On November 10, Manulife Life Insurance (International) Co., Ltd. ("Manulife Hong Kong") and Ant Health jointly announced the launch of a new cross-border medical support service for eligible Manulife Hong Kong customers. Manulife Hong Kong has also become the first insurance company in Hong Kong to cooperate with Ant Health to provide cross-border medical direct payment.

It is understood that eligible customers in Manulife Hong Kong can activate the electronic "medical insurance card" provided by Ant Health on AlipayHK, search for designated hospitals, and arrange outpatient treatment through the 24-hour appointment hotline. If the doctor recommends designated treatment, such as hospitalization, day surgery or outpatient cancer treatment, the customer can apply for the cross-border commercial insurance direct payment service - eligible medical expenses will be settled directly by the insurance company with the hospital.

In the past, insurance customers who were interested in seeking medical treatment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area often needed to follow up through different channels one by one, from searching for suitable hospitals, making appointments, applying for pre-approval, and processing payments. The new service integrates these key links, allowing customers to more easily grasp relevant arrangements, thereby enjoying a smoother, more convenient, clearer and more transparent cross-border medical treatment experience.

Li Xuming, chief health director of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, said, "As customers' needs are no longer limited to traditional protection, we are committed to creating more coherent health solutions, allowing customers to more easily obtain the medical services they need and control the entire medical treatment process. Now more and more customers live, work or travel in Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, and expect medical support The service can match their lifestyle. As the first insurance company in Hong Kong to launch cross-border medical direct payment services with Ant Health, we combine insurance, medical services and digital innovation to simplify the cross-border medical treatment process for customers. This cooperation fully reflects Manulife’s commitment to becoming a trusted health partner and helping them obtain cross-border medical services more securely and conveniently.”

This service combines Manulife Hong Kong's insurance expertise, Ant Health's digital service capabilities and hospital network ecosystem, as well as the convenience of AlipayHK App, to meet the medical needs of eligible Manulife Hong Kong customers in Hong Kong and mainland China, including people who frequently travel between the two places, as well as Hong Kong retirees living in the Greater Bay Area.

Zhang Junjie, Vice President of Ant Group and President of Ant Health Business Group, said: "The deep integration of medical insurance and health services is a general trend, which will help improve customers' medical experience and overall health level. By deepening our cooperation with Manulife Hong Kong, we look forward to bringing more convenient and warm cross-border health services to customers, achieving the long-term goal of 'making medical treatment easier and making life healthier', and contributing to the construction of a 'Healthy Bay Area'."

AlipayHK Commercial Director Tang Yu-chang said: "AlipayHK is committed to bringing together various services that people need in daily life through its trusted one-stop service platform. This cooperation further enhances the convenience of services and simplifies the payment process. From searching for a suitable doctor in the Greater Bay Area Customers can enjoy a smoother digital cross-border medical treatment experience from visiting hospitals, arranging appointments, and checking pre-approval application status through the platform. This not only makes it easier for the public to obtain medical services, but also promotes the further digitization of important daily services for Hong Kong citizens to live, work and stay healthy in the Greater Bay Area.”

According to reports, eligible Manulife Hong Kong customers can find suitable hospitals and specialists and arrange outpatient treatment through the 24-hour appointment hotline. If the attending doctor recommends receiving qualified treatment, the customer can present the electronic "medical insurance card" for the hospital to scan to verify the commercial insurance identity and confirm the willingness to apply for direct payment. The hospital will assist customers to fill in the pre-approval application form and submit it to Manulife Hong Kong. Customers can check the pre-approval application status through AlipayHK before receiving treatment. Subject to pre-approval and confirmation by Manulife Hong Kong, eligible medical expenses can be settled with designated hospitals through direct payment service.

This new service is based on the cooperation memorandum signed between Manulife Asia and Ant Health in September 2026. The two parties will explore different options to make it easier for customers to find, obtain and pay for medical services. The launch of new services marks further progress in the cooperation between the two parties. Manulife Hong Kong and Ant Health will also continue to explore more cooperation opportunities to further enhance customers’ cross-border medical treatment experience.

Leifeng.com (Official account: Leifeng.com) Leifeng.com

edit

Resend Email Modify Email