The Government's "Elderly Health Care Voucher Reward Pilot Scheme" will be launched on November 13 for a period of three years. Eligible elders who have used $1,000 or more of health care vouchers for specific primary health care services in the same year will automatically be issued with $500 bonus health care vouchers.

Uncle Chau is an elderly living alone and receives health care vouchers. As he grows older, his health care expenses will increase. At present, health care vouchers only give $2,000 per year to each eligible elderly person. As Uncle Chau is frail and sickly, his medical expenses are getting higher and higher, so the vouchers of only $2,000 per year are not enough to cover his medical expenses. The additional medical expenses are a burden to Uncle Chau and he is worried about it.

Uncle Chau's big medical expenses $2,000 a year in health care vouchers is not enough

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"I am 69 years old and a retiree. I have been living in a public housing unit in the Eastern District of Hong Kong and I live alone. My children are married and have their own families, so I know it is not easy for them. I can only rely on myself and try my best to make ends meet.

However, in recent years, my immunity has deteriorated and I easily catch a cold or flu. I have to see a doctor all the time and each time I have to pay at least a few hundred dollars, which is a very big burden. Although the government has issued health care vouchers for the elderly and I get $2,000 a year, the money is not enough for me to use it, and I haven't counted the other expenses such as dental check-ups, eye examinations, etc. I don't want to ask my children for help, so I try my best to be frugal. I don't want to ask my son or daughter for help, so I try my best to be frugal and sometimes I don't even go to the doctor to endure the pain. I was worried.

We learnt from the staff of Sunyu that an additional $500 would be paid for the health care vouchers.

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It was not until I met a staff member of Shun Yu that he introduced me to a new program recently launched by the government, called the Elderly Health Care Voucher Reward Pilot Program. He said that the program encourages the elderly to use health care vouchers for specific primary health care services, such as disease prevention, chronic disease management, and dental checkups. If I use $1,000 or more of vouchers for these services in the same year, I will automatically receive a $500 voucher reward.

However, the voucher reward of $500 does not include optometric services and is valid until December 31 of the following year, after which it will be void. He also said that as long as I have received the voucher, I can automatically participate in the program and do not need to apply for it.

I will make good use of the healthcare vouchers and rewards, and I hope the Government will continue to launch such programs to help more elderly people, so that we can have a healthy and happy life in our twilight years."

Four specific primary care services under the scheme

1️⃣ Disease prevention, follow-up, or monitoring services for chronic diseases provided by Chinese, Western, and Dental doctors participating in the voucher program, such as health assessments, physical exams, screenings, vaccinations, chronic disease management, dental checkups, cleanings, extractions, and fillings, etc.

2️⃣ Chronic Disease Co-Management Pilot Program hypertension and diabetes screening, and treatment phase services

3️⃣ Individualized Services and Community Rehabilitation Programs at District Wellness Centers or District Wellness Stations

4️⃣ Outpatient services for disease prevention, follow-up or monitoring of chronic diseases at 11 designated clinics of the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital (HKSZH) and its affiliated health service centers

Remarks: Rewards can only be used for the above four specific service categories, excluding optical services.

If you or any of your elderly friends have any problems in their daily lives, please contact us at Sunyu and we will be happy to serve as a support for the elderly. For details of the Elderly Health Care Voucher Reward Pilot Program, please click the link below:

Elderly Health Care Voucher Reward Pilot Scheme