Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-05-31
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Newborns have low immunity, so even a cold can develop into serious complications. Learn about the 3 common infant diseases and 5 key points for insuring babies under 1 year to find your child the best protection!
What Health Risks Do Newborn Babies Face?
1. Chickenpox
Chickenpox can vary in severity, with serious complications including secondary bacterial infections (such as cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis, and toxic shock syndrome), pneumonia, and encephalitis. Newborns who contract chickenpox may experience more severe symptoms, potentially endangering their lives.
In Hong Kong, children receive their first dose of the chickenpox vaccine at one year old, which means there is still a risk of infection before this age. If a child’s condition suddenly worsens or signs of dehydration appear, immediate hospitalization is necessary.
2. Roseola
Roseola is a common infectious disease in infants and young children in Hong Kong, most frequently affecting those aged 6 months to 2 years. Due to the possibility of causing sudden high fevers, parents should pay close attention to their child’s health. Some affected children may experience symptoms such as eye rolling and convulsions. In such cases, parents should seek medical attention immediately.
3. Gastroenteritis
According to Dr. Chan Cheung-yin from Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, acute gastroenteritis is the most common infectious disease among newborns aged 0 to 1 year. As babies grow, they tend to put their hands or small objects in their mouths. This behavior increases the risk of exposure to pathogens such as rotavirus, leading to gastroenteritis, which can be severe and may result in dehydration.
Which Insurance Is Best For Your Baby? 5 Key Factors to Consider
1. Hospitalisation Needs
Medical insurance is crucial at every stage of life, especially for newborns who can’t yet express themselves verbally. Any discomfort can cause significant worry for parents, and since babies have low immunity, even minor issues could lead to serious complications. Therefore, the first insurance parents should consider for their child is hospital medical insurance .
2. Ward Levels: Multi-Occupancy General Wards Vs Private Rooms
Private hospital wards vary in levels, such as the nightly rates for Ordinary Ward and Private Room , which can differ greatly. Consequently, medical costs will vary significantly based on the ward level.
Additionally, babies have low immunity and are prone to cross-infections. When ill, they often need a parent to stay overnight, so opting for a semi-private or private room with more space can be more comfortable for both the baby and parents.
3. Miscellaneous Fees Coverage
Since babies can’t express their symptoms, doctors often conduct extensive tests in hospitalization cases to diagnose the issue through elimination. Even without surgery, examination fees can add up to several thousand dollars.
If you choose traditional medical insurance or VHIS Basic, the miscellaneous fees cap may be low, leaving parents to cover thousands in out-of-pocket expenses. For comprehensive coverage without breaking the bank, a premium medical insurance plan without sub-limits can provide more thorough protection for your baby.
4. Get Insured as Early as Possible
Many parents might only think of buying insurance when their baby gets sick, but by then, you may not be able to pass underwriting, or you could face higher premiums or additional exclusions . It’s best to buy insurance while your baby is healthy. VHIS plans have a minimum enrolment age of 15 days after birth , so you can make a purchase shortly after the baby is discharged from the hospital.
5. Focus on Medical and Critical Illness Insurance
Since babies don’t have income or work, life insurance isn’t necessary. Also, as they are learning to walk until age 1, and with careful parental supervision, the risk of accidents is low, so accident insurance isn’t a priority.
However, if you want to enhance coverage for serious illnesses, consider adding Term Critical Illness Insurance . If your child unfortunately develops a major illness, beyond medical costs, you might need to quit your job to care for them fully or reduce working hours, increasing the family’s financial burden .
Critical illness insurance can provide financial support for your family. For example, if you anticipate needing to take 3 years off work to care for your child, consider a policy with a sum assured that is 3 times your annual salary for added security.
Additionally, parents should review whether their own life insurance coverage is sufficient, as the loss of a parent would leave the baby without their primary protection.
Based on the above 5 major factors, Baby Insurance priority consideration order is as follows:
Most parents want to provide the best treatment and protection for their children. High-end medical insurance allows the insured to stay in a private room, offering a high-quality recovery environment, with higher coverage limits than standard medical insurance.
Therefore, you can consider Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private) , which features admission to a semi-private room , with an annual limit of HK$10,000,000 and full reimbursement for various medical expenses * . Additionally, if you already have company medical insurance covering your children, you can opt for a plan with a higher deductible to further reduce the premium.
