Insurance

A Complete Guide To Greater Bay Area (GBA) Health Insurance

Author Bowtie Team

Updated on 2025-06-19

Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.

Many Hong Kongers frequently travel or work in the Greater Bay Area. Wondering about tailored medical insurance options? Discover if VHIS’s global coverage suits your needs—Bowtie breaks it all down for you.

What is the Greater Bay Area?

The Greater Bay Area, officially known as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, covers the regions including Hong Kong , Macao , the two special administrative regions, and Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing , nine cities in Guangdong Province, with a total area of approximately 56,000 square kilometers.

According to the Shanghai Securities News, in 2023, the Greater Bay Area’s total population exceeded 86 million, and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) surpassed 14 trillion RMB.

What Medical Insurance Options Are Available in the Greater Bay Area?

In Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area medical insurance doesn’t have a unified definition. Beyond the mainland’s official social security, some insurance companies have introduced products specifically for medical coverage in the Greater Bay Area.

Mainland Social Security

Hong Kong residents who live, work, or study in mainland China can now participate in various basic social security programs. Social security consists of five main components: basic pension insurance, basic medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance.

Within social security, basic medical insurance provides coverage for outpatient services and full hospitalization for mainland residents. Depending on whether the resident is employed, the medical insurance premiums are shared by the resident and employer (for employed individuals) or the government (for non-employed individuals).

For example, in Shenzhen, Hong Kong residents with a social security card can generally receive coverage for about 90% of medical expenses at designated hospitals.

Hospitalization Medical Insurance

Some bank insurance groups offer hospitalization medical insurance targeted at the Greater Bay Area. This product essentially covers hospitalization and surgery expenses in the Greater Bay Area, though the coverage limits are relatively modest. Given its coverage level, the premiums aren’t particularly attractive. The product’s details and premiums are as follows:

*Coverage Area*	Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China
*Annual Limit*	HK$1,000,000
*Lifetime Limit*	HK$3,000,000
*Deductible Options*	HK$0 / 10,000 / 30,000
*Ward Level*	Hong Kong and Macao: Semi-private room Mainland China: Semi-private room, general ward, VIP ward, special needs ward, and international ward (limited to mainland public hospitals of Grade II Level A or above)
*Eligible Age for Application*	15 to 70 years old
*Renewal Policy*	Guaranteed lifelong renewal
*Coverage Summary*	Full reimbursement for hospitalization and surgery expenses in Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China Full reimbursement for specified diagnostic imaging tests, cancer treatments, kidney dialysis, and more in Mainland China Includes Greater Bay Area hospitalization cash, emergency outpatient services, specified critical illness waiver of deductible, and green channel services (limited to Grade III Level A public hospitals in Mainland China)
*Annual Premium* *30-year-old without social security*	$6,919 (HK$0 deductible) $5,617 (Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible) $3,869 (Hong Kong and Macao HK$30,000 deductible; Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible)
*Annual Premium* *40-year-old without social security*	$9,145 (HK$0 deductible) $7,349 (Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible) $5,221 (Hong Kong and Macao HK$30,000 deductible; Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible)
*Annual Premium* *50-year-old without social security*	$13,398 (HK$0 deductible) $10,790 (Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible) $8,007 (Hong Kong and Macao HK$30,000 deductible; Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible)
*Annual Premium* *60-year-old without social security*	$22,752 (HK$0 deductible) $18,260 (Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible) $13,929 (Hong Kong and Macao HK$30,000 deductible; Mainland China HK$10,000 deductible)

Outpatient Insurance

Besides inpatient insurance, some insurance companies have also introduced outpatient coverage specifically for designated cities in the Greater Bay Area. Depending on the plan level, it offers either 15 or 30 outpatient visits per year, but you’ll need to check with an intermediary for the premium details.

