ARTICLE

What is cashless hospitalisation and admission without deposit? Here's our introduction to application procedure and process

10-min read

Updated on 2026-9-25

Author: AIA Content Editorial Team

Falling ill and requiring hospital treatment is distressing. To manage unexpected large medical expenses can make the experience particularly challenging. Currently, some insurance policies offer cashless hospitalisation and admission without deposit services that are designed to alleviate the financial burden on the insured.

But what exactly are cashless hospitalization and admission without deposit services? How to apply? This article provides you with a detailed introduction.

cashless hospitalization-medical insurance cashless-pre approval medical insurance

What are cashless hospitalisation and admission without deposit?

Cashless hospitalization and admission without deposit services, as the terms imply, allow insureds to receive medical treatment without having to pay upfront deposits for hospital admission and without needing to settle the hospital bill upon discharge. By notifying the insurance company in advance and completing certain procedures to get the approval, insureds can focus on recovery, without worrying about paying hospital bills nor filing claims.

Taking AIA as an example, all individual medical insurance plans offer pre-approval - medical expense and cashless service*. This ensures you don't have to worry about the paying hospital bills nor filing claims. Even though medical procedure is received on non-inpatient basis in hospitals, the said service is also available. It covers regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, and overseas locations like Singapore, the UK, and the US*.

medical insurance cashless-cashless hospitalization-pre approval medical insurance

How to apply for cashless hospitalisation and admission without deposit?

The cashless hospitalization and admission without deposit services require prior notification to the insurance company and completion of relevant procedure before admission. The services are only available after approval.

If you would like to apply for the services by your AIA individual medical insurance plans, you can submit it via the AIA+ mobile app or by email/fax. Please visit Pre-approval - Medical Expense & Cashless Service | AIA Hong Kong for more information.

You may consider using AIA's medical network service, where network doctor would assist in apply pre-approval, arrange treatment and submit claims, you may enjoy cashless service* as well. You can use the AIA+ mobile app to find a suitable network doctor, make appointment and get the network eCard which should be presented at the time of consultation.

AIA Cashless Discharge Application Process

1. Appointment & Form Submission

At least 2–4 working days before hospital admission, confirm the recommended medical treatment with your attending physician and complete the Medical Expenses Pre-approval Form.

2. AIA Review & Approval

AIA will coordinate with the hospital and, upon approval, issue a "Letter of Guarantee" (LOG).

3. Cashless Discharge

Eligible expenses within the coverage scope will be settled directly by AIA upon discharge.

Comparison of Cashless Discharge Service

	AIA Cashless Discharge Service	General Medical Insurance Claim Process
Financial Burden	No deposit required; eligible expenses are settled directly	Large deposit and medical fees must be paid upfront
Partner Hospitals	Covers major private hospitals in Hong Kong and multiple day surgery centres	Coverage may be limited
Administrative Support	Dedicated claims team liaises directly with the hospital	Policyholder must collect receipts and submit claim forms
Processing Time	Approval can be completed in as fast as 2 working days	Reimbursement cheque may take several weeks after discharge

Click here to view AIA's list of partnered private hospitals.

medical insurance cashless-pre approval medical insurance-cashless hospitalisation

Is hospitalisation proof required for the application?

Submit the application at least 2 to 4 working days in advance (for treatment in Hong Kong/Macau/Mainland China or Taiwan) / 7 working days (for treatment overseas). Please be reminded that part II of the Medical Expense Pre-approval Form has to be completed by the attending physician or surgeon.

Why might there be a shortfall?

A shortfall occurs if the medical expenses exceed the claims payable amount or involve costs outside the coverage scope of the insurance policy. AIA will issue a shortfall notification to the policyholder and collect the shortfall from the authorized credit card 14 days after the notice date. Besides, if having overseas treatment, depending on the hospital admitted, the insured might need to directly pay upfront the expenses not covered by the insurance policy, including but not limited to the amount exceeding the pre-approved amount or any deductibles.

cashless health insurance-cashless insurance-cashless hospitalization

If there is a deductible in the medical insurance plan, are cashless hospitalisation and admission without deposit available?

A deductible is the amount policyholders require to bear before the insurance policy covers the medical expenses. If your policy includes a deductible, you may need to pay this portion upon discharge when using the cashless service.

* Pre-approval - medical expense and cashless service is not a contractual service but an administrative arrangement offered in our absolute discretion in respect of covered expenses incurred. It is subject to termination at any time without prior notice. Cashless service is applicable to designated hospitals. In some areas, cashless service is only applicable to designated individual medical insurance plans, and will be modified from time to time. For details, please visit the AIA website Pre-approval - Medical Expense & Cashless Service | AIA Hong Kong.

Three Important Notes for Cashless Discharge

1. Expenses Not Covered by Insurance

Please note that the service typically covers only medically necessary expenses. Personal charges (such as international phone calls, non-essential meals, companion bed fees, etc.) are usually excluded and must be settled by the insured upon discharge.

2. Deductible Requirements

If your policy includes a deductible, this amount must still be paid directly to the hospital at discharge. AIA will only settle eligible medical expenses exceeding the deductible.

3. Pre-approval Not Granted

Pre-approval may be declined if the application information is incomplete or if the treatment is assessed as not medically necessary (e.g. cosmetic procedures). It is recommended to communicate with your insurance advisor early to provide any required supporting documents.

Cashless Medical Insurance FAQ

Yes. Even if your policy includes a deductible, you may still use the cashless discharge service, but you will generally need to pay the deductible amount directly to the hospital at discharge. Any eligible medical expenses exceeding the deductible will be settled by AIA.

It is recommended to submit the application at least 2 to 4 working days in advance for treatments in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, or Taiwan, or at least 7 working days in advance for overseas treatments.

Common reasons include incomplete application information or treatments assessed as not medically necessary. In such cases, it is advisable to contact your insurance advisor promptly to determine whether additional medical documentation is needed for reassessment.