[Retirement in the Greater Bay Area] The latest budget subsidies, medical insurance, and elderly care tips!
Health2026-05-12
8 Mins Read
As the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area continues to develop and integrate, along with Hong Kong’s clear ageing population trend, more and more retirees are considering moving north to settle down. The latest 2026-27 Hong Kong Budget* has introduced several tweaks for cross-border elderly care, including expanding the "Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong" to all nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area and trialling an inpatient medical subsidy of up to 30,000 RMB a year*. Below is a full overview of senior living options in the Greater Bay Area, covering policy insights, healthcare planning, and insurance arrangements — offering those thinking of moving north for their retirement a complete guide.
"Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong"
Background and latest developments
The Guangdong Care Home Service Programme was originally a pilot scheme, aimed at giving Hong Kong seniors waiting for subsidised residential care places another option to retire in the Greater Bay Area. Following the announcement of the 2026-27 Budget, the programme has been officially expanded, with the number of participating care homes increasing from 24 to 26. Its coverage now includes all nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area — Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing*.
Eligibility and subsidy details*
Senior citizens who meet the following criteria can apply for the programme:
- Aged 65 or above
- A Hong Kong permanent resident, or have resided in Hong Kong for at least seven years before applying
- Qualified for the Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (PCSSA) Scheme, meaning they have received CSSA continuously for at least one year before applying
- Will be or are already residing in designated elderly care homes under the scheme
- Not receiving other subsidies for elderly residential fees simultaneously
- Successful applicants will continue to receive their existing CSSA payments, plus an additional subsidy of HKD 5,000 per month, specifically for covering costs at designated care homes. The scheme offers a total of 1,000 places.
Locations of the 26 designated care homes*
The 26 participating care homes are located in the following areas:
Cities | Number of homes | Estimated monthly fees (RMB) |
Shenzhen | ||
Shenzhen | 5 | 4,500 - 8,000 |
Guangzhou | ||
Guangzhou | 8 | 5,500 - 9,000 |
Foshan | ||
Foshan | 6 | 3,500 - 7,500 |
Dongguan | ||
Dongguan | 1 (New) | To be confirmed |
Zhuhai | ||
Zhuhai | 1 | 3,500 - 4,500 |
Zhongshan | ||
Zhongshan | 1 | 5,000 - 6,000 |
Zhaoqing | ||
Zhaoqing | 1 | 4,500 - 5,500 |
Jiangmen | ||
Jiangmen | 1 | 4,000 - 5,000 |
Huizhou | ||
Huizhou | 2 | 3,000 - 4,000 |
Some popular care homes, such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club Shenzhen Society for Rehabilitation Yee Hong Heights and Shenzhen Foresea Life Insurance Warm Home, currently have limited vacancies. Interested applicants are advised to plan ahead.
Services provided by the care homes*
The care homes under the scheme offer comprehensive care services. Once admitted, residents do not need to pay extra for the following items:
- Shared room accommodation
- Three meals and snacks daily
- 24-hour care and nursing services
- Personal care planning and implementation
- Twice-weekly rehabilitation exercises (individual or group)
- Monthly health check-ups and general treatment arranged by recognised organisations
- Escort and hospital visitation services (frequency varies by care home)
- Counselling and social recreational activities
- Laundry services
It is important to note that personal consumables such as incontinence pads and customised wound dressings must still be paid for by the residents or their families.
The three key considerations for ageing in the Greater Bay Area
When choosing to retire in mainland China, aside from care home arrangements, there are three major areas that require careful planning to truly achieve peace of mind.
Key consideration 1: Housing and living amenities
Living in a care home is one option, but many healthy seniors prefer community-based home retirement. Regardless of the approach, the following amenities are essential:
1. Apply for the Residence Permits for Hong Kong and Macao: If you live in mainland China for more than six months, you can apply for this permit. It offers great convenience, including opening mainland bank accounts and linking electronic payment methods*.
2. Make good use of senior benefits: Hong Kong seniors aged 60 or above can enjoy benefits in many Greater Bay Area cities. For example, frequent travellers to Shenzhen can apply for the "Shenzhen Senior Citizen Card Card," which provides free rides, park and tourist attraction access, and use of public cultural venues*.
3. Financial planning: Mainland China has fully digitised daily life. Once a bank account is opened, linking it with commonly used mobile payment apps makes life easier. Also, consider withdrawing Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) savings for retirement reserves when the time comes.
