Press Release

Elderly Health Care Voucher annual amount doubled

5 June 2014

The Department of Health (DH) today (June 5) announced that the voucher amount of the Elderly Health Care Voucher (EHV) Scheme has been increased from the current level of $1,000 to $2,000 per year for every eligible elderly person, and the additional amount of $1,000 for 2014 will be released to each eligible elderly person's eHealth account on June 7.

The EHV Scheme was introduced on a pilot basis in 2009 and was converted into a recurrent support programme on January 1, 2014.

Under the Scheme, local residents aged 70 or above are eligible to receive Health Care Voucher annually for subsidising their use of private primary care services. The annual voucher amount for each eligible elder was increased to $1,000 in 2013.

"In January 2014, the annual voucher amount of $1,000 has been released to all relevant eHealth accounts. With the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2014, the additional amount of $1,000 for the year 2014 will be deposited to elders' eHealth accounts starting from June 7," a spokesman for the DH remarked.

Under the Scheme, eligible elders can accumulate any unspent vouchers for use in subsequent years, subject to a financial ceiling of $3,000. Upon the increase of the annual voucher amount from $1,000 to $2,000 this year, the financial ceiling on unspent vouchers will be adjusted from $3,000 to $4,000.

Members of the public may visit the Scheme's website (This link will open in a new windowwww.hcv.gov.hk) or call the enquiry hotline (2838 2311) for more information.