Gov't to raise public accident, emergency fees to $400 in 2026

A new “co-payment model” will also be introduced.

Public accident and emergency (A&E) fees will rise to $400 per visit from 1 January 2026, up from the current $180, the Hong Kong government announced on Tuesday.

Patients in critical and emergency conditions will continue to receive free treatment. Health Secretary Professor Lo Chung-mau said the fee hike will help sustain public healthcare, with all additional revenue reinvested into hospital services.

A new “co-payment model” will also be introduced, charging patients $50 to $500 for non-urgent imaging and pathology tests. Medical expenses will be capped at $10,000 per patient annually.

The government will also expand the medical waiver system to cover more low-income residents. Permanent Secretary for Health Thomas Chan said income and asset limits for eligibility will be significantly relaxed, allowing the number of people who qualify for waivers to increase from 300,000 to 1.4 million.

The income threshold will be set at 100% of the median monthly household income for families of two or more, and 150% for single-person households.

Currently, recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) for those aged 75 and above are already eligible for full waivers.

For those not covered by the waiver, the new $10,000 annual spending cap will apply.

“If the amount of (medical) fees that you need to pay exceeds $10,000 for the whole year, anything in excess of $10,000 will be waived," said  Chan. "This is to provide another protection for all Hong Kong citizens who may or may not be eligible to apply for medical waivers.”