Key consideration 2: Medical coverage and hospitalisation expenses (Subsidies and insurance as complements)
This is a top concern for seniors. The budget announcement brings good news but also reveals potential gaps in coverage.
Latest government support: Pilot medical subsidy arrangement
At the end of last year, the government launched a two-year pilot scheme providing medical expense subsidies for seniors participating in the "Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong". Each person can receive up to RMB 10,000 annually for outpatient expenses and RMB 30,000 for inpatient expenses*.
Understanding the coverage Gap: Is a RMB 30,000 hospital subsidy enough?
Government subsidies are a good start, but real medical expenses can be significant. The RMB 30,000 cap may not suffice for serious conditions, such as:
- Severe illnesses (like cancer, heart disease): costs for surgery, chemotherapy, or installing a stent.
- Long-term hospitalisation: needing ICU care or extended stays can incur high daily costs, quickly exhausting the subsidy.
- High-end medical needs: seeking treatment at more advanced, comfortable international medical centres (such as HKU Shenzhen IMC) involves costs far exceeding regular wards.
Other medical support: Medical vouchers and the eHealth App
In addition to hospitalisation subsidies, Hong Kong residents can also take advantage of the “Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme". It now covers all nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, so eligible seniors can use vouchers to settle outpatient bills at designated medical providers*.
Plus, with the eHealth App's "Cross-boundary Health Record" feature, seniors can give mainland doctors permission to view their Hong Kong medical history, making cross-border healthcare more seamless*.
Key Consideration 3: Choosing the right care home*
While the government supports 26 homes, there are plenty of other options worth exploring. Visiting in person is essential — here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Environment and facilities: Are the rooms comfortable and airy? Are the common areas and activity facilities sufficient?
- Quality of care: Are staff friendly and professional? Is the place kept clean and hygienic?
- Location: Is it near hospitals? Is transportation easy for family visits?
- Clear fees: Besides the monthly rent, are there other costs — like incontinence pads or special dressings — that will need to be paid separately?
Why do you need medical insurance?
As healthcare collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area continues to strengthen, more insurance companies are offering coverage for mainland medical services. For those planning to retire in the Bay Area, the value of medical insurance becomes particularly clear in several ways:
Firstly, it helps ease the financial burden of cross-border healthcare. With its increasingly comprehensive medical system, government subsidies, lower medical costs, and shorter waiting times, more and more Hong Kong residents are choosing to seek medical treatment in the mainland*. AXA's cashless arrangements1 mean you won’t have to worry about expenses or paperwork.
Secondly, it provides support for long-term cancer treatment costs. Cancer care often involves multiple disciplines — including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and rehabilitation — making overall expenses hard to predict. The government’s RMB 30,000 hospital subsidy is helpful but often insufficient for cancer treatments. A medical insurance plan with dedicated cancer medical concierge services offers real peace of mind.
Thirdly, it enables access to second medical opinions2. When facing complex conditions, getting second medical opinions from authoritative specialists is crucial. AXA provides this service free of charge, helping seniors and their families make confident treatment decisions.
AXA helps you gain access to healthcare services in the Greater Bay Area (AXA Health Concierge)3
In response to the growing demand for cross-border healthcare, AXA is building a comprehensive medical network across the Greater Bay Area. We offer Hong Kong residents access to renowned private healthcare facilities across the Greater Bay Area4,5, with Medical Green Pass6, cashless arrangements1, specialised cancer treatment, as well as preventive and rehabilitation services.
