High-end medical insurance Comparison: 5 Key Factors to Choose the Best VHIS Plan
Which VHIS is best? Bowtie compares 3 premium plans
Bowtie’s insurance information team has selected two additional premium Voluntary Health Insurance Schemes, both offering online application options, for comparison.
All three companies offer plans at different tiers – Standard Ward, Private Ward and Semi-Private Ward – with coverage across different regions and varying lifetime/annual coverage limits.
The actual coverage received by the insured depends on the tier of the plan purchased.
Comparison of 3 Popular Premium VHIS Plans
At a glance, compare the room types, geographical coverage, sum assured, and co-payment settings of 3 popular premium voluntary health insurance plans. Objectively benchmarked by Bowtie’s insurance information team using uniform criteria, this guide helps you select coverage tailored to your needs.
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | |
| Ward level | Semi-private room | ||
| Protected Area | Global (excluding the United States) | Asia, Australia and New Zealand | Asia |
| Annual sum assured | $10 million | $25 million | $30 million |
| Lifetime coverage | $50 million | No upper limit | No upper limit |
| Deductibles |
|
|
|
| Monthly premium |
(Self-paid: $50,000) |
(Self-paid: $40,000) |
(Self-paid: $50,000) |
How many premium voluntary health insurance plans are available?
Since its launch, Voluntary Health Insurance has enjoyed sustained popularity among consumers. To further bridge coverage gaps, numerous insurers have innovated in product design, successively introducing premium Voluntary Health Insurance plans offering more comprehensive protection.
As of September 2025, 16 insurers across Hong Kong offer 29 premium VMI plans, each typically featuring at least four deductible options, including Bowtie Pink VMI.
1. Monthly Premium Comparison
To facilitate meaningful comparison, we have selected the most comparable plans from three leading insurers, comparing premiums for identical ages and excess levels. This helps you understand long-term premium trends and value for money:
- Excess levels range from $40,000 to $50,000
- Coverage applies to semi-private rooms
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | |
| Deposit | $50,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| Ward | Semi-private room | ||
| Premium | |||
| 10 years old | $259 | $472 | $337 |
| 20 years old | $286 | $489 | $341 |
| 30 years old | $362 | $573 | $458 |
| 40 years old | $438 | $820 | $601 |
| 50 years old | $739 | $1,282 | $900 |
| 60 years old | $1,162 | $2,287 | $1,607 |
| 70 years old | $2,086 | $4,161 | $2,912 |
The premiums above are unaffected by gender.
- *Assumes the policyholder does not smoke
- Remarks：The above premiums represent monthly payment rates before discounts
- Remarks：The standard premiums above were sourced from the Department of Health on 29 December 2025. Insurance companies may update premiums periodically; please refer to official websites for current rates.
We advise everyone to carefully budget before taking out insurance, calculating the monthly premium amount they can afford to be the most discerning consumer.
Of course, if you find the premium increase unreasonable and unaffordable several years after taking out the policy, you can promptly switch to another company!
2. Comparison of Covered Regions and Room Categories
Coverage regions ranging from Asia to worldwide (excluding the United States) are clearly outlined alongside semi-private, private, or standard room categories for each plan. All Bowtie room categories provide coverage for Region 1 worldwide.
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | ||
| Qualified ward level | General ward / Semi-private room / Standard private room 👍🏽 | Semi-private room / standard private room | General ward / Semi-private room | |
| Guaranteed Area* | Global1👍🏽 | Asia, Australia and New Zealand / Global2 | Asia3 / Global | |
- *Psychiatric treatment cover is limited to Hong Kong only
- 1Excludes the United States and certain hospitals in China
- 2Excludes the United States
- 3Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam
- Bowtie provides corresponding ward coverage for standard wards, semi-private rooms, and private rooms globally (excluding certain hospitals in the United States and China).
- Company B offers four tiers of plans:
- Tier 1: Covers semi-private rooms in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Mainland China, plus standard private rooms in other Asian regions, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Tier 2: Covers semi-private rooms in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Mainland China, plus standard private rooms globally (excluding the United States)
- Tier 3: Covers private rooms in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
- Tier 4: Covers private rooms globally (excluding the United States)
- Company C offers standard ward/semi-private room plans for Asia.
So-called “premium voluntary medical insurance” typically covers semi-private rooms or higher room types.
Therefore, when selecting a plan, you may consider your needs before purchasing:
- Should you fall ill, would you prefer a private room for convalescence?
- Do you have specific ward requirements (private toilet? Television? Wi-Fi? Even a small lounge)?
If you have extensive ward preferences, a “Private Ward Plan” may suit you better!
However, “Private Ward Plans” are generally more expensive. We advise careful budgeting before purchasing.
