Month: December 2020

21Dec

Projected Changes in Hong Kong Healthcare in Relation to COVID-19

Several vaccines have been approved and it’s only a matter of time before it’s administered to Hong Kong residents.

The Hong Kong government plans to provide free coronavirus vaccines for all its residents as stated by Health Secretary Sophia Chan last December 2nd while the country experiences the 4th wave of infections.

Who will get it first?

Sec. Chan told the Legislative Council that vaccines will be administered first to three million volunteers who are considered most at-risk or vulnerable– which includes public medical workers, patients with chronic diseases and the elderly.

One important note to remember is that Hong Kong residents will have to regularly receive COVID-19 vaccines annually which means the healthcare system will have to adjust to this demand. Here are the changes we think we could see next year:

  1. Fast-tracked Healthcare Reform

China has been revamping its health system since 1996 but the outbreak slowed down their target of reaching the deadline this year. However, plans and pivots have been made as the virus wanes and vaccines are approved

Fast reforms are expected to be implemented in areas such as:

– Strengthening of the primary care system and integration with public health crisis management system

– Sustainability and affordability of social medical insurance funds that involves price control through national acquirement and negotiation on medicines, devices and high-value consumables.

– Public hospital reform with the objective to increase efficiency

– Increase in salary and compensation packages for hospital healthcare staff

  1. Digitized Health Insurance

Public hospitals were slow in providing online healthcare before Covid-19 but this will likely change in the coming year. With the potential new policy to incorporate online healthcare services into the social medical insurance payment system, public hospitals will be presented with incentives to allow more digital healthcare services to patients. This opens up plenty of opportunity for collaborations between public hospitals and internet companies that offer insurance online. Simultaneously, this will create new hurdles (as well as opportunities) for pharmaceutical and devices companies on marketing and sales strategies.

  1. More global insurance players will be let in the country

The healthcare insurance market will be further opened to international enterprises and constraints on new healthcare insurance products are expected to be progressively lifted. Expat families and individuals who are living in Hong Kong will have more options as a result.

Many insurance companies in Hong Kong have already launched healthcare cover innovations specifically for Covid-19 protection such as Pilot’s Income Protection Insurance and Hong Kong AXA’s enhanced coverage products. 

It’s worth looking at one’s current insurance plan to make the necessary changes to ensure that all bases are covered.

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Need help finding business and personal insurance in Hong Kong? We assist expats find the best covers.

 

12Dec

Money-saving tips for new graduates

Ah, yes. Graduation.

Finally!

Independence!

Freedom!

The world is your oyster…if only you had the money.

Graduation creates this illusion of immortality for fresh graduates, especially for those belonging in Asian or other conservative families wherein they usually live with their parents or remain tethered financially until they hold a job of their own. So, the moment that the diploma is received, a surge of energy initiated by a newfound sovereignty course through their veins.

It makes sense though. You’re a youngblood with high hopes and dreams, you’re seeing the world beyond the books for the first time. You don’t have a curfew, homework, or a parent to answer to.

All of this rush of adrenaline doubles that moment you get employed because job equals money equals “add-to-cart”, right?

For a moment, there is harmony in your cash-ins and cash out. But at one point, maybe on the day when your employer can’t give your salary on time or when somebody gets sick, you’ll realize that you do not have a cent in the old piggy bank. Then, the reality of adulthood sets in. It’s time to decrease the “YOLO” and start saving.

Here are some tips money-saving (and maybe even earning) tips for all our fresh graduates out there:

1)   Invest

While having saved money in your account is good, placing them in good investment is better. Rather than letting them just stay in your account until your next impulsive buy, why not make them do the earning for you? Aside from insurance companies, some banks provide services on investments wherein you can start small, just enough for the entry-level salary.

2)   Wants and needs

Do you need another pair of shoes for work? My Economics professor once told the class, “If you can distinguish your wants from your needs, then saving is easier.” and that is financial wisdom I still hold today.

Needs which are your basic food and drinks, toiletries, clothes.

Wants are your 5-star meals with a bottle of champagne, Jeju face masks, and plain, white shirts that cost five digits.

Always reflect before you buy: “Need or want?”

3)   Allocate

Once you fully recognize your needs, you need to be very familiar with your cash flow and where to place them. It is important to list down the daily, weekly, and monthly expenses so setting a budget is easier.

4)    Something on the side

If you have an 8-hour job, especially one that keeps your weekends open, I would encourage having a sideline. Something non-committal, that you can do from the comfort of your home and that will take only a few hours of your time. It can be writing, copyreading, editing pictures, translating, even online tutorials.

There are such jobs out there.

Once you receive your pay, keep it safe. Don’t spend it. That’s your side hustle money.

When you’re a young investor, it doesn’t hurt to earn a bit more cash.

5)   Be wary of your circle

Friends and workmates are a great influence even in young adulthood and, sometimes, when one of them declares a night out or a trip to somewhere pricey, it’s difficult to say no.

There’s nothing wrong if your friends have more money than you, just as there’s nothing wrong if you have less money than your friends. But it’s important to remember at which part of the spectrum you are, and not get carried away. Also, be mature enough to not be insecure about the financial differences that you feel the need to spend money like them to achieve validation.

Learn to decline when it no longer hits your budget. If your friends are really good people, they’ll respect that.

6)   Splurge money

As contradicting as it is, it’s also important to spoil yourself every once in a while.

Have “splurge piggy bank” and invest a fixed portion of your savings to it.

It can be money for a concert happening in a few weeks or a monthly shopping spree/fancy dinner dates for yourself.

The point is, you have to spend money on you too. Sometimes, we impulse buy because we’ve been deprived for so long. So, it’s just better to just have a controlled source of cash for an “I deserve this” splurge. Just make sure that the “I deserve this” days aren’t every day.

7.) Get insurance early.

If you buy permanent life insurance early, this gives you a longer period of time to put money into the insurance plan and also allows you to draw interest on your money for a longer period of time. We help expats in Hong Kong find the best personal insurance. Get in touch with us today.