Author Bowtie Team
Updated on 2025-06-03
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
With immigration numbers surging, many are turning to Hong Kong’s global health insurance for overseas protection. But before you sign up, check the coverage scope, premiums, and limits to avoid surprises. Read this article to find out if it’s the right fit for your international plans!
What is Global Health Insurance? How Does It Protect the Insured?
If you buy global health insurance, you’ll be covered in regions outside Hong Kong, and compensation is still handled on an actual cost basis.
Plus, most plans don’t set a maximum payout for minor items; they only include annual and lifetime coverage limits. As long as the item meets the policy terms, you’ll get compensated.
What Regions Are Commonly Covered?
While global health insurance sounds like it covers the entire world, it might not! You can choose based on your needs, with regions typically divided into these 3 main categories:
- Asia (some plans may include Australia and New Zealand)
- Worldwide (but excluding the US)
- Worldwide (including the US)
Why these 3 categories? It’s mainly due to differences in medical costs.
Hong Kong and Singapore already have some of the highest medical standards and expenses in Asia, so most plans can cover a good chunk of Asia’s medical costs. However, Australia and New Zealand might push things over the edge because their living standards, culture, and habits are more Western-style, making healthcare pricier. That’s why Asian coverage often skips those two.
As for plans that cover worldwide, including the US makes a big difference in premiums and fine print because US medical expenses are sky-high. Just a quick online search will show you: something like an MRI, blood tests, and a one- or two-night hospital stay—without even needing surgery—can easily hit over 10,000 USD. In Hong Kong, the same could cost just over 10,000 HKD. We’re talking multiples or even ten times the difference!
Do Coverage Amounts Differ by Covered Areas?
It depends on the insurance company’s setup. Some plans offer the same coverage limits across different regions, while others don’t. Generally, Asia has the lowest limits, and worldwide plans—especially those including the US—tend to have the highest.
How Much Does Global Health Insurance Cost? Is It Expensive?
Global health insurance premiums are indeed on the higher side compared to standard plans, and they go up as you age. For a guy around 30, the differences between plans can be pretty stark—check out this table for a rough idea.
| Different Global Health Insurance Options | Approximate Annual Premium |
| Asia (some plans may include Australia and New Zealand) | About HK$10,000 to 20,000 |
| Worldwide (but excluding the US) | About HK$20,000 to 30,000 |
| Worldwide (including the US) | About HK$15,000 to 50,000 |
Coverage details and terms can vary widely, even within the same region, so premiums from different insurers might differ a lot. Think about what you really need first, compare options, and pick the one that fits you best.
Is Global Health Insurance suitable for studying abroad, immigrating, or working overseas?
Global health insurance might not always be the best fit for people studying abroad, immigrating, or working overseas. For starters, even if you purchase a policy, changing your place of residence could prompt the insurer to re-underwrite your coverage. This might lead to higher premiums or add exclusions, like not covering certain countries or regions.
Additionally, many plans come with residency day limits. For instance, if you’re working or studying overseas, you might not be covered if your stay exceeds five years in that country. Or, if you spend 185 days or more in one place annually, it could be treated as long-term residency or immigration, potentially resulting in reduced benefits or no coverage at all.
However, residency restrictions vary by insurer—some are stricter than others, while a few have no specific limits. So, whether you’re already insured or planning to get coverage, always assess how any changes in your situation might affect your policy.
If it’s not suitable for immigration or studying abroad, who is it for?
Global health insurance is ideal for those who might occasionally travel, work, study, or stay temporarily in covered regions. It can also work for scenarios where the policyholder is in Hong Kong, but the insured is abroad—for example, parents buying coverage for their kids studying overseas, allowing them to handle insurance matters conveniently when needed.
How does global coverage in VHIS differ from standalone Global Health Insurance?
