In this file photo dated March 29, 2022, an elderly couple shops in a market in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / AFP)

With effect from Friday, over 950,000 Hong Kong elderly persons aged 65 and over can share-use health care vouchers with their spouse.

They can also use electronic consent to replace the previous paper consent form when using the voucher. Whenever their voucher balance has been used by spouse, they will also receive a real-time message notification.

Seniors can only use the voucher balance in their spouses’ account, once their own voucher account balance has been used up. When using the spouse’s voucher, they are also required to provide a copy of the identification card of the spouse for verification, according to the Department of Health.

At present, the annual voucher amount for each eligible elderly person in Hong Kong is HK$2,000 ($256.46) while the accumulation limit of vouchers is HK$8,000.

Seniors can only use the voucher balance in their spouses’ account, once their own voucher account balance has been used up. When using the spouse’s voucher, they are also required to provide a copy of the identification card of the spouse for verification, according to the Department of Health

Elderly couples can pair up their voucher accounts by jointly visiting any medical health service provider which participates in the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme.

During the registration process, they are not required to provide any documentary proof of spousal relationship, but need to declare their spousal relationship verbally and give consent to share-use their vouchers. 

When necessary, they may be required to provide supporting documents later for verification. Having paired their accounts, they will not need to register again for using the spouse’s vouchers.

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The government will conduct regular or sampling checks to verify the spouses’ relationship. Making a false declaration is a criminal offence and offenders are liable to a fine or imprisonment upon conviction.

A spokesman for the Department of Health stressed that in share-using vouchers between spouses, elderly persons must consider their own needs and should fully communicate with their spouse.

Moreover, vouchers cannot be used solely for purchasing goods, medication, medical equipment and products, or redeemed for cash.

When necessary, they may be required to provide supporting documents later for verification. Having paired their accounts, they will not need to register again for using the spouse’s vouchers

The spokesman also cautioned couples to beware of scams, noting that officials and healthcare service providers will not ask for any bank account details of the elderly persons via phone calls or messages, nor will they ask the elderly persons to click on any website links.

The Department of Health has held 10 briefing sessions from July 19 to 24 to explain the relevant measures to healthcare service providers.

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Raymond Ho Lei-ming, the assistant director of health (elderly health) under the Department of Health, speaking on a radio program on Wednesday, said that if necessary, the elderly concerned will be contacted to provide identity proof to confirm their spousal relationship. For example, if the user's marital status changes several times within one year, the department will follow up.

He also said that under this scheme, the Department of Health would step up data analysis and random spot checks and keep monitoring abnormal transactions, media reports, and complaints. He gave an example that if many couples suddenly requested medical services in the same place, officials will investigate whether there are abnormalities.

Mike Wong contributed to the story.