High-end VHIS Plans: Premiums, coverage and benefits guide
Hong Kong’s ageing population will significantly increase demands on government resource allocation, supporting infrastructure and expenditure over the next 20 to 30 years.
As individuals age, their healthcare needs and expectations grow; yet under mounting pressures, waiting times for public healthcare services will only lengthen. VHIS aims to alleviate some of this pressure on public healthcare by channelling demand towards private hospitals, offering the public an additional choice.
High-end VHIS constitutes a “Flexi Plan” under the VHIS scheme. Beyond covering the basic medical protection of the “Standard Plan”, it may offer additional medical coverage, health screening benefits, discharge without out-of-pocket expenses, and optional coverages (subject to final policy terms).
The most crucial aspect of purchasing VHIS is successful claims settlement!
Taking Bowtie VHIS as an example, the claim approval rate stands at 98.3%*. Bowtie offers multiple VHIS plans, including the “Standard Plan”, “Flexi Standard”, “Flexi Plus”, and Bowtie Pink, to meet diverse customer needs. Each plan has its unique features and advantages; it is advisable to compare them carefully before making a selection.
*The above represents the average claim approval rate for Bowtie’s VHIS “Standard Plan”, “Flexi Standard”, “Flexi Plus” and Bowtie Pink as of February 2025.
Distinctive Features of the High-end VHIS Scheme
1. Full reimbursement
High-end VHIS represents one of the high-end medical insurance products available on the market, distinguished primarily by its provision of full reimbursement for medical expenses. Items such as surgical fees, intensive care, specified diagnostic imaging tests, and specified non-surgical cancer treatments are generally eligible for full reimbursement, subject to an annual coverage limit. Compared to traditional medical insurance or basic VHIS Schemes with per-item caps, the coverage limits offered by high-end VHIS Schemes can be tens of times higher!
When comparing high-end VHIS Schemes, one can simultaneously compare the annual coverage limits of different plans.
Take Bowtie Pink as an example:
| Bowtie Pink (Standard Room) | Annual coverage limit: $8 million;
lifetime coverage limit: $40 million |
| Bowtie Pink (Semi-private) | Annual coverage limit: $10 million;
lifetime coverage limit: $50 million |
| Bowtie Pink (Private Home) | Annual coverage limit: $20 million;
lifetime coverage limit: $80 million |
The following cover items are eligible for full reimbursement*:
- Hospital accommodation and meals
- Miscellaneous expenses
- Attending physician’s ward rounds fee
- Specialist consultation fee
- Intensive care
- Surgeon’s fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee
- Operating theatre fee
- Specified diagnostic imaging tests
- Specified non-surgical cancer treatments
- Pre-admission / post-discharge / pre- and post-day surgery outpatient care
- Psychiatric treatment
- Accidental emergency outpatient treatment
- Outpatient renal dialysis
- Hospital bedside attendant fee
- *Full indemnity refers to the absence of sub-limits on compensation and applies only to specified coverage items. The payable compensation is subject to the deductible balance (if applicable), annual coverage limits, lifetime coverage limits, and other restrictions including reasonable and customary charges, pre-existing conditions, the list of designated hospitals in Mainland China, and medical treatment in the United States. For detailed terms and conditions, product risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.
2. Deductibles Options
Concurrently, premium medical insurance (including high-end voluntary medical insurance) typically offers various deductibles options to assist clients in reducing premiums. The deductibles represents the qualifying medical expenses the policyholder must bear personally each policy year. The insurer will reimburse the remaining costs, subject to the annual limit.
Most employees receive basic medical benefits through their employers, typically providing limited inpatient coverage. For individuals seeking comprehensive supplementary protection, combining high-end VHIS with an appropriate deductibles option presents a viable solution.
How exactly does insurance with deductibles/deductible help clients reduce premiums?