Service area | AXA’s core advantages | How it helps Hong Kong Residents |
Vast medical network, offering one-stop medical appointment services | ||
Vast medical network, offering one-stop medical appointment services | Partnering with renowned private healthcare facilities across the Greater Bay Area4,5, including over 2,000 network healthcare facilities7 among Hong Kong and Mainland China. You only need to make appointment through hotline to enjoy the priority arrangements for the Medical Green Pass6, providing you with one-stop medical appointment services | Prioritising your appointments at designated network healthcare facilities in Hong Kong and Mainland China7, allowing you to get treatment faster, avoiding long waiting times and cumbersome appointment procedures. |
Cancer support | ||
Cancer support | Receive personalised guidance from a Case Manager4,5, second medical opinion2, a complimentary ward upgraded from specified ward to standard private room8,9, and cashless arrangement services1 | Helping you obtain additional professional advice when facing complex medical decisions, enabling them to make more informed choices, while also making your experience stress-free and easing the emotional burden for patients and families |
Prevention services | ||
Prevention services | Extends the Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and Colonoscopy care to the Greater Bay Area4,5 | Addressing cross-border healthcare needs and gain access to renowned private healthcare facilities across the Greater Bay Area4,5 |
AXA’s global medical network covers many countries, including over 2,000 hospitals in Hong Kong and Mainland China7, as well as more than 10,000 medical service providers around the globe10. This means no matter which city you’re in within mainland China, you can almost always access top hospitals offering cashless arrangement services1. Plus, AXA Health Concierge assist clients in obtaining second medical opinion2, helping you get more expert advice when facing complex healthcare decisions, so you can make more informed choices.
It’s important to note that claiming insurance for treatment in mainland China may differ from procedures in Hong Kong. Usually, you’ll need to notify the insurance company in advance and submit documents like diagnosis reports and invoices as required. However, thanks to AXA’s extensive coverage across Hong Kong and mainland China7, if you need to stay in a hospital in mainland China, you can simply call the dedicated hotline through the Emma by AXA app to get pre-approval. When admitted, just show your eHealth card to enjoy cashless arrangements.
Plan early to enjoy worry-free retirement
The latest budget clearly highlights that retiring in the Greater Bay Area is a viable option for Hong Kong people. From expanding the "Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong" and increasing subsidies to enabling medical vouchers to be used seamlessly across borders, the government is steadily improving support measures.
But a comprehensive retirement plan can’t rely on the government alone. To truly achieve peace of mind, it’s crucial to address potential gaps in medical coverage. AXA has earned the 10Life 5-star Insurance Award – 2026 for "VHIS" and "5-star High-End Medical Insurance" (marketing exclusive11 the only VHIS plan in the market that achieved 5-star rating of 10Life Medical Coverage for 5 consecutive years, across all three ward classes), highlighting AXA’s excellence and leadership in healthcare. A top-tier medical insurance plan that covers renowned private healthcare facilities across the Greater Bay Area4,5, offers specialised cancer support, and includes cross-border services is essential for building a strong safety net in retirement.
Whether you choose to settle in a city in mainland China or elsewhere, early research, visiting potential homes, and consulting with insurance professionals are key steps to creating a healthy, secure, and fulfilling second chapter of life for yourself and your loved ones.
*Source:
1. Budget Bureau Budget Speech 2026-27. Available at: https://www.budget.gov.hk/2026/eng/budget43.html
2. Social Welfare Department (n.d.) Guangdong Care Home Care Service Scheme. Available at: https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/elderly/cat_residentcare/subrcheplace/guangdong/
3. Sing Tao Daily (2024) Senior residents in Hong Kong can apply for Shenzhen “Smart Elderly Care Card” for free transport and leisure benefits. Available at: https://www.stheadline.com/lifetips/3541130/長者北上養老廣東院舍照顧服務計劃安老院再增2間達1條件每月可獲5000資助任揀深圳廣州東莞 (Chinese Only)
4. Hong Kong SAR Government (n.d.) Hong Kong Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Available at: https://www.hcv.gov.hk/en/hcv_gba_pilot_scheme/index.html
5. Department of Health Cross-boundary Health Record via the eHealth Platform. Available at: https://app.ehealth.gov.hk/cross-boundary-health-record
6. Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau- Residence Permit. Available at: https://www.bayarea.gov.hk/en/facilitation/permit.html
7. Ming Pao (2024) Tips for Visiting Care Homes in the Greater Bay Area. Available at: https://mpgba.com/內地養老勿忘配套要足-及早規劃部署-現場視察/ (Chinese Only)
8. Ming Pao Education Publications Limited (2025) Theme 2: Our Country since Reform and Opening up,Theme 3: Interconnectedness and Interdependence of the Comtemporary World. Available at https://resources.mpep.com.hk/en/news/8/59397(Chinese Only)
Disclaimers:
1. The availability of the cashless arrangement is provided by Network healthcare facilities, GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities and designated medical institutions (no need to pay deposit upon admission and enjoy cashless arrangement for eligible expenses at discharge) is subject to (a) pre-approval (if applicable), applicable benefit limits, deductible (if any) and exclusions under the relevant terms and benefits of the policy; and (b) acceptance of the cashless arrangement by GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities and designated medical institutions. The approval of the cashless arrangement is subject to the final decision of AXA. If applicable, the cashless arrangement is available to GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities and designated medical institutions in mainland China. The provision of the cashless arrangement from GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities, Case Manager and designated medical institutions shall not be deemed as an admission of our liability to pay and/or reimburse the policyholder under the policy or a waiver of any breach of the terms and benefits of the policy. The final claim decision will be determined by the medical information, and the benefits shall be payable subject to the applicable benefit limits of the chosen benefit level.
