Policyholders in Hong Kong and mainland China can access appointment and medical escort services.

HSBC Life is expanding its cross-border healthcare services with four new Care+ Premium Lounges in Shanghai, Suzhou, Shenzhen and Macau, giving policyholders access to in-person assistance when seeking medical care outside their usual place of residence.

The lounges will launch on 14 October, bringing the insurer’s network to five locations, including its first lounge in Shenzhen, which opened last year.

The new lounges in Shanghai, Suzhou and Shenzhen’s Futian district are operated in partnership with Jiahui Health, whilst the Macau facility is run with iRad Hospital.

HSBC Life said it is the first and only insurer in Hong Kong to establish physical healthcare lounges in hospitals and clinics across the market.

The lounges offer appointment coordination and escort services to help customers navigate unfamiliar healthcare facilities.

Policyholders can also access selected medical and dental service discounts, as well as preferential rates for health screenings.

All HSBC Life policyholders in Hong Kong and mainland China are eligible to use the Care+ Premium Lounges.

The expansion comes as more people travel to, live in or retire in mainland China.

According to the Hong Kong government, passenger trips through various inbound and outbound ports reached a record 335 million last year.

HSBC Life said access to medical services is an important consideration for people deciding where to live or retire, particularly when they need healthcare support across borders.

Geoffrey Au, chief product and in-force officer at HSBC Life Hong Kong, said the lounges provide practical assistance for customers who live, work or plan to retire across different locations.

The insurer aims to connect healthcare support with protection, wealth and retirement planning as it seeks to become customers’ designated health and retirement partner across the market.