Hong Kong’s private hospitals are known for their state-of-the-art equipment and leading client care.
Because of that high quality of care, they are also known for high prices. Routine delivery costs and packages can vary from anywhere between US$6,000 and US$25,000.
To avoid this cost, you may plan to use a public hospital for your delivery.
However, due to the influx of expats and Chinese nationals, the strain on maternity departments is huge. You need to book your delivery bed as soon as you get pregnant — and even then there is no guarantee that beds will not be fully booked. In that case you will have to go private.
To try to ease the pressure on the public healthcare system, the Hong Kong government introduced a mandatory pricing structure for foreign mothers wishing to give birth at local hospitals.
Foreign nationals who do not have a permanent ID card must pay a booking fee of US$5,000 for a three-day, two-night maternity package.
So, whether you go public or private for your delivery, there is a large out-of-pocket expense. That shows the need for insurance coverage if you are planning on having a child in Hong Kong.
Coverage limits and waiting periods
Coverage limits vary greatly from one insurer to another. Some have very low limits of around US$6,000, whereas some have much higher limits of around US$26,000.
It is worth comparing plans and their maternity benefits so you can find the right coverage and price for you.
Maternity options also have something called a waiting period — the amount of time you must wait before you can claim for any costs.
Maternity costs for insurers are very high. Insurers use waiting periods so that people do not take out a maternity plan for a year, claim as much as they can, and cancel once the baby has been born.
Waiting periods on the maternity option are typically between 8 and 12 months. Therefore, any costs incurred in the first 8–12 months of your plan relating to maternity usually cannot be claimed.
What will be covered?
Maternity plans usually provide cover for:
- Normal delivery
- Complications of delivery
- Pre- and post-natal treatments and examinations
- Hospital or home delivery
- Medically necessary C-sections
You should always read the benefits table carefully to know exactly what is covered under the plan.
You do not want to be liable for unexpected costs because of specific policy exclusions.
Planning a family in Hong Kong? Use our free comparison to review maternity benefits, limits, and waiting periods across expat health plans.