A 30-year-old woman (non-smoker) taking out high-end medical insurance without deductibles would pay approximately $700 monthly for standard ward coverage, amounting to around $8,400 annually. Moreover, premiums increase steadily with age. However, if her employer provides standard ward hospitalisation cover with a $20,000 annual limit, designating this sum as the deductibles can nearly halve her premium to approximately $350 monthly.
This allows clients to secure adequate cover at a reasonable cost.
Taking Bowtie Pink as an example, it offers four deductibles options: $0, $20,000, $50,000, and $80,000. You can select the appropriate deductibles option based on your personal financial situation and existing medical coverage.
Premiums for High-end VHIS
Taking Bowtie Pink as an example, premiums depend on factors such as your age, smoking status, and chosen deductibles amount:
| Non-smokers aged 30 and above (same price for men and women) | Bowtie Pink
(Standard Room) |
Bowtie Pink
(Semi-private) |
Bowtie Pink
(Private) |
| $80,000 | $213/month | $312/month | $580/month |
| $50,000 | $238/month | $362/month | $661/month |
| $20,000 | $347/month | $475/month | $1,125/month |
| $0 | $702/month | $909/month | $1,400/month |
Naturally, do not forget to compare premiums with other similar products.
Taking Bowtie Pink as another example, among five high-end VHIS products (semi-private room), Bowtie offers the lowest premiums across multiple age groups:
Premium Comparison for high-end VHIS (Semi-Private Room, Non-Smoking Male, $0 deductibles, Monthly Payment)
| Age of the insured | Bowtie Pink | Company A | Company B | Company F | Company M |
| 0 years old | 768 | 1,000 | 1,353 | 893 | 1,009 |
| 10 years old | 768 | 1,000 | 865 | 817 | 1,009 |
| 20 years old | 717 | 1,032 | 1,031 | 866 | 1,117 |
| 30 years old | 909 | 1,504 | 1,259 | 1,189 | 1,370 |
| 40 years old | 1,176 | 1,808 | 1,719 | 1,417 | 1,694 |
| 50 years old | 1,799 | 2,856 | 2,677 | 2,078 | 2,495 |
| 60 years old | 2,833 | 4,744 | 4,438 | 3,519 | 4,553 |
- Note: Data updated as of 29 December 2025. Some premiums are rounded. Company M's monthly premiums are calculated by dividing the annual premium by 12.
Coverage Limits for high-end VHIS Plans
As high-end VHIS falls under the category of “flexible plans,” insurers enjoy considerable freedom in product design. Consequently, coverage details, benefit limits, and exclusions vary significantly across different high-end VHIS plans available on the market, often leaving consumers overwhelmed by choice.
Taking Bowtie Pink as a reference, the table below compares premium medical insurance plans from seven insurers:
| Bowtie Pink | Other high-end VHIS | |
| Product Structure | Full protection | Full protection |
| Annual basic compensation cap | $8 million – $20 million | $10 million – $30 million |
| Lifetime compensation cap | $40 million – $80 million | $30 million – No upper limit |
| Long-term outpatient care after discharge | Full coverage for outpatient services within 90 days | Full coverage for outpatient services within 60 to 90 days |
Some high-end VHIS plans also cover specified non-surgical cancer treatments with full reimbursement, subject to an annual coverage limit. Clients need not worry about budgeting for medical expenses.
- Note: This highlights the most significant differences. Due to space constraints, not all details are listed, as virtually all high-end medical coverage includes familiar expensive treatments such as angioplasty, cancer (including targeted therapy), total knee replacement, and similar procedures.
VHIS Premiums Are Tax-Deductible
Healthcare protection is essential, and premiums for VHIS are tax-deductible, with a cap of $8,000 per policy. Calculated at the top salary tax rate of 17%, this yields approximately $1,300 in tax relief.
For instance, a 40-year-old purchasing Bowtie Pink (private room, $80,000 deductible) pays a monthly premium of $648, fully utilising the tax deduction limit per policy. A family of four securing coverage together would save even more.
Secure Bowtie coverage now to benefit from limited-time offers, maximising tax deductions while saving on premiums!