Cheapest VHIS Options for 0-1 Year-Olds
The Bowtie team has compiled the premiums for Bowtie and other common insurance companies’ VHIS Standard Plan for 0 – 1 year-olds :
“Standard Plan” Premiums (Male)
| Insurance Company | Bowtie | Company A | Company B | Company F | Company M |
| 0 years old | HK$1,656 | HK$2,758.4 | HK$3,396 | HK$3,708 | HK$2,073 |
| 1 year old | HK$1,620 | HK$2,758.4 | HK$3,396 | HK$3,708 | HK$1,952 |
“Standard Plan” Premiums (Female)
| Insurance Company | Bowtie | Company A | Company B | Company F | Company M |
| 0 years old | HK$1,764 | HK$2,208 | HK$3,396 | HK$2,873 | HK$2,152 |
| 1 year old | HK$1,692 | HK$2,208 | HK$3,396 | HK$2,873 | HK$2,034 |
If you plan to insure a newborn or baby aged 0–1 with VHIS Standard , Bowtie ’s premiums are about 2 times cheaper than some insurance companies! As seen from the table above, Insurance Company B ’s premiums are sufficient to insure two 0–1 year old newborns/babies with Bowtie VHIS Standard !
- * The above prices are the standard premiums for the VHIS Standard for non-smokers of that age, updated to April 2, 2025, for reference only. For accurate quotes and product details, please inquire with each insurance company.
VHIS Flexi Premiums (Semi-Private Room)
VHIS Flexi come in many varieties, so the Bowtie insurance information team focuses on comparing High-End VHIS with annual coverage of over HK$10 million that allow admission to semi-private rooms:
| Insurance Company | Bowtie | Company P | Company B | Company F | Company M |
| 0 years old | HK$2,976 | HK$3,063.2 | HK$4,405 | HK$2,505 | HK$2,401 |
| 1 year old | HK$2,976 | HK$3,063.2 | HK$4,405 | HK$2,505 | HK$2,401 |
| Deductible | HK$80,000 | HK$96,000 | HK$80,000 | HK$100,000 | HK$100,000 |
| Coverage Area Restrictions | Worldwide* | Worldwide (excluding the US) | Asia, Australia, and New Zealand | Worldwide (emergency treatment only) | Asia |
As seen from the table above, although insurance company M ‘s premiums are relatively cheaper, policyholders actually need to pay a HK$100,000 deductible themselves, and coverage is only in Asia .
In contrast, if you subscribe to Bowtie Pink , you can pay a lower deductible, and this insurance product offers worldwide coverage* , so whether you and your family plan to immigrate outside Asia or travel abroad, you will still be covered!
- * The above prices are the standard VHIS premiums for non-smokers of that age, updated as of April 2, 2025, for reference only. For accurate quotes and product details, please contact the respective insurance companies.
- * Comparison is based on monthly premium payments.
- * Worldwide coverage applies (including for immigration and travel), except for hospitals in the US and non-designated hospitals in China; psychiatric treatment is limited to Hong Kong.
Want to add outpatient coverage?
Bowtie now offers the BowtieGo health lifestyle membership plan for all Bowtie VHIS customers, allowing VHIS customers to enjoy network services including general outpatient, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and injury treatment at exclusive member rates, reducing everyday medical burdens.
Bowtie Children’s Growth Term CI — Hong Kong’s First Congenital Genetic Disease Coverage
In addition to the Bowtie Term CI mentioned above, parents can also subscribe to Bowtie Children’s Growth Term CI for unborn or newborn babies, filling the gap in current market medical insurance for newborn medical conditions, congenital, and genetic diseases, while also protecting the expectant mother.
The newly launched Bowtie Children’s Growth Term CI has the following features:
- Lifetime coverage limit up to HK$500,000
- Available for subscription from week 18 of pregnancy (after completing a structural scan with no abnormalities in the report)
- Hong Kong’s first coverage for congenital genetic diseases, including various genetic conditions (such as Angelman Syndrome ), filling existing gaps in medical coverage
- Covers a variety of medical conditions, including pregnancy complications (such as amniotic fluid embolism , preeclampsia )
- Covers phototherapy for severe jaundice*
After children reach adulthood, parents can switch their coverage to Bowtie Term CI for enhanced protection!
Children’s Growth Term CI Premiums (18-31 Weeks Unborn Baby to 1 Year Old)
| Age | Male | Female |
| Unborn (Pregnancy weeks 18-31) | $591 | |
| 0 (From 15 days after birth) | $591 | $591 |
| 1 | $304 | $224 |
- * Applies to insured persons born at or after thirty-seven (37) weeks of pregnancy who have neonatal jaundice and receive at least five (5) consecutive days of inpatient phototherapy in a hospital in Hong Kong within thirty (30) days from the birth date. The inpatient phototherapy must be medically necessary.
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