2. The (a) medical service providers providing the second medical opinion and (b) network doctors and network healthcare facilities providing medical services, are, respectively, independent contractors and are not agents or servants of AXA. AXA shall (i) not be held responsible for or liable to the policy holder or any of the insured person for anything in relation to such medical opinion given by the medical service providers and hospitals; and (ii) not have any obligation or liability whatsoever in relation to the medical services provided by the network doctors and the network healthcare facilities, and shall not be responsible for or liable to any act or failure to act on the part of the network doctors and network healthcare facilities. AXA reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions thereof from time to time without prior notice.
3. For more details, please refer to the following websites:
https://www.axa.com.hk/en/greater-bay-area-medical-concierge-service-network#?Tab$cancer=greater-bay-area-health-concierge-service-network
4. GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities, Case Manager, network doctors and network healthcare facilities are independent third parties and are not agents of AXA. AXA shall not have any obligation or liability whatsoever in relation to the medical services and advices provided by the service providers and their GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities, Case Manager, network doctors and network healthcare facilities and shall not be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities, Case Manager, network doctors and network healthcare facilities are or its personnel (including doctors, nurses, or other medical staff).
5. The list of GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities, GBA Healthcare Facilities, Case Manager, network doctors and network healthcare facilities will be regularly updated by AXA without any prior notice, but there is no guarantee that the list will always reflect the most current information. Therefore, the seniority and fellowship status of Case Manager may vary.
6. The “Medical Green Pass” is not applicable to eligible persons who suffer from acute illness, have been involved in an accident, or require urgent or immediate medical assistance. AXA will arrange hospitalization or outpatient consultation as soon as practicable but cannot guarantee the specific time available for appointment.
7. You can login to Emma by AXA app or other channels made available by AXA or call AXA Customer Care Hotline to obtain the latest Hong Kong network directory3,4, the list of designated hospitals in Mainland China and the China Hospital Enquiry Hotline. The Hong Kong network directory3,4, the list of designated hospitals in Mainland China and the China Hospital Enquiry Hotline may change from time to time without any prior notice.
8. It is only applicable to designated medical insurance plans with the entitled ward class below standard private room and medically necessary hospitalisation.
9. Only applicable to cross-border drug treatment at designated GBA Cancer Healthcare Facilities.
10. Only applicable to designated medical plans and benefit levels. The list of hospital service providers is subject to change from time to time.
11. Source: 10Life, an insurance information and comparison platform. The term "market exclusive" refers to AXA WiseGuard Pro Medical Insurance Plan, which is the only VHIS plan to win the 10Life 5-Star Insurance Award for five consecutive years across all room categories (general ward, semi-private room, and standard private room). Among these, the “Regular” and “Enhance” benefit levels were rated as "5-Star Voluntary Medical Insurance" in the 10Life 5-Star Insurance Award 2026, while the "Premier" and "Noble" benefit levels were rated as "5-Star High-End Medical Insurance." Data as of 2nd January 2026.
Information and materials provided is general in nature and does not constitute medical or health advice from AXA Hong Kong and is on an “as is” and “as-available” basis without representation and/or warranty of any kind, either express or implied. While AXA Hong Kong has taken reasonable care in providing such information and materials, they are not specific to your investment objective, financial situation, health or medical conditions or particular needs. No warranty or responsibility is assumed by AXA Hong Kong and our related or holding companies regarding non-infringement, security, accuracy, completeness, adequacy, reasonableness, fitness for a purpose or free from computer viruses in connection with the information and materials provided. AXA Hong Kong and our related companies and holding companies do not accept any liability for any loss, damage, cost or other expense, whether wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, arising from any error, inaccuracy or omission of the information and materials to the extent that such liability is not excluded by law.
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