(a) Oversee the implementation and development of the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS).

(b) Oversee the implementation and coordination of all operational aspects of VHIS, including registration of participating insurers, certification of insurance plans as VHIS-compliant plans, supervision and enforcement, migration of existing policyholders, publicity, complaints handling, consumer education, and matters related to tax deduction.

(c) Oversee the regular review and update of the compliance requirements for the participating insurers with reference to medical inflation, advancement in medical technology and clinical standard, insurance claims experience, prevailing market condition, and views of different stakeholders, etc.

(d) Oversee the ongoing work to promote good business practices at scheme level, such as service pledge on underwriting, exclusion of pre-existing conditions and claims settlement according to the scheme guidelines; offer of claimable amount estimate to increase budget certainty for the policyholders who make claims; and publicity of in-depth premium and product information to increase market transparency.

(e) Oversee the ongoing work to monitor market response to VHIS and formulate strategy to ensure adequate market confidence and critical mass of participation in the scheme.

(f) Provide strategic support to senior management of the Food and Health Bureau in liaising with and engaging various stakeholders and the community in carrying out the above duties, and in formulating policies related to long-term development of VHIS as a health policy instrument.

(g) Oversee the management of the VHIS Office, including day-to-day administration, resource planning, committee works, and liaison with other institutions.

(h) Attend meetings of the Legislative Council and related Committees/Subcommittees on issues related to the VHIS.

(i) Carry out other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Background
VHIS is a policy initiative implemented by the Food and Health Bureau in respect of individual indemnity hospital insurance products since April 2019. The scheme is based on voluntary participation by insurers and consumers. Under the scheme, the participating insurers offer individual hospital insurance plans that are certified by the Food and Health Bureau to be compliant with the scheme requirements. It is voluntary for consumers to purchase the plans.

The VHIS Office is a regular office set up under the Food and Health Bureau to implement the VHIS. Its duties include registration of the participating insurers, vetting of individual indemnity hospital insurance plans for certification of compliance status, enforcement of scheme rules, undertaking of publicity and consumer education programs, monitoring of scheme performance, information dissemination and compilation of statistics, as well as handling of enquiries and complaints, etc.

Candidates should have –

(a) a bachelor’s degree from a Hong Kong university or equivalent, preferably majoring in actuarial science, economics, finance or healthcare management;

(b) at least 15 years’ experience in managing a public organization preferably in healthcare or insurance sector or with licensing or regulatory function, administering system reform or conducting impact assessment of public policy on market activities; (Note 1);

(c) solid background with proven record in leading sophisticated projects on strategy formulation, system reform, or policy research (Note 2);

(d) excellent leadership, analytical, presentation, communication, organisation and staff management skills;

(e) ability to respond effectively and cope with uncertain and unpredictable situations; and

(f) excellent command of Chinese and English.