Blue Cross upgrades medical plan as Hong Kong healthcare costs rise

Medical trend rate in the city is projected to hit 10.5% this year.

Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited has rolled out an upgraded version of its Caring Medical Protection Plus plan, targeting existing group medical insurance members as employers face mounting pressure over rising healthcare costs.

The upgraded plan lets employees insured under Blue Cross group schemes top up their coverage and extend it to spouses and children, whilst preserving continuity of protection through job changes or retirement.

Hong Kong's medical trend rate is projected to hit 10.5% this year, according to Health Trends 2026.

Separate research from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University puts the average group medical insurance premium per employee above HK$10,000 this year, underscoring the cost squeeze on businesses.

Beyond Basic Hospital and Surgical Benefits, it adds three optional benefits including Outpatient, Dental, and a newly introduced Supplementary Medical Benefit, covering general practitioner and specialist consultations, Chinese medicine, physiotherapy, and dental procedures such as fillings and extractions.

Reimbursement for eligible expenses under the Supplementary Medical Benefit, non-network outpatient care, and dental treatment stands at 80%, leaving members to cover the remaining 20%.

Select Optional Outpatient Benefit tiers waive network co-payments entirely when members use in-network providers.

Existing Blue Cross group members who enrol in Caring Medical Protection Plus between now and 31 December 2026 qualify for Enrolment Rewards+, such as premiums discounted up to 19% and a temporary waiver of the standard enrolment period.