Hospital Admission Guide: Everything You Need to Know for Public and Private Hospitals

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Public hospital inpatient charges¹

Public hospital inpatient charges for one night range from HK$120 to HK$6,650. In addition to inpatient fees, other common public hospital services such as Accident and Emergency Department visits cost HK$180 per attendance; inpatient fees (acute bed) are HK$75 for admission and HK$120 per day; inpatient fees (convalescent/rehabilitation, infirmary and psychiatric beds) are HK$100 per day; while specialist out-patient clinics (including allied health clinics) charge HK$80.

Government hospital admission preparation²

Admission Procedures : Supporting Documents and Admission Form

Before admission, patients should first go to the hospital admission registration office to complete the relevant admission procedures and provide the following documents:

Admitted person	Proof documents
Hong Kong resident	Hong Kong Identity Card or passport
Hong Kong resident under 11 years old	Hong Kong birth certificate Identity card of father or mother
Non-Hong Kong resident whose spouse is a Hong Kong resident	Spouse’s Hong Kong Identity Card Marriage certificate Valid travel document
Born outside Hong Kong and under 11 years old, with father or mother being a Hong Kong resident	Birth certificate or document stating the name of father or mother Identity card of father or mother
Hospital Authority staff member or their family member Retired Hospital Authority staff member or their family member	Hong Kong Identity Card
Civil servant or their family member Retired civil servant or their family member	Revised G.F. 181 Revised T.R.Y. 447 Hong Kong Identity Card
Recipients of public assistance	Valid Medical Fee Waiver Certificate Hong Kong Identity Card

Discharge Information

Transfer Arrangements

The Hospital Authority provides medical services to patients through hospital clusters. Depending on the progression of the illness, doctors will arrange for patients to be transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in a timely manner so that they can continue to receive the necessary treatment.

Discharge Procedures

Patients should complete the discharge procedures with ward staff. If they are experiencing financial difficulties, they may contact a nurse or the hospital social worker for assistance.

Public hospital waiting time³

The specialist out-patient clinics at public hospitals have implemented a triage system to ensure that patients with urgent conditions who require early treatment can receive follow-up care and treatment as a priority. Newly referred cases are usually first screened by nurses and then reviewed by the relevant specialist doctors, before being classified into urgent, semi-urgent and stable cases. Waiting times also vary accordingly. Taking non-urgent cataract surgery as an example, according to information on the HA website, the median waiting time for patients in Kowloon Central is 31 months, meaning they have to wait about two and a half years for surgery, the longest among all districts³.

In-patient charges at major private hospitals

Generally speaking, inpatient charges at private hospitals can reach several thousand Hong Kong dollars per day, and with various medical examinations and surgical fees included, the total cost may amount to several hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars.

Main private hospital charges list

Hospital	General ward		Semi-private room		Private room
	Room (HKD)	Deposit (HKD)	Room (HKD)	Deposit (HKD)	Room (HKD)	Deposit (HKD)
Hong Kong Island
養和	$1,300 – $1,900	$4,000	$2,800 – $3,800	$6,000	$4,600 – $6,800	$20,000
聖保祿醫院	$760 –$900	$10,000 – $70,000	$1,380 – $1,480	$15,000 – $90,000	$3,800 – $6,800	$30,000 – $90,000
港安醫院	$900	$20,000 – $60,000	$2,300 – $2,800	$40,000 – $70,000	$3,900	$60,000 – $80,000
港怡	$1,000 – 1,200	$30,000 –$60,000 （or 70% of the estimated total charges, whichever is higher）	$2,000 – $2,950	$40,000 – $80,000 （or 70% of the estimated total charges, whichever is higher）	$4,600 – $9,800	$50,000 – $100,000 （or 70% of the estimated total charges, whichever is higher）
嘉諾撒	$800 – 1,200	$30,000 - $50,000	$2,600 – $2,800	$50,000 – $80,000	$4,200	$70,000 – $100,000
明德國際	$900	$20,000 （or 50% of the estimated total charges, whichever is higher）	$1,990	$20,000 （or 50% of the estimated total charges, whichever is higher）	$3,300	$20,000 （or 50% of the estimated total charges, whichever is higher）
Kowloon
浸會	$850 – $1,020	$6,000 – $50,000	$1,900-$2,320	$12,000 – $70,000	$3,800–$4,680	$20,000 – $70,000
播道	$830 – $1,020	$6,000	$1,280 – $1,920	$10,000	$2,350	$15,000
寶血	$850	$6,000 – $30,000	$1,180 – $1,580	$8,000 – $30,000	$2,100	$10,000 – $30,000
聖德肋撒（法國醫院）	$610 – $800	$10,000	$1,050 – $1,750	$20,000	$2,100 – $4,100	$30,000
New Territories
仁安	$600 – $950	$6,000 – $30,000	$1,080 –$2,000	$6,000 – $30,000	$2,500 – $8,000	$20,000 – $30,000
荃灣港安	$1,000 – $1,250	$10,000 – $15,000	$2,500	$20,000	$3,500	$30,000

Other charges at private hospitals include physiotherapy fees, medication fees, intensive care unit charges, accompanying stay policies and accompanying stay fees, all of which vary depending on the hospital and ward type. In addition, some private hospitals state that their inpatient charges do not include meals, so patients should also make sure they understand this clearly before admission.

