Insurance Coverage

HKU has arranged a Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy and Group Travel Insurance Policy for all of its registered postgraduate and undergraduate students when they participate in activities or classes organized by HKU within or outside Hong Kong such as field trips, project work, or site visits etc., in addition to the basic primary health care provided by HKU Health Service and the subsidized hospitalization (entitlements according to the student’s right of abode status in Hong Kong) as provided by the public health care services of the Government.

The GPA insurance policy is to cover an Insured Person (HKU registered students) according to its Schedule of Benefits (medical expenses related only) against any accidental bodily injury sustained whilst participating in activities arranged or recognized by HKU (include but not limited to field trip, internship, career placement, exchange programme etc.) anywhere in Hong Kong or overseas and/or study and/or attend any activities within HKU campus / other venues during the insured period.  Details can be found in the Schedule of Benefits of the GPA in the Finance and Enterprises Office (“FEO”) intranet home page under “Personal Accident Insurance Details”.

The Travel Insurance policy is to cover an Insured Person (HKU registered students) according to its Schedule of Benefits whilst travelling outside Hong Kong only on a bonafide business trip authorized or recognized by HKU in connection with the HKU’s business during the insured period.  Cover commences when an Insured Person leaves his/her place of residence to commence the trip directly to the immigration counter within 4 hours before his/her scheduled departure time of the carrier and shall continue until such time as he/she returns to his/her place of residence or place of regular employment in Hong Kong or within 4 hours after his/her scheduled arrival time of the carrier, or at the expiration of 183 day period beginning from the date such particular trip commenced, or the date on which the policy is terminated, whichever first occurs. 

A student who is with registered status at the time when he/she commences an authorized trip is covered until he/she returns back to Hong Kong even though his/her HKU student registered status is terminated for graduation reason during the trip period.  However, students should take note that the continuation of coverage under HKU’s travel insurance policy would only apply to activities as approved / arranged / recognized by HKU.  Any personal business / activities such as weekend leisure trips etc. would NOT be covered by HKU’s standard travel insurance policy in any circumstances. Students are strongly recommended to make their own additional travel insurance arrangement for their special needs / requirements / non-University business related trips at their own cost.  Details of coverage can be found in the Schedule of Benefits of the Group Travel Insurance Policy in the FEO intranet home page under “Travel / Personal Accident Insurance Arrangements for Students”.

FEO must be informed of all potential, possible or actual insurance claims within 30 days for GPA Insurance policy and within 90 days for Travel Insurance policy from the date of incident or as soon as practical by e-mail (feo_insurance@hku.hk). Any unreasonable delay in notifying the insurance company via FEO of the potential claim or failure to provide the information / documents as reasonably requested by the insurance company may cause subsequent rejection of the claim by the insurance company. For reimbursement of medical expenses incurred, claimable amounts shall be subject to insurance policy terms. In addition, students may be required to provide to FEO the original receipted medical bills (endorsed by a certified medical doctor with diagnosis indicated) if specified by the insurers together with a certification from the Head of Department concerned that the student was undergoing official activities arranged by HKU at that time. Details of claim procedure can be found in the guideline as given in the Claim Form which could be downloaded after login to HKU Portal as shown in the path below.

SIS Menu -> Financial Services -> FEO Info and Hotlines -> Finance and Enterprises Office -> Insurance Information for Students -> Travel / Personal Accident Insurance Arrangement for Students

In the situation where a student needs emergency assistance such as emergency medical evacuation and/or repatriation services, need of immediate medical care and/or hospitalization because of bodily injury or sickness, need of advanced cash due to loss of money, financial / payments guarantee for medical treatments or emergency rescue etc. while staying overseas, the student should directly contact the insurance company by making a collect call at their 24-hour Emergency Assistance Service Hotline.  The hotline phone number can be found via the HKU Portal as shown in the path below.

SIS Menu –> Financial Services –> FEO Info and Hotlines –> Finance and Enterprises Office –> Insurance Information for Students

In addition to the 24-hour Emergency Assistance Service Hotline provided by the insurance company, HKU has entered into a service agreement with a company (which is NOT an insurance company but specialized in travel health and safety assistance services) to provide worldwide 24/7 assistance services or travel advice to all HKU students. Students are required to register for the said services. Detailed information can be found via the HKU Portal as shown in the path below.

SIS Menu –> Financial Services –> FEO Info and Hotlines –> Finance and Enterprises Office –> Insurance Information for Students –>  24/7 Global Travel Emergency Assistance Programme (“GTEA”)

Before the commencement of a trip, the service provider can provide students with advice / information on medical risk such as any outbreak of infectious disease etc. and travel security risk such as riot, strike, robbery and natural disaster etc. so that better travel planning can be made.  During the travel period, instant assistance by phone can be offered by the service provider on issues such as translation service for communication with local people, sickness, simple preliminary medical advice, location of nearby police stations / chemists / doctors / consulates etc.  In order to minimize the medical and travel security risk as far as possible and for better travel planning purpose, it is strongly recommended for students to contact the service provider directly by phone or through their mobile app for advice on matters which a traveler should pay special attention when visiting a particular country.

For details on other non-insurance related emergency assistance, please visit CEDARS website as follows: cedars.hku.hk/overseasemergencyassistance