Fears that a single refusal could lead to widespread rejections have prompted a non-profit organization to step in, offering advocacy and support to help families secure insurance coverage.
For homemaker Sarah*, 50, the process of obtaining health insurance for her autistic son in Hong Kong was deeply upsetting. Over roughly three months, she approached multiple insurance companies, but none could confirm that her 18-year-old son would qualify for coverage due to his condition.
Sarah noted that the unpredictability and irritation made her reluctant to submit an application, as she worried that a rejection from a major insurer might trigger blanket refusals from other providers.
“There are so many families in Hong Kong with children who have a developmental diagnosis like autism that are afraid to approach insurers to apply for insurance, and there were some that were rejected,” she said.
To boost public awareness and address this issue, the Hong Kong Autism Institute launched an initiative last month designed to assist families in obtaining health insurance for children with autism.
Through its Family Advocacy Initiative, the institute seeks to empower families to negotiate health insurance by managing their application cases.