The basic coverage in voluntary health insurance plans like the “Standard Plan” and “Flexi Plan” must include global protection (except for psychiatric treatment , which is limited to Hong Kong). The main difference from standalone global health insurance is that voluntary plans typically set maximum payout limits for each item.
Plus, VHIS has to meet specific legal requirements, whereas standalone global health insurance doesn’t necessarily follow the same rules, so terms can vary.
Which Bowtie health insurance plans offer global coverage?
All VHIS plans provide global coverage, including for immigration and travel scenarios! Plus, Bowtie Pink offers full reimbursement 1
- 1 Full reimbursement means no per-item limits and applies only to specified benefits. Payouts are subject to deductibles (if applicable), annual limits, lifetime limits, and other factors including reasonable and customary charges, pre-existing conditions, the designated hospital list in Mainland China, and treatment in the US. For full product terms, conditions, risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.
| Bowtie Pink (Ward) * (Bowtie Pink (Ward) / Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private) / Bowtie Pink (Private)) | Bowtie VHIS Flexi | Bowtie VHIS Standard
| |
| Coverage Area Restrictions | Worldwide
| Worldwide
| |
| Important Notes | If the insured needs to change their place of residence, notify Bowtie^—premiums may be adjusted based on the risks of the new location^ | ||
| Annual Limit | $8,000,000 – 20,000,000 | $600,000 – 1,000,000 | $420,000 |
| Lifetime Limit | $40,000,000 – 80,000,000 | No lifetime limit | |
| Monthly Premium for Men (Age 30, Non-smoker) | $197 – 537 (depending on the plan selected) 2 | $236 – 421 | $131 |
| Monthly Premium for Women (Age 30, Non-smoker) | $197 – 537 (depending on the plan selected) 2 | $345 – 548 | $166 |
- ^ For details, please call 3008 8123 to contact Bowtie Customer Service.
- * Bowtie Pink (Ward)’s psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation treatment, and medical negligence coverage apply only to Hong Kong. Bowtie Pink Full Reimbursement does not apply to hospitals in the US or China not on the specified list. This means that if the insured needs to emigrate, premiums may be adjusted based on the potential risks of the future place of residence.
- 2 Calculated with a $80,000 deductible.
Bowtie Pink: Full Reimbursement for Worldwide Protection
Bowtie Pink Full Reimbursement # for any hospital’s any diagnosis, hospitalization, surgery, and specified non-surgical cancer treatments and other eligible medical expenses , no matter where you are, you won’t have to worry about not getting fully covered!
Bowtie Pink offers an annual limit of up to $20 million, with various room types (Ward, Semi-Private, and Private) and deductible options, letting you mix and match flexibly with your company’s health insurance. For a 30-year-old non-smoking male, for instance, Bowtie Pink (Ward) costs just $197 ~ per month!
Folks aged 15 to 80 can sign up for Bowtie Pink, with guaranteed lifelong renewal and coverage that applies worldwide ** —whether you’re traveling or planning to emigrate down the line, you’re still protected. Just like other Bowtie products, it runs on monthly premiums with no savings or investment elements, and hey, if you decide to cancel later, there are no strings attached or surrender fees.
- # Full Reimbursement means no sub-limits and applies only to specified coverage items. Payouts are subject to the remaining deductible (if applicable), annual limit, lifetime limit, and other factors including reasonable and customary charges, pre-existing conditions, specified hospitals in mainland China, and related U.S. treatment rules. For full product terms, conditions, risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.
- ~ Assumes Ward selection with a HK$80,000 deductible option.
- ** Bowtie Pink (Ward) Voluntary Health Insurance Plan’s psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation treatment, and medical negligence coverage apply only to Hong Kong. Bowtie Pink Full Reimbursement does not apply to hospitals in the US or China not on the specified list. This means that if the insured needs to emigrate, premiums may be adjusted based on the potential risks of the future place of residence. For details, please call 3008 8123 to contact Bowtie Customer Service.
Enjoy Exclusive Discounts Now!
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