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歡迎收聽「長者法網智多聲」。無論生病、身體檢查、生孩子、甚至是動手術，很多市民都會選擇到公立醫院或診所，這一節我們就為大家介紹享用公共醫療服務的資格和權利。
無論是香港市民或遊客，任何人都可以享用香港的公營醫療服務，分別只是在於大家付的錢不同。醫院管理局轄下的醫院及門診服務收費可以分為三類，收費最便宜的，是符合資格人士，其次是非符合資格人士，最昂貴的是私家收費。
符合資格人士，即持有永久性居民香港身份證的人。入境條例已經列明甚麼人可以成為香港的永久性居民，亦有列出怎樣會喪失永久居民的身份，大家可以參考長者社區法網文字版。
醫管局和衛生署亦接受任何已經離開香港、持有非香港永久性居民身份證的人，以符合資格人士的身份，享用獲資助的公營醫療服務。香港的老友記如果在內地居住，只要持有有效的永久或非永久居民身份證，都可以以符合資格人士的身份使用獲資助的香港公營醫療服務。簡單來說，只要能夠出示有效的香港身份證就可以了。
至於正在領取綜援的人，使用公營醫療服務可以不用付錢。如果不是綜援受助人，但又負擔不起公營醫療服務的收費，就可以向各間公立醫院和診所的醫務社會服務部、社會福利署綜合家庭服務中心、或保護家庭及兒童服務課，申請減免收費。
老人家身體沒那麼強壯，看醫生的機會比較多，為了幫助老友記減輕負擔，政府在2009年推出長者醫療券試驗計劃，在2014年，醫療券計劃除已由試驗性質轉為恆常長者支援計劃。年滿70歲、持有香港身份證或豁免證明書的長者，現在每年會獲得價值二千元的醫療券，可以用來看中西醫、牙醫、脊醫、物理治療、職業治療和驗眼等。用不完的醫療券，可以保留和累積至四千元。有關醫療券計劃的詳情，可以參考長者社區法網文字版或香港政府一站通網頁。
聽完這一節「長者法網智多聲」，將來有病痛要看公立醫生的同時，各位老友記都會明白，為甚麼收費會這麼便宜了。在這裡祝大家身體健康，拜拜。
PrintPermanent residents vs non-permanent residents
A Hong Kong permanent resident enjoys the right of abode in Hong Kong (section 2A, Immigration Ordinance, Cap.115, Laws of Hong Kong) and is entitled to apply for a permanent identity card, and is therefore classified as an “Eligible Person” for public health care purposes.
A person in any one of the following categories is a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:
- a Chinese citizen born in Hong Kong before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
- a Chinese citizen who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 1 July 1997; or
- a person of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to a parent who, at the time of birth of that person, was a Chinese citizen falling within category (a) or (b); or
- a person not of Chinese nationality who entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document, ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years, and took Hong Kong as his place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
- a person under 21 years of age born in Hong Kong to a parent who became a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in category (d) before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, if, at the time of his birth or any time before he turned 21, one of his parents had the right of abode in Hong Kong; or
- a person other than those residents in categories (a) to (e) who, before the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, had the right of abode in Hong Kong only.
(Para. 2, Schedule 1, Immigration Ordinance, Cap.115, Laws of Hong Kong)
A permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region loses permanent resident status only if:
- he falls within the category in section 2(d) or (e) above but has been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 36 months since he ceased to have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong; or
- he falls within the category in section 2(f) above, but has been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 36 months after he obtained the right of abode in any place other than Hong Kong and has ceased to have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong.
(Para. 7, Schedule 1, Immigration Ordinance, Cap. 115, Laws of Hong Kong)
In 2011, the Food and Health Bureau proposed implementing an electronic system in both the Immigration Department and public hospitals and clinics managed by DH and HA to check the eligibility of non-permanent identity card holders for subsidized public health care services. The aim was to ensure that people with valid resident status in Hong Kong could use public health care services as “Eligible Persons” and that those without valid resident status would not be allowed to use the services at the subsidized rates as “Eligible Persons”.
From 28 September 2013, people attending hospitals and clinics are required to present their Hong Kong identity card to verify their resident status through a new online checking system in order to receive subsidised public healthcare services by paying “eligible persons” fees.