VHIS Standard Plan vs Flexi Plan: Key Differences in Premiums & Coverage
How many Standard and Flexi Plans are available on the market?
According to the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme official website, the Scheme’s protection framework and rules are established by the Government, with insurers freely participating and offering two categories of approved products—Standard Plans and Flexi Plans.
As of 29 December 2025, the VHI scheme comprises 33 Standard Plans and over 500 Flexi Plan options.
“Standard Plan” and “Flexi Plan” are merely category designations; insurers may rename their plans for marketing purposes. For example:
- Bowtie Life’s “Standard Plan” is named “Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance – Standard Plan”
Bowtie’s “Flexi Plans” are named respectively as:
- Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance – Flexi Plan (standard/plus)
- Bowtie Pink Voluntary Health Insurance Plan (Standard Room/Semi-Private Room/Private Room)
Do consumers prefer the Standard Plan or the Flexi Plan?
According to Legislative Council documents, the Flexi Plan accounts for approximately 97% of all Voluntary Health Insurance policies.
| Number of policies (insured persons) | Standard Plan | Flexi Plan |
| 0-9 years old | 3,000 | 126,000 |
| 10-19 years old | 2,200 | 120,00 |
| 20-29 years old | 4,500 | 175,00 |
| 30-39 years old | 6,600 | 271,00 |
| 40-49 years old | 6,200 | 257,00 |
| 50-59 years old | 7,000 | 205,00 |
| 60 years old or above | 8,000 | 149,00 |
Data as at 31 March 2024.
What are the differences in coverage between Standard Plans and Flexi Plans?
Under the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme product rules established by the Department of Health, Standard Plans adhere to uniform terms and coverage standards, with minimum requirements stipulated, such as minimum coverage scope and compensation amounts.
Flexi Plans must meet the standard coverage requirements of Standard Plans, but insurers may add supplementary coverages to meet market demand. Such coverages must also comply with the rules set by the Department of Health.
All plans must meet the following 11 minimum requirements:
- Standard policy terms and conditions, minimum coverage scope and benefit amounts
- Guaranteed renewal up to age 100
- No lifetime benefit limit
- 21-day cooling-off period
- Premium transparency
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions unknown at the time of application
- Coverage for congenital disease treatment
- Coverage for day surgery
- Coverage for specified diagnostic imaging tests
- Coverage for specified non-surgical cancer treatments
- Coverage for psychiatric inpatient treatment in Hong Kong hospitals
Over 80% of customers choose Flexi Plans!
Bowtie Pink represents the premium offering within Bowtie’s Voluntary Health Insurance scheme, categorised under the “Flexi Plan” tier.
Internal data reveals that amongst over 35,000 active Bowtie policies, approximately 81% of customers selected “Flexi Plans” – namely Bowtie Flexi Plan and Bowtie Pink:
- Bowtie Standard Plan: 19%
- Bowtie Flexi Plan: 46%
- Bowtie Pink: 35%
Note: Data as of 24 September 2025, calculated based on policy effective dates. Percentages are approximate.
When purchasing Voluntary Health Insurance, the most crucial aspect is successful claims!
Taking Bowtie’s Voluntary Health Insurance as an example, the claim approval rate stands at 98.3%#. Bowtie offers multiple Voluntary Health Insurance plans, including the “Standard Plan”, “Flexi Plan – standard”, “Flexi Plan – 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 Voluntary Health Insurance “Standard Plan”, “Flexi Plan – standard”, “Flexi Plan – plus” and Bowtie Pink as of February 2025.
1. Covered Items and Benefit Amounts under the Standard Plan
| Benefit Item1 | Benefit Limits |
| Room and board | HK$750 per day
Maximum 180 days per policy year |
| Miscellaneous | HK$14,000 per policy year |
| Attending doctor’s visit fee | HK$750 per day
Maximum 180 days per policy year |
| Specialist’s fee2 | HK$4,300 per policy year |
| Intensive Care | HK$3,500 per day
Maximum 25 days per policy year |
| Surgeon’s fee | Classification of surgical procedures according to the surgical fee schedule
|
| Anaesthetist’s fee | 35% of Fees for Surgeons |
| Operating theatre charges | 35% of Fees for Surgeons |
| Prescribed Diagnostic Imaging Tests2,3 | HK$20,000 per policy year
Co-insurance of 30% |
| Prescribed non-surgical cancer treatment4 | HK$80,000 per policy year |
| Pre- and post-Confinement/Day Case Procedure outpatient care2 | HK$580 per visit
HK$3,000 per policy year 1 prior and 3 follow-up outpatient visits |
| Psychiatric treatments | HK$30,000 per policy year |
| Other | |
| Annual benefit limit for the above items | HK$420,000 |
| Lifetime benefit limit for the above items | None |
- Additional Cover Items under the Standard Plan
Subject to stipulations, the insurer may provide supplementary cover for specified items, including:
- Death Benefit
- Medical Malpractice Death Benefit
- Hospital Cash Benefit
- Total and Permanent Disability Income Benefit
- Accidental Death Benefit
- Additional Organ Donor Death Benefit
- Second Claim Cash Benefit
For example, Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance – Standard Plan provides additional “Total and Permanent Disability Income Benefit” to the insured.
- 1Eligible expenses under the same item shall not be compensated under more than one benefit category listed in the above table.
- 2The Company reserves the right to request proof of relevant written recommendations, such as referral letters or statements provided by the attending or registered medical practitioner on the claim form.
