Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-07-09
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Company medical insurance often offers only basic coverage for hospitalization and medical expenses, with limits varying by job level, salary, and seniority. Relying solely on it might leave you exposed to hefty medical bills—find out why a personal plan is a smart backup!
Many companies in Hong Kong offer free medical coverage for their employees, but does this mean working professionals don’t need to buy additional health insurance? Think again. Company medical plans often provide only basic hospitalization and medical expense coverage, with limits varying based on job level, salary, or years of service. Relying solely on your employer’s plan might not be enough to cover hefty medical bills.
In other words, if you unfortunately fall ill and need surgery, your group medical insurance might only cover a small fraction of the costs. You could end up paying out of pocket, potentially in the five-figure range, putting a heavy strain on your finances. Worse still, if you leave your job, that coverage ends immediately, leaving you in a risky “gap period.”
Truth is, the medical insurance provided by your company may not fully meet your personal needs. So, why not take a closer look at your existing group plan’s coverage and top it up with a personal medical insurance policy? It’s a smart way to save money while significantly boosting your protection—a win-win!
Minor Illness – Hemorrhoidectomy (Medium Surgery)
Hemorrhoids are a common condition in Hong Kong, and if your job requires long hours of standing or sitting, your risk increases. Severe hemorrhoids can cause intense pain, affect bowel movements, and even lead to bleeding, requiring prompt treatment with medication or surgery.
If you’re only covered by group medical insurance, you might get reimbursed for just a portion of the costs. However, by adding a VHIS “Standard Plan” as a top-up, your out-of-pocket expenses can be significantly reduced, offering much more comprehensive protection than relying solely on your company’s plan.
Let’s say a patient opts for a hemorrhoidectomy at St. Paul’s Hospital (with a 1-day hospital stay ):
|
Expense Breakdown |
Cost * | Group Insurance Reimbursement 1 | Out-of-Pocket | Bowtie VHIS Standard Reimbursement | Out-of-Pocket After Top-Up |
| Hospitalization & Meal Charges | $500 | $500 | $0 | / |
$0 |
|
Hospital Miscellaneous Fees |
$4,100 | $4,100 | $0 | / | $0 |
| Surgical Fees | $11,400 | $9,000 | $2,400 | $2,400 |
$0 |
|
Anesthesiologist Fees |
$3,500 | $2,700 | $800 | $800 | $0 |
| Operating Room Fees | $4,600 | $2,700 | $1,900 | $840 |
$1,060 |
|
Pre/Post-Hospitalization or Day Surgery Outpatient Care |
$400 | $400 | $0 | / | $0 |
| Total: | $24,500 | $19,400 | $5,100 | $4,040 |
$1,060 |
*The above medical expense data is sourced from Bowtie’s internal claims records and rounded to the nearest hundred.
Serious Illness – Breast Tumor Removal Surgery (Major Surgery)
Breast cancer is the top killer among women in Hong Kong, with an average of 11 women diagnosed daily. The median age of onset is around 50, while the youngest patients are under 20. If you’re unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with breast cancer, medical expenses can be astronomical. Relying solely on a company-provided medical insurance plan might not cover all the costs involved. For instance, if your doctor recommends breast tumor removal surgery, the total cost could exceed HK$188,000, while group medical insurance might only reimburse HK$72,200. In other words, you could be left footing over 60% of the bill—a hefty financial burden.
However, if you’ve got Bowtie’s “Cancer Fighter 3M” in your corner, your coverage gets a massive boost, potentially reducing your out-of-pocket expenses to HK$0. Curious about how “Cancer Fighter 3M” works its magic? Check out the table below for a detailed breakdown:
Let’s assume the patient opts for treatment at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital to undergo breast tumor removal surgery (with a 5-day hospital stay ):
| Expense Breakdown | Cost * | Group Insurance Reimbursement 2 | Out-of-Pocket Amount | Bowtie “Cancer Fighter 3M” Reimbursement |
Out-of-Pocket After Coverage |
|
Hospitalization & Meal Charges |
$7,600 | $4,500 | $3,100 | $3,100 | $0 |
|
Hospital Miscellaneous Fees |
$80,100 | $12,000 | $68,100 | $68,100 | $0 |
| Inpatient Doctor Fees | $7,700 | $4,500 | $3,200 | $3,200 |
$0 |
|
Surgical Fees |
$55,000 | $32,000 | $23,000 | $23,000 | $0 |
| Anesthesiologist Fees | $19,000 | $9,600 | $9,400 | $9,400 |
$0 |
|
Operating Room Fees |
$18,900 |
$9,600 | $9,300 | $9,300 |
$0 |
| Total: | $188,300 | $72,200 | $116,100 | $116,100 |
$0 |
*The above medical expense data is sourced from Bowtie’s internal claims records and rounded to the nearest hundred.
Non-Serious Illness – Gastritis Treatment, Endoscopy & CT Scan
Hong Kong’s working crowd often eats at irregular hours, making digestive system issues like gastritis a common problem. If a doctor recommends an endoscopy and an abdominal CT scan, relying solely on company-provided group medical insurance might still leave you shelling out nearly HK$10,000. While not an astronomical sum, it can still put a dent in your finances.
That’s why getting a personal medical insurance plan as a top-up is a smart move. It ensures you’re not thrown off balance by unexpected medical bills, preserving your savings from being wiped out by a single illness. The VHIS “Standard Plan” covers diagnostic imaging tests, surgical fees, and even post-discharge follow-up consultations for gastritis, significantly easing the financial burden for policyholders.
Let’s assume a patient opts for treatment at St. Teresa’s Hospital for gastritis treatment, endoscopy (minor surgery), and abdominal CT scan ( 2-day hospital stay ):
|
Expense Breakdown |
Cost * | Group Insurance Reimbursement 3 | Out-of-Pocket | Bowtie VHIS Standard Reimbursement | Out-of-Pocket After Top-Up |
| Hospital Stay & Meals (2 Days) | $1,300 | $1,200 | $100 | $100 |
$0 |
|
Hospital Miscellaneous Fees |
$12,300 | $12,000 | $300 | $300 | $0 |
|
Attending Doctor’s Visit Fee (3 Days) |
$1,900 |
$1,800 | $100 | $100 |
$0 |
|
Surgical Fees |
$6,000 | $6,000 | $0 | / | $0 |
| Anesthesiologist Fee | $2,000 | $1,875 | $125 | / |
$125 |
|
Operating Room Fee |
$2,300 | $1,875 | $425 | / | $425 |
| Prescribed Diagnostic Imaging Tests | $8,100 | / | $8,100 | $5,670 |
$2,430 |
|
Pre-Admission or Post-Discharge/Day Surgery Outpatient Care |
$3,400 | $3,000 | $400 | $400 | $0 |
| Total: | $37,300 | $27,750 | $9,550 | $6,570 |
$2,980 |
*The above medical expense data is sourced from Bowtie’s internal claims records and rounded to the nearest hundred.
- 1 Sourced from X Group Insurance Plan
- 2 Sourced from Y Group Insurance
- 3 Sourced from Z Group Insurance Plan
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