ARTICLE

Worried About High Medical Costs? Afraid to See a Doctor? Network Doctors Can Help!

6-min read

Updated on 2026-1-22

Author: AIA Content Editorial Team

Life in the city moves fast, with heavy work pressure causing many Hong Kong people to stay in a sub‑health condition. However, a doctor visit can cost several hundred to over a thousand dollars. Surgery, hospitalisation, or advanced tests can even cost tens of thousands. Even with medical insurance, making a claim often requires extensive paperwork and complicated procedures. Many people delay medical treatment even when health issues appear, leading to worsened conditions.

Network doctors are one of the solutions. They provide professional medical services and, more importantly, offer cashless services⁴, where approved expenses are paid directly by the insurer to designated hospitals or medical providers. This saves you time from handling medical payments or claims.

Why Are Medical Costs Increasing?

Many people find their medical expenses rising every year. This is mainly due to three key factors:

1. Rising Inflation

As inflation grows, medical costs also increase. Clinic fees and consultation charges continue to rise. Even general outpatient visits can be costly. For example, general practitioners often charge several hundred dollars, while specialists cost even more. Adding medication, tests, hospital stays, and treatments makes medical expenses substantial.

2. Private Hospital Bed Shortage

In recent years, many people have preferred seeking medical care at private hospitals due to their higher service quality and shorter waiting times. However, the number of beds available in private hospitals is limited and cannot meet the growing demand. This shortage has driven inpatient costs to surge rapidly, forcing patients to bear increasingly higher private hospital expenses in order to receive better medical services.

3. High Hospital Surgery Fees

Patients who require surgery must pay not only for hospital stays but also for costly advanced medical technologies. These additional expenses substantially increase the financial burden. It is important to be aware of these potential extra costs when seeking treatment.

4. Ageing Population

Hong Kong's ageing population continues to drive long‑term demand for medical services. By 2046, people aged 65 or above are projected to make up about 36%⁵ of the population. Around 31% of Hong Kong residents have experienced chronic illnesses, and 47%⁶ of them are aged 65 or above. The combination of demographic pressures and chronic disease prevalence contributes to increasing healthcare expenditure.

What Are the Benefits of Using Network Doctors?

Doctors within a medical network worked under hospital or clinic supervision and possess recognised qualifications and extensive experience. For example, AIA Hong Kong partners with specialists across multiple disciplines, offering a high‑quality medical network with more than 800^* doctors across many specialties and regions.^1,2,3

1. Simple Pre‑approval and Cashless Service⁴

Although customers may still submit claims for non-network doctors, the requirements and claim processes vary by plan and may be more complex. Customers often need to submit additional documents and await claim approval, making the process time‑consuming.

Using network doctors offers greater convenience. Customers can apply for pre‑approval and enjoy cashless services⁴, avoiding the need to pay medical expenses upfront. When a service is approved, AIA Hong Kong settles eligible inpatient medical expenses directly with the hospital, allowing customers to focus on recovery without worrying about payment procedures.

2. Convenient and Dedicated Services

Insurers typically provide dedicated one‑stop services for their medical networks, enhancing customer experience. Network doctor services also offer flexible appointment times and locations, letting customers schedule consultations without long waits or work disruptions. For example, AIA+ includes a "Find/Book a Doctor" feature that allows users to search, select and book appointments with network specialists easily.

3. Professional Treatment and Advanced Facilities

Medical networks are supported by experienced specialists and advanced medical equipment, ensuring high‑quality treatment. This allows customers to complete treatment efficiently and return to daily life sooner.

What Should You Pay Attention to When Using Network Doctor Services?

Understand medical coverage: Review policy terms carefully to confirm whether network doctors, outpatient fees and medication costs are covered.
Choose the right plan: Coverage varies by plan—from basic to high‑end options. Select a plan that matches your needs and budget.
Consider personal health needs: When choosing or booking a network doctor, it's important to consider your personal health needs as well. For example, certain conditions may require treatment from a specific specialist. Even if that specialist is not included in your medical network, it may still be worth considering.

This article aims to help you better understand the advantages of using network doctor services, reduce worries about medical expenses and better manage your health.

AIA Hong Kong offers comprehensive medical insurance solutions to ensure you receive the best medical support when needed.

^{*This information is owned by AIA, and may not be copied or reproduced without AIA's written consent. You may not copy or store this content on any other website or content platform.}

^{This information is for general reference only and does not constitute sales advice, product recommendations, or service offers. Before purchasing an insurance product, customers must complete a financial needs analysis. AIA does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the content and information provided. AIA reserves the right to pursue legal action and seek compensation for any infringement and/or legal issues.}

^1.This specialist network is not part of the policy coverage (except for designated medical plans). AIA reserves the right to amend, suspend, or terminate these services at any time without prior notice and retains absolute discretion. The specialist network services are available only within Hong Kong.

^2.This specialist network is applicable only to eligible products. For details, please refer to the official AIA website.

^3.This specialist network will take effect 180 days after the policy is issued (except for designated medical plans; please refer to the official AIA website for details).

^4.The “Cashless Service” is an administrative arrangement for advancing eligible inpatient expenses on behalf of the insured. It is not part of the policy coverage. AIA reserves the right to amend, suspend, or terminate this service at any time without prior notice and retains absolute discretion. Once the service is successfully arranged, AIA will settle the medical expenses directly with the relevant hospital on behalf of the insured. If the advanced amount exceeds the benefit limit, AIA will recover the excess from the policyholder.

^5.Hong Kong Population Projections, Census and Statistics Department, October 2023

^6.Data as of 2020/21: Hong Kong’s Healthcare Challenges, Hong Kong Health Bureau.

*This figure includes both individual and group medical plans and will be updated from time to time

^1.AIA Hong Kong [Online Resource]. Source: https://www.aia.com.hk/content/dam/hk/en/pdf/health-care-claims/Specialist-Network-leaflet_en.pdf [Accessed on 18 October 2025]

^2.AIA Hong Kong [Online Resource]. Source: https://www.aia.com.hk/en/health-and-wellness/healthy-living-with-aia/recommended-reads/network-doctor [Accessed on 18 October 2025]

^3.AIA Hong Kong [Online Resource]. Source: https://www.aia.com.hk/en/health-and-wellness/healthy-living-with-aia/recommended-reads/network-doctor [Accessed on 18 October 2025]

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Worried About High Medical Costs? Afraid to See a Doctor? Network Doctors Can Help!