- 3Tests are limited to Computed Tomography ("CT") scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") scans, Positron Emission Tomography ("PET") scans, PET-CT combinations, and PET-MRI combinations.
- 4Treatment shall only include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.
- 5This percentage shall apply to the lesser of the actual amount reimbursed for surgeon's fees or the cover limit for surgeon's fees under the surgical classification.
2. Coverage Items and Benefits of Flexi Plans
The Department of Health requires Flexi Plans to meet the standard coverage requirements of Standard Plans, but allows for additional coverage. Consequently, the coverage items and benefit amounts for each Flexi Plan can vary significantly.
For example, Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance – Flexi Plan (standard/plus) offers additional coverage items including:
- Accidental Emergency Outpatient Treatment
- Outpatient Renal Dialysis
- Post-Discharge Home Nursing Fees
- Rehabilitation Treatment
- Hospital Bedside Attendant Fees
- Palliative and End-of-Life Care
- Day Surgery Cash Benefit
- Special Reward
- Medical Negligence Cover
- Total and Permanent Loss of Self-Care Ability Income Protection
Meanwhile, Bowtie Pink Voluntary Health Insurance (part of Bowtie’s premium voluntary health insurance range) provides higher coverage limits than the Flexi Plan (standard/plus), offering full reimbursement* for the insured’s hospitalisation medical expenses.
- *Full reimbursement means no sub-limits apply, and is only applicable to specified coverage items. Claims are subject to the excess (where 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 provisions relating to medical treatment in the United States. For detailed product terms and conditions, product risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.
Premium Comparison
On the official Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme website, you may compare premiums for the “Standard Plan” and “Flexi Plan” offered by different insurers.
- Standard Plan Premiums
Although the Standard Plan provides broadly similar coverage, premiums vary as the Department of Health does not regulate VHIS premium pricing, which is determined by market competition. Should you wish to purchase a Standard Plan, you may base your decision directly on price. According to our internal data, Bowtie’s Standard Plan saves you an average of $1,084 annually^.
It is worth noting that insurers retain the right to adjust premiums upon renewal, meaning they may increase or decrease rates. Consumers should remain vigilant regarding this.
- ^The above premium comparison data is based on market research conducted on 19 December 2024 using publicly available information, covering premiums for Standard Plans under the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme. Premiums for other insurers' plans are calculated on an annual payment basis, using the example of a non-smoking male aged 30-55. For details, please refer to the relevant policy documents and their terms and conditions.
- Flexi Plan Premiums
As regards Flexi Plans or premium Voluntary Health Insurance schemes, the coverage varies significantly between different plans, making direct premium comparisons difficult. Should you wish to understand premiums, you may visit the official Voluntary Health Insurance website to review them individually.
Some insurers (such as Bowtie) provide a Voluntary Health Insurance premium calculator on their websites. Simply select your gender, age and smoking status to obtain standard premium information for reference. Naturally, actual premiums are also influenced by underwriting factors such as the insured person’s health condition.
Choose Bowtie: Save up to 40% on average annually on your premiums¹
Medical insurance premiums represent a long-term expenditure, so policyholders should pay attention to the long-term premium levels. While many insurers attract customers with first-year premium discounts or other short-term offers – with some discounts as low as 10% of the first-year premium – policyholders should not be swayed solely by such incentives. Instead, one should compare the long-term premium levels across different insurers and assess one’s ability to sustain these payments before committing to a policy.
To facilitate comparison, Bowtie has compiled standard and Flexi Plans from market insurers for your reference:
Bowtie helps you save an average of
- Bowtie Flexi Plan (Standard): 40%¹
- Bowtie Standard Plan: 29%²
- Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private Room): 20%³
- Notes:
- 1The above premium comparison data is based on market research conducted on 25 February 2025 using publicly available information. It covers standard room tier plans with "Additional Medical Coverage" and a $800 limit for "Room and Board" items – $1200, and calculated for a non-smoking male aged 30 to 55 with standard annual premiums. Coverage scope and benefit limits vary across different medical insurance plans. For details, please refer to the relevant policy documents and their terms and conditions.
- 2The premium comparison data above reflects market research findings based on publicly available information as of 19 December 2024, covering premiums for standard Voluntary Health Insurance Schemes in the market. Premiums for other insurers' schemes are calculated on an annual basis, using the example of a non-smoking male aged 30-55. For details, please refer to the relevant policy documents and their terms and conditions.
- 3The premium comparison data above reflects market research findings based on publicly available information as of 19 December 2024, covering comparable medical insurance plans with semi-private room accommodation and a self-pay option of HK$0 million, calculated using the standard premium for a non-smoking male aged 30-55. Coverage scope and benefit amounts vary across different medical insurance plans. For details, please refer to the relevant policy and its terms and conditions.
Why is Bowtie ranked number one in direct sales channels?
Bowtie’s Brand and Marketing Director, Tsang Tsz-ming, stated:
“Through innovative technology and our intermediary-free direct sales model, we have significantly enhanced operational efficiency and reduced costs. This enables consumers to access superior protection at more affordable prices. We place particular emphasis on ensuring transparent and seamless claims processing – customers can directly engage Bowtie’s specialist team to handle claims, fulfilling our promise of ‘affordable premiums, hassle-free claims’.”
- *According to provisional statistics for 2024 released by the Insurance Authority, Bowtie Life recorded the highest number of new individual non-single premium policies sold through direct channels in Hong Kong during the fourth quarter of 2024.
