Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-07-09
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Many Hong Kongers struggle with digestive issues. If discomfort persists, your doctor might recommend a gastroscopy. Done at a day medical center, this quick 10-15 minute procedure might seem simple, but don’t assume your insurance will fully cover it! Without outpatient surgery coverage, claims could be denied. Good news—Bowtie VHIS has successfully covered full gastroscopy costs for clients. Check out real cases and see how the numbers add up!
Is Gastroscopy Not a Medical Need? When Should You Get One?
No one opts for a gastroscopy on a whim. A gastroscopy, also known as an upper endoscopy, involves a flexible tube with a camera that’s inserted through the mouth into the esophagus to examine the stomach. It can instantly detect abnormalities like inflammation, ulcers, polyps, or even cancer cells.
If you’ve experienced or are dealing with the following issues long-term, consult a doctor who may refer or recommend a gastroscopy:
- Persistent upper abdominal discomfort, pain, or bloating
- Frequent indigestion
- Acid reflux
- Difficulty swallowing
- History of stomach bleeding or black stools
Factors That May Affect Gastroscopy Costs
A gastroscopy can lead to two scenarios, each with different procedures and potential involvement of other specialists, which may adjust the overall cost:
- If abnormalities are found, the doctor may assess whether further tests or surgeries are needed, such as polyp removal or tissue sampling for pathology analysis.
- If no abnormalities are detected, the doctor will explain the results to the patient after the procedure.
How to Maximize Your Gastroscopy Claim?
Generally speaking, private hospital or gastroscopy center fees range from HK$5,000 to over HK$10,000. Additional charges apply if further tissue sampling or polyp removal is required. While it’s not an astronomical sum, getting full coverage is always the goal! Bowtie VHIS covers surgeries for both inpatient and outpatient cases. Bowtie customers who arrange a gastroscopy through our medical network and use BowtieCash to cover any shortfall (if applicable) have a good chance of paying $0 out of pocket.
What is BowtieCash?
BowtieCash #is Bowtie’s pioneering reward program, offering extra perks to Bowtie VHIS policyholders by covering reasonable medical expenses. It can be used to pay for remaining medical costs after claims are settled through Bowtie’s VHIS plans. With BowtieCash, customers, like in the case below, might even settle their bills for $0!
#This program is subject to the BowtieCash Promotion Rules .
We’ve crafted a case study using the pricing for a gastroscopy at The Grand HD Endoscopy Centre , with a $2,000 BowtieCash balance as a reference. Let’s break down how Bowtie customers can potentially claim the full cost of a gastroscopy without paying a single cent.
Gastroscopy Insurance Claim: 1 Case Study
Normal Stomach Condition
Case 1: Ms. Lee underwent a gastroscopy at The Grand HD Endoscopy Centre (Mong Kok) . Her stomach condition was normal, requiring no additional surgery or treatment. Whether Ms. Lee is insured under the Bowtie VHIS Standard , she can receive over 90% reimbursement of medical expenses. By using BowtieCash to cover the remaining 0.7%, she might settle the bill for $0!
And if Ms. Lee is insured under the Bowtie VHIS Flexi Regular , even without BowtieCash, she could still potentially get full reimbursement!
| Item | Cost | Bowtie VHIS – Standard Coverage | Bowtie VHIS – Flexi Regular Coverage |
| Surgeon’s Fee | HK$4,500* | HK$4,500 (Fully covered!) | HK$4,500 (Fully covered!) |
| Operating Room Fee | HK$1,620* | HK$1,575 | HK$1,620 (Fully covered!) |
| Additional Medical Coverage | / | This plan does not provide additional medical coverage | Not required |
| Total | HK$6,120* | HK$6,075 | HK$6,120 |
| Difference | / | HK$45 | HK$0 |
| BowtieCash | / | HK$45 | HK$0 |
| Actual Amount Paid | / | HK$0 | HK$0 |
- * The prices in the table are exclusive outpatient fees for Bowtie customers.
- * The above fees include intravenous sedative costs, photo report with images, doctor fees, operating room charges, equipment fees, laxatives, pre-operative doctor consultation fees, and gastric endoscopy H. pylori testing.
- All cases mentioned above are for reference only. Actual medical expenses will depend on the doctor’s recommendations and decisions based on the patient’s condition.
Data Source
- 1 Gobear
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