Taking Bowtie Pink Voluntary Health Insurance as an example, for a 30-year-old individual (regardless of gender or smoking status) purchasing a plan with a $50,000 deductible:
| Standard Room | Semi-private Room | Private Room | |
| Premium | $238 | $362
(52.1% more expensive) |
$661
(177.7 % more expensive ) |
3. Comparison of Key Coverage Items
Core protections such as hospitalisation, surgery, and day surgery are compared item by item, with emphasis on whether “full reimbursement” is included and common coverage limits, enabling you to swiftly grasp the actual scope of protection offered by Bowite and other popular plans.
Diagnosis-related coverage
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | |
| Specialist doctor fee1 | Full compensation3 | ||
| Define diagnostic imaging detection2 | |||
Hospitalisation-related coverage
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | |
| Wards and meals | Full compensation3 | Full compensation3
(Maximum 180 days per year) |
|
| Attending physician’s ward round fee | |||
| Intensive care | Full compensatio3
(Maximum 25 days per year) |
||
Surgery-related coverage
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | |
| Surgeon’s fees | Full compensation3 | ||
| Anesthesiologist Fees | |||
| Operating room fee | |||
| Cash guarantee for day surgery | $800 / surgery | X | X |
Non-surgical treatment-related coverage
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C |
| Non-surgical cancer treatment4 | Full compensation3 | |
| Psychiatric treatment
(inpatient treatment only)1 |
||
| Outpatient kidney dialysis # 1 | ||
- 1The Company reserves the right to request proof of the relevant written recommendation, such as a referral letter or a statement provided by the attending physician or registered medical practitioner within the claim form.
- 2Including: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy; and hormone therapy
- 3Full indemnity means no sub-limits apply, and the insurer will provide full compensation for treatment/hospitalisation costs within the "annual/lifetime cover limit" and subject to "necessary and reasonable charges"
- 4Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy
What distinguishes the premium medical insurance products offered by these three insurers?
Similarities:
All three plans (across most tiers) provide full reimbursement for major coverage items, with no sub-limits. Reimbursement is subject only to (1) annual coverage limits, (2) lifetime coverage limits, and (3) the necessity/reasonableness of medical expenses.
Differences:
Some plans impose specified reimbursement periods. For example, Company C limits the number of hospitalisation days. Additionally, each offers distinct supplementary or special coverages. For instance, only Bowtie provides cash benefits for day surgery.
Given the relatively complex structure of premium medical insurance products, the above outlines only key coverage items. Should you have particular interest in a specific plan, it is advisable to download the relevant coverage schedule before committing to purchase. Carefully review whether the plan’s inclusions align with your needs to avoid over- or under-insurance.
Full details can be found on the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme website operated by the Department of Health.
4. Comparing Annual and Lifetime Coverage Limits
Assess whether long-term protection is adequate by comparing the annual coverage limit with the lifetime coverage limit. Bowtie’s plan offers substantial limits, sufficient to cover diverse medical expenses.
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | ||
| Standard room | Annual sum assured | $8 million | This level plan is not set. | $5 million |
| Lifetime coverage | $40 million | No | ||
| Semi-private room | Annual sum assured | $10 million | $25 million – $35 million | $30 million |
| Lifetime coverage | $50 million | No | No | |
| Private room | Annual sum assured | $20 million | $30 million – $40 million | This level plan is not set. |
| Lifetime coverage | $80 million | No |
As evident from the table above, Plans B and C also lack a “lifetime coverage limit” while providing higher “annual coverage limits”. Policyholders need not worry about coverage shortfalls, though one must consider whether such extensive limits are necessary, as higher coverage naturally incurs higher premiums.
Below, we present the premiums for all three plans to facilitate a comprehensive comparison.
5. Comparing Deductibles
| Bowtie | Company B | Company C | |
| Deductible/ Self-payment | Prices range from $0 to $80,000. | Prices range from $0 to $80,000. | Prices range from $0 to $75,000. |
To enable those with tighter budgets to access premium medical insurance, insurers typically offer multiple deductible options. This allows policyholders to tailor their coverage flexibly according to personal finances and existing medical protection. Given that each individual’s medical needs, financial circumstances, and existing coverage limits differ, there is no objective standard for the ideal deductible amount.
If you are also covered by other personal medical insurance or company group medical insurance, you can determine the appropriate deductible amount based on your existing coverage limits. For instance, if your current cover adequately reimburses $80,000 in medical expenses, you may select a high-tier voluntary health insurance plan with an $80,000 excess to ensure all medical costs are fully reimbursed wherever possible.
What factors should be considered when comparing premium flexible VMI plans?
When comparing premium VMI plans, you should consider not only long-term premiums but also factors such as co-payments, geographical restrictions, coverage scope, and benefit limits. For instance, Bowtie Pink offers multiple co-payment options and provides worldwide coverage, ensuring continued protection even if you emigrate in future, allowing individuals to select coverage tailored to their personal needs.