Preparing for Admission to a Private Hospital

To ensure a smooth admission and receive the best medical care, it is essential to prepare in advance.

Bring all required documents

When being admitted to hospital, the following documents are required:

1. Hong Kong Identity Card / passport / other identity document

The hospital will require a valid identity document as proof of the patient’s identity.

2. Admission letter issued by a doctor

The attending doctor will arrange the patient’s admission and provide an admission letter. Be sure to bring this document.

3. Identity card / passport of a family member or guarantor

If the patient is a minor, the identity document of a family member or guarantor is required.

4. Medical insurance card / insurance claim form

If you have medical insurance, remember to bring the relevant insurance card or claim form so that the hospital can process the insurance settlement.

5. Admission deposit or letter of guarantee

Upon admission, the patient is required to pay a deposit, the amount of which depends on the chosen room. A letter of guarantee issued by an employer or insurance company may also be provided.

Prepare personal belongings

In addition to the required documents, the person being admitted should also prepare some personal items for use during the hospital stay:

1. Underwear, pyjamas and a dressing gown

It is recommended to choose a front-opening style of pyjamas for easier examinations.

2. Closed-toe slippers

To make it easier to move around the hospital, non-slip slippers are recommended.

3. Toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, towel and other daily toiletries.

4. Other personal items

Such as glasses, hearing aids, personal medication, mobile phone charger, etc.

In addition, if the patient is a child, you may also bring along some familiar toys to make the hospital stay more comfortable.

Insurance Claims Notes

Before admission

1. Notify your insurance broker in advance to clarify the scope of cover

You should first enquire with your insurance adviser to understand the policy’s scope of cover and the claims process. Many medical insurance plans on the market promote a “cashless discharge” service, meaning that upon admission you only need to bring your insurer’s medical card, avoiding much of the paperwork. However, this service is usually limited to network doctors and hospitals, and you must apply to the insurer in advance by the specified working day deadline.

In addition, some hospitalisation medical insurance plans include a “deductible” (also known as “excess”), which is the portion of medical expenses the policyholder must bear themselves. This may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the eligible costs for specified covered items, depending on the product design. After deducting the deductible, the insurer will reimburse the remaining medical expenses according to the plan’s scope of cover and limits. Therefore, before admission, you must clarify the scope of cover with your insurance broker to avoid disputes.

2. Download or request the hospitalisation claims form from your insurance broker

Request the relevant hospitalisation claims form from your insurance broker. These forms usually require detailed records of the illness, diagnosis, treatment plan and other information.

3. Ask the doctor to complete the hospitalisation claims form

Ask the attending doctor to help complete the hospitalisation claims form, with the hospital stamp⁴ attached.

At discharge

1. Keep all original hospital receipts
2. Keep copies of the medical report/lab report⁴
3. Keep the doctor’s and hospitalisation certificate
4. If admitted to a public hospital, keep the discharge summary stating the diagnosis in detail and the sick leave certificate⁴

After discharge

1. Submit the hospitalisation claims form within the insurance claims deadline

The claims deadline for medical insurance is usually 30 to 90 days after discharge or surgery, depending on the insurer’s policy⁴.

Will I need to declare my current health condition when purchasing insurance next time?

When taking out medical insurance, the policyholder must act in accordance with the principle of “utmost good faith”⁵. This means that when providing health information, the policyholder must truthfully and accurately disclose all material facts, including past medical history and physical condition. If any material facts are concealed or falsely declared, this may affect the insurer’s underwriting decision and, in turn, future medical claims.

According to the Insurance Authority, if the policyholder breaches the principle of “utmost good faith”, the insurer is entitled to refuse compensation on the ground that the policyholder failed to disclose material facts, regardless of whether those facts are directly related to the illness giving rise to the claim. Therefore, policyholders must act in accordance with the principle of “utmost good faith” and honestly declare their health conditions to ensure they can receive the protection to which they are entitled in the future.

10Life, as a Hong Kong insurance comparison platform, has introduced a scoring system designed by actuaries to compare different insurance products fairly, enabling consumers to choose the most suitable insurance product. Check outCompare hospital medical insurance (semi-private room) andCompare hospital medical insurance (private room) to learn more.

Further reading:
Eye-watering self-funded drug charges? Learn more about the public hospital drug formulary in this article

Sources:

1. Hospital Authority : Medical charges

2. Hospital Authority : Admission and inpatient information

3. Hospital Authority : Waiting time for new specialist outpatient cases,cataract surgery appointment

4. Insurance Authority: Claims tips

5. IFPHK: Utmost good faith

Note: This article was last updated on 4 July 2024.

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.

Last updated: 7 Aug 2026

10Life Editorial Team

Our team of professional content researchers focussing on insurance

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10Life Editorial Team

Our team of professional content researchers focussing on insurance

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Table of Content

[Hospital Admission Guide] What to prepare for admission to public and private hospitals at a glance

Public hospital inpatient charges¹

Government hospital admission preparation²