*Coverage Locations*	Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, and Zhongshan
*Age for Subscription*	15 to 75 years
*Renewal Policy*	Renewable annually up to age 80
*Coverage Summary*	In-person consultation with a general practitioner including up to 3 days of basic medication Online consultation with a general practitioner including up to 3 days of medication delivery (same region) Unlimited additional online consultations with a general practitioner (up to 1 per day) (Plan 2 only) Basic physical examination once (Plan 2 only) Death benefit compensation of $2,500 Accidental death compensation of $2,500
*Number of Coverage Visits*	Plan 1: 15 visits per policy year Plan 2: 30 visits per policy year (Up to 1 per day)
*Co-payment*	Hong Kong: $20 Macao: MOP 20 Designated cities in Mainland China: RMB 8
*Annual Premium*	No public information available

VHIS

Besides the insurance products specifically designed for the Greater Bay Area mentioned above, a VHIS plan can already provide actual reimbursement for eligible medical expenses, giving you extra peace of mind when traveling, visiting relatives, or working in the Greater Bay Area.

Bowtie VHIS Standard is global, so medical expenses in mainland China are also covered; if you purchase the Bowtie VHIS Flexi or Premium VHIS , whether treatment in mainland China is covered depends on the policy’s restrictions regarding the coverage area.

If you purchase Bowtie VHIS Standard / Bowtie VHIS Flexi

Eligible medical expenses for treatment in mainland hospitals (except for psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation treatment, and medical negligence coverage) are covered.

If you purchase Bowtie Pink (Premium VHIS)

Involving Designated Hospitals in Mainland China outside of the list of Designated Hospitals in Mainland China , premium hospitals within the list, or medical expenses exceeding the specified ward levels, will be compensated according to the ‘Standard Plan’ limits.

In other words, if you’re seeking treatment in mainland China and want full reimbursement, you’ll need to choose a Grade 3A hospital or above in mainland China or a non-premium hospital on the designated list .

# The Bowtie Pink VHIS Series fully covers eligible medical expenses for diagnosis, hospitalization, surgery, and specified non-surgical cancer treatments (excluding the US), subject to annual and lifetime coverage limits.

More Comprehensive VHIS Coverage

As mentioned earlier, VHIS coverage is global, meaning this policy not only covers eligible medical expenses for hospitalization and surgery in the Greater Bay Area but also remains effective if the insured is in other cities in mainland China or even traveling to other countries.

Furthermore, all insured persons who successfully purchase Bowtie VHIS will automatically enjoy BowtieGO free membership, allowing them to access general outpatient, Chinese medicine, bone-setting, and acupuncture services in Hong Kong at discounted ‘exclusive rates’ through the BowtieGO medical network—which is another great advantage of the product!

⚡Bowtie Pink Blog Promo!

Tired of sky-high private hospital bills but hesitant about purchasing VHIS? Bowtie Pink provides full coverage*, with long-term premiums are substantially lower than market rates^.

For a limited time, use the exclusive Bowtie Blog promo code【BLOGENGINSURE】to get an impressive 65% in first year’s premium and secure top-tier health protection at an unbeatable price!

^{*Full coverage shall mean no itemized benefit sub-limits, and applies to designated benefit items only. The benefit payable shall be subject to the remaining deductible (if applicable), annual benefit limit, lifetime benefit limit and other limitations such as reasonable and customary charges, a pre-existing condition, “List of Designated Hospitals in Mainland China” and receiving medical treatment in the United States. For detailed terms and conditions, product risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.}
^{^For example, with Bowtie Pink (Ward) and the deductible option HK$80,000, the monthly premium for a 30-year-old non-smoker is HK$197. The premium comparison above is based on similar medical insurance plans with the ward level (data source on 27, July 2023), HK$50,000 to HK$80,000 deductibles, for a 30-year-old non-smoker. Different medical insurance plans have different coverage and benefit limits. For details, please refer to the relevant insurance policy and its terms and conditions.}

Author

Bowtie Team

The Bowtie Life Insurance Company Limited is an authorized life insurance company and Hong Kong’s very first virtual insurer approved. Through the use of modern technology and medical expertise, Bowtie offers an agent-free, commission-free and more convenient online platform for customers to quote, apply and claim for Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) anytime anywhere. Bowtie is ranked first in the direct channel sales throughout 2021. Stay up to date at www.bowtie.com.hk