit completed application form and provide all the necessary information as soon as possible. If the patient / applicant fails to submit the completed application form and provide all the necessary information within 30 calendar days from the date of request made by MSWs / SWs / EOs, the application could be cancelled without further notice.
7. The Medical Fee Waiving Mechanism provides a safety net for those needy patients. The patient / applicant and household member(s) must provide complete, accurate, up-to-date and true information to the HA / SWD for assessment. The HA established the Post-Approval Checking Mechanism that will periodically conduct checks on approved medical fee waiver applications to confirm accuracy of information provided.
8. Provision of incomplete, inaccurate, not up-to-date or false information (including the supporting data) by way of application or declaration may result in rejection of the application or withdrawal of waiving of medical fees (in whole or in part) if approved⁸ and / or criminal prosecution. In such circumstances, any medical fees waived prior to withdrawal shall be recoverable by the HA as a debt repayable on demand.
9. According to Gazette (G.N. 6792), administrative charge of 5% of the outstanding fee amount shall be imposed on the expiry of 60 days from the date of issuance of each bill, subject to a maximum charge of $1,000 for each bill. An additional administrative charge of a further 10% on the outstanding fees amount shall be imposed if the bills remain outstanding 90 days from issuance of the bills, subject to a maximum charge of $10,000 for each bill. Besides, as it takes time to proceed medical fee waiving application, if patient / applicant would like to submit a waiver application, he/she should approach MSWs / SWs / EOs as early as possible. Unless there are exceptional circumstances or justifiable reason, normally MSWs / SWs / EOs will not process the medical fee waiving application if the medical fees have already been overdue for or more than 3 months (from the billing date).
10. If patient / applicant disagrees with the application result, he / she has to lodge an appeal within four weeks after the notification of the application result by HA / SWD. Related enquiries can be made to the office which handles his / her application or the Patient Relations Officer of the concerned hospital.
11. If patient / applicant disagrees with the results of the Post-Approval Check, he / she has to lodge an appeal within four weeks after received the notification of the checking result by HA / the issuance date of notification letter of checking result (if applicable). Related enquiries can be made to the Patient Relations Officer of the concerned hospital7.

⁷In general, the balance in the joint account is equally divided among the account holders, unless documentary proof is provided on the division of assets
⁸8Including the MSWs / SWs’ discretionary consideration on the special social and financial factors / circumstances which was based on the declaration or supporting data provided by patient household / applicant at the time of application, maybe withdrawn due to provision of incomplete, inaccurate, not up-to-date or false information of patient’s household / applicant.

Enquiries

• Medical Social Services Units of public hospitals and clinics
• Integrated Family Service Centres* of SWD
• Family and Child Protective Services Units (FCPSUs) and other designated service units of SWD (applicable for cases being followed up by FCPSUs and other designated service units)

Post-Approval Checking Mechanism

In the application of medical fee waiving, applicants are required to provide complete, accurate, true and up-to-date information to MSWs / SWs / EOs for assessment and verification. In order to maintain integrity of the medical fee assistance systems and avoid these systems from being abused, the HA established Investigation Section (Fee Assistance Application) in March 2007 (renamed as Medical Fee Assistance Section in 2008) for the purposes of:

• preventing and detecting the occurrence of fraud and abuse of Medical Fee Waiving, Samaritan Fund and Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes
• taking appropriate action against suspect who commits deception relating offence

To accomplish the purposes, a Post-Approval Checking Mechanism has been put in place at hospital clusters and the HA Head Office to conduct:

• in-depth investigation on suspected fraud cases of Medical Fee Waiving, Samaritan Fund or Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes
• regular checks of approved cases selected on random basis
• checking of cases with high risk factors for fraud and abuse
• data matching within HA, with Government Department, bank, employer and other parties

Medical fee assistance demands your honesty

Medical Fee Waiving, Samaritan Fund and Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes are provided only for needy patients. The Checking Units of the Hospital Authority conduct checks on approved applications regularly. The patient / applicant and household member(s) must provide complete, accurate, true and up-to-date information and has to report to the HA / SWD any changes in the particulars in the application within the validity period of the financial assistance.

Don't break the law

Acquiring Medical Fee Waiving by deception is a Criminal Offence. In addition to the consequence of being ineligible for the Medical Fee Waiving, the patient/ applicant/ patient's household member(s) shall be liable on conviction upon indictment to imprisonment of 10 years under the Theft Ordinance (Chapter 210 of the Laws of Hong Kong).

Information Pamphlet

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Video

Waiving of Medical Charges

Video 1: Knowing More about Medical Fee Assistance	Video 2: Medical Fee Assistance – What you need to know about the post-approval checking process
Duration : 04:04min	Duration : 04:15min

HA Go – ‘Medical Fee Assistance’ Mobile Application Introduction (HA Go > Home > Features > Payment-related > Pay HA)


Hospital Authority
May 2026
(with MMDHI figures updated in May 2026)

*Integrated Family Service Centres operated by subvented non-governmental organizations do not provide medical fee waiver application services.