【Hospital Admission Preparation】What to bring to hospital? Admission checklists, procedures and discharge information for public and private hospitals.

If you suddenly need to be admitted to hospital, apart from worrying about your condition, many people will immediately ask: “What should I bring to hospital?” and “What documents do I need to prepare?” Whether you are admitted to a public or private hospital, preparing your identification documents, admission documents, medication and insurance information in advance can help make the admission process smoother. In this article, the 10Life insurance comparison platform has compiled a hospital admission checklist, along with key points to note when being admitted to and discharged from public and private hospitals.
 

Before being admitted, you can use the checklist below to prepare the necessary documents and personal items. However, requirements may vary between hospitals, wards and treatments, so you should still prepare according to the hospital’s instructions before admission.

If you are taking long-term medication, in addition to bringing the medication, it is also advisable to prepare information such as the names of the medications, dosages and instructions for use, to help medical staff understand your medication regimen. Requirements may vary between hospitals and treatments, so you should check the hospital’s instructions and prepare accordingly before admission.

If you are an expectant mother being admitted to give birth, the items required will be different. You can refer to 10Life’s hospital bag checklist.

For a scheduled admission, such as for surgery or specified treatment, you will generally need to complete the admission procedures at the designated location on the date and time specified by the hospital.

Commonly required documents include:

• Hong Kong Identity Card or other valid identification
• Admission letter / appointment documents
• Referral letter (if applicable)
• Medications currently being taken and medication details
• Relevant medical or test reports (if required by the hospital)
• Proof of medical fee waiver or reduction (if applicable)

The documents required for children, non-Hong Kong residents or other specified individuals may differ. You should follow the hospital’s instructions.

For a scheduled admission, the attending doctor or hospital will generally provide an admission letter or relevant notification document specifying the admission date, time and location. The patient should follow the instructions in the document to complete the admission process. If the document is lost, the patient should first contact the hospital or attending doctor.

Hong Kong’s public healthcare charges will be adjusted from 1 January 2026. Taking “Eligible Persons” as an example:

Inpatient charges are calculated on a daily basis, with the cut-off time at midnight. Charges for non-Eligible Persons are higher; the actual fees should be based on the latest announcement by the Hospital Authority.

Public hospitals do not have a standardised fixed discharge time.

Doctors will determine whether patients are fit for discharge based on their condition and treatment progress. The ward will then arrange medication, discharge documents, follow-up appointments and other procedures.

When being discharged, you should generally remember to:

1. Collect your discharge medication
2. Obtain your discharge papers and medical documents
3. Confirm follow-up appointments or arrangements for further treatment
4. Request a sick leave certificate (if applicable)
5. If you have medical insurance, keep the documents required for making a claim

If your family needs to pick you up, you may enquire with the ward in advance about the approximate arrangements. However, the actual discharge time may still vary.

If a patient wishes to transfer from a public hospital to a private hospital, they generally need to confirm the receiving private hospital, attending doctor and bed arrangements first, and handle medical records, patient transport and the hospital admission deposit as necessary.

If they have medical insurance, they should also confirm before the transfer whether the selected hospital, doctor and ward class are covered, and whether pre-authorisation is required.

For more information about the differences between public and private healthcare, please refer to 10Life’s 【Hong Kong Healthcare System: How to Choose Between Public and Private Hospitals?】.

The basic preparations for admission to private and public hospitals are similar. However, as ward selection, admission deposits and medical insurance arrangements are involved, more financial and insurance matters usually need to be handled before admission.

You will generally need to prepare:

1. Proof of identity

For example, a Hong Kong Identity Card, passport or other identity documents accepted by the hospital.

2. Admission letter issued by a doctor

If you are scheduled to undergo surgery or treatment, your attending doctor will generally arrange the admission and provide the relevant documents.

3. Medical information and medicines currently being taken

This includes previous medical reports, test results, the names and dosages of medicines, and so on.

4. Medical insurance information

If you have medical insurance, you should bring your medical card, claim forms, and any pre-authorisation or letter of guarantee issued by the insurance company (where applicable).

5. Admission deposit

Private hospitals generally require patients to pay a deposit upon admission. The amount varies depending on the hospital, ward class, surgery and estimated medical expenses.

Staying in a private hospital, medical expenses usually involve more than just room charges.

Depending on the medical condition and treatment plan, the costs may include:

• Room charges
• Attending doctor’s ward round fees
• Surgical fees
• Anaesthetist’s fees
• Operating theatre charges
• Medication costs
• Laboratory and imaging examination fees
• Medical supplies
• Intensive care unit charges
• Physiotherapy or other allied health services
• Accompanying person’s accommodation charges
• Other hospital administration or treatment charges

Therefore, even when two patients stay in the same class of room, their final medical bills can differ significantly.

For non-emergency surgery or treatment, you can request an estimate of the medical costs from the hospital or attending doctor before admission to understand the expected doctor’s fees, hospital charges and other related expenses.

Please note that medical cost estimates are generally indicative only. The actual costs may be affected by factors such as the length of hospitalisation, changes in the medical condition, and any additional treatment or examinations.

Having medical insurance does not mean that all hospitalisation expenses can be reimbursed in full. Before admission, check the following:

The claim period for medical insurance is generally within 30 to 90 days after receiving medical treatment or discharge, but the requirements vary between policies. The terms of the individual policy shall prevail.

Preparing your documents, medication and personal belongings before admission can help make the admission process smoother. If you are admitted to a private hospital and have medical insurance, you should also find out in advance about the room class, excess, pre-authorisation and claims requirements, to avoid discovering upon discharge that the cover falls short of your expectations.

10Life compares the coverage, room classes and product features of different medical insurance and Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme plans. If you would like to understand your medical cover, you can compare different medical insurance plans, or contact a 10Life insurance adviser.

What should I bring for my first hospital admission?

Bring proof of identity, admission documents, medication and medical information, insurance details, and basic personal items.

What are the visiting hours at public hospitals?

Generally, from 12–1 pm and 6–8 pm.

What should I prepare if a family member is admitted to hospital?

Prepare the admission documents, medication, medical information, insurance details and daily necessities.

Can a family member make an insurance Claim on my behalf?

They can assist with the process, but some documents may need to be signed by the insured person.

Do I need to pay a deposit when being admitted to a private hospital?

Generally, yes. The amount depends on the hospital, room type, surgery and estimated medical expenses.

Does having medical insurance guarantee cashless discharge?

Not necessarily. There are generally requirements regarding designated hospitals, doctors, treatments and applications. You should confirm with the insurance company before admission.

Further reading:

• 【Children’s hospitalisation】Comparing paediatric ward charges and overnight companion arrangements at major private hospitals
• 24-hour clinics and evening outpatient services

Sources:

1. Hospital Authority: Public healthcare charges, admission and hospitalisation information
2. Insurance Authority: Points to note when making medical insurance claims

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.