Customers to benefit from tax incentives alongside enhanced medical protection and prudent financial planning
options suiting their diverse needs
HONG KONG, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading financial
services provider Manulife Hong Kong today unveiled a full suite of tax-deductible solutions tailored to enhance the health
wellbeing and retirement preparedness of Hong Kong people. These comprise the certified Standard
Plan and Flexi Plan under the HKSAR government's Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS), and the MPF Tax Deductible Voluntary
Contributions (TVC) account. Manulife also announced the plan to introduce a certified Qualifying Deferred Annuity Policy
(QDAP).
Together the new offerings will provide customers with enhanced protection, greater financial security and new tax
benefits.
"Manulife is proud to be a top insurance brand and we value the importance of providing our customers with more insurance
options for healthcare services and retirement planning. With the growth of aging population and the hike of medical cost in
Hong Kong, we are pleased to offer our customers better coverage through the latest array
of health and retirement solutions, which we are announcing today," said Guy Mills, Chief
Executive Officer of Manulife Hong Kong.
Stronger health protection with VHIS Plans
Manulife is at the vanguard of launching the VHIS Standard Plan and Flexi Plan, both certified by the Food and Health Bureau.
The company's Standard Plan, Manulife Shelter VHIS Standard Plan, and Flexi Plan, Manulife First VHIS Flexi Plan, deliver the
VHIS scheme's core benefits: coverage of unknown pre-existing conditions[1]; guaranteed renewal; and no lifetime
benefit limit, among many others.
The Manulife First VHIS Flexi Plan offers customers greater health protection through nine options, including different ward
class choices and additional reimbursement amounts for excess medical expenses. Customers can enjoy extra protection with the
plan's unique benefit of up to 100% medical expenses reimbursement[2]. They are also free to choose their preferred
doctor or hospital for treatment.
"Our recent survey found that those without insurance protection expect to use their personal savings to pay over 80% of their
medical bills in case of serious illness. That is a huge burden for most people and a significant stress to live with. We believe
many Hong Kong people can fill this gap by buying the new VHIS plans while enjoying tax
concessions," said Mr. Mills.
Under the VHIS plans, eligible premiums can be tax-deductible for up to HK$8,000 per insured
person per tax year. This benefit is also applicable to certified plans purchased for an unlimited number of eligible
dependents.
Customers of Manulife's VHIS plans can save even more through Manulife's unique offerings. By becoming a member of
ManulifeMOVE and staying active to achieve specified activity goals, customers will be rewarded with a premium discount of
up to 10% upon annual renewal.
Boosting retirement savings with TVC and QDAP
The largest MPF scheme sponsor[3], Manulife managed 23% of Hong Kong's total MPF
assets as of the end of 2018. Leveraging its pension expertise, Manulife's TVC account will help the city's working population
boost their retirement savings while unlocking the new tax concessions. The maximum tax-deductible limit for TVC and QDAP
premiums is set at HK$60,000 per taxpayer per tax year.
TVC account members will be provided with flexible options to make extra contributions, including the contribution amount, and
payment on a monthly or lump sum basis[4]. Manulife's TVC account members will have a broad choice of MPF
funds to pick from for their additional contributions. These new members will be automatically enrolled in Manulife's MPF member
rewards programme that offers privileged management fee rates for applicable constituent funds. The longer members stay and the
more assets they maintain with Manulife, the better privileged rates they may enjoy[5].
Manulife's planned QDAP product is another choice for the city's workforce to secure stable income in retirement. This
tax-deductible annuity is expected to be launched shortly, subject to regulatory approval.
Buysimple.hk delivers new solutions to fingertips
The new offerings will be distributed through Manulife's 8,800-strong agency force, whose advice and support are highly valued
by the company's 2.2 million customers in Hong Kong. Digital-savvy customers will enjoy the
convenience and ease of buying VHIS plans or applying for MPF TVC directly online. These products will roll out on a one-stop
shop www.buysimple.hk in phases, starting from today. Customers who buy online will be assigned a
dedicated financial advisor to help with claims and other after-sales services.
Through www.buysimple.hk, customers can access a purpose-built tax savings calculator. By answering a few simple
questions about their tax profile and providing the sum they intend to pay for the tax-deductible solutions, taxpayers receive an
instant estimate on applicable tax breaks.
For more details about the above offerings and the tax savings calculator, please visit www.manulife.com.hk.
[1] Certified Plans provide partial coverage for the
2nd and 3rd policy year and full coverage from the 4th policy year onwards.
|
[2] This benefit is for Flexi Plan customers who have added
supplementary medical benefit, and on the condition that the preliminary assessment is approved by Manulife.
|
[3] Manulife remained the largest MPF scheme sponsor with a market
share of 23.0% based on assets under management as at December 31, 2018 and 35.6% in terms of estimated net cash flows
for the period from October 1 to December 31, 2018. Source: "Mercer MPF Market Shares Report" as at December 31, 2018 by
Mercer (Hong Kong) Limited.
|
[4] These features are subject to the governing rules of the MPF
scheme. Please refer to the offering document of the MPF scheme for details.
|
[5] Subject to terms and conditions
|
About Manulife Hong Kong
Manulife Hong Kong, comprising Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Asset Management (Hong
Kong) Limited and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited, offers a diverse range of protection and wealth products
and services to individual and corporate customers in Hong Kong and Macau. These entities are members of the Manulife group of companies.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions
easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the
United States and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, as well as wealth and asset management
solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2018, we had more than 34,000 employees, over 82,000 agents,
and thousands of distribution partners, serving almost 28 million customers. As of December 31,
2018, we had over C$1.1 trillion (HK$6.2 trillion) in assets
under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made C$29.0 billion in
payments to our customers. Our principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States are where we have served customers for more
than 100 years. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the
Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under
'945' in Hong Kong.
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190401/2419716-1-a
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190401/2419716-1-b
SOURCE Manulife Hong Kong