Public emergency departments will introduce a new $400 visit fee starting January 1, 2026, while simultaneously expanding financial protections for low-income residents, health officials announced Tuesday.
The fee increase from the current $180 flat rate comes with significant reforms designed to shield vulnerable populations from escalating medical costs, according to Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau.
Critical and emergency cases will continue to receive treatment at no charge, with officials emphasizing that additional revenue will be reinvested directly into public hospital services.
In a strategic overhaul, the city will introduce a “co-payment model” for specialized medical tests, charging patients between $50 and $500 for complex pathology and non-urgent imaging procedures.
Permanent Secretary for Health Thomas Chan highlighted a crucial component of the reform: an expanded medical waiver system that dramatically increases eligibility.
“We expect the number of potentially qualifying low-income individuals to jump from 300,000 to 1.4 million,” Chan said. The new guidelines will consider up to 150% of median household income and align asset limits with public housing application standards.
A novel annual spending cap of $10,000 will provide an additional safety net, with any medical expenses exceeding that threshold automatically waived.
The reforms aim to balance financial sustainability with equitable healthcare access, targeting a delicate intersection of economic pragmatism and social welfare.
The changes take effect on January 1, 2026, giving residents and healthcare providers time to prepare for the new system.
