VHIS-EN

Supplementary Major Medical (SMM)

Private medical expenses can be expensive, and in most medical insurance policies, each benefit item has its benefit limit. When encountering high medical expenses, the policy may not provide sufficient coverage. If the policy includes "Supplementary Major Medical" (SMM), the insurance company will provide a certain percentage of reimbursement even if the actual expenses exceed the benefit limit, thereby increasing the reimbursement ratio.

Updated on 2023-05-22

“Supplementary Major Medical” (SMM) refers to the compensation for the remaining medical expenses (when it exceeds the benefit limit of eligible benefit items.

Most medical insurance policies that include SMM on the market will reimburse 80% of medical expenses that exceed the benefit limit, with annual benefit limits ranging from HK$100,000 to HK$220,000 depending on the policy. However, the benefit table varies depending on the policy. It is worth noting that SMM also has a co-insurance, generally 20%, which means the insured person needs to pay 20% of the excess amount.

Why Do You Need Supplementary Major Medical (SMM)?

Due to medical inflation, medical expenses rise continuously and may exceed the benefit limit at any time. At this point, SMM can play its role, compensating for medical expenses that exceed the benefit limit, and significantly reducing the financial pressure on the policyholder or the insured person.

For example, suppose Mr. Chan is ill and needs to be hospitalized for multiple tests.

The total miscellaneous expense of hospitalization is HK$30,000.

However, the benefit limit for “miscellaneous expenses” in his medical insurance is HK$18,000, leaving HK$12,000 unreimbursed. In this case, if there is a SMM of HK$100,000 in the policy (with 20% of co-insurance), he can receive a total reimbursement of HK$27,600, and Mr. Chan only needs to pay HK$2,400.

How SMM helps?
Actual medical expenses	HK$30,000
Reimbursement amount of “miscellaneous expenses”	HK$18,000
Remaining unreimbursed amount	HK$30,000 – HK$18,000 = HK$12,000
SMM reimbursement amount	HK$12,000 X 80% = $9,600
Total reimbursement amount	HK$18,000 + HK$9,600 = HK$27,600
Co-insurance	HK$12,000 X 20% = HK$2,400

VHIS Medical Insurance Coverage & Benefits

What Does Supplementary Major Medical (SMM) Cover?

Using the Bowtie VHIS Flexi Regular or Plus as an example, SMM reimburses 80% of medical expenses that exceed the benefit limit for the relevant benefit items (adjusted according to the ward level). The benefit items and annual limits are as follows:

Bowtie VHIS
	Flexi Regular	Flexi Plus
Reimbursement limit per year	HK$120,000	HK$220,000
Coverage items	Miscellaneous expenses Specialist fees Intensive care* Surgeon’s fees Anesthesiologist’s fees Operating theatre charges Accident and Emergency Outpatient Treatments Outpatient kidney dialysis1

Note: The relevant benefit limit for intensive care is limited by the number of days, not the daily benefit limit.
1The Company shall have the right to ask for proof of recommendation e.g. written referral or testifying statement on the claim form by the attending doctor or Registered Medical Practitioner.

How Much Can SMM Save You?

Using “Colectomy (Laparoscopic)” for Colorectal Cancer as an example, the 50th percentile charge at the St. Teresa’s Hospital in 2022 was HK$172,953, including HK$95,000 for “doctor fees” and HK$77,953 for “hospital fees,” and the patient needed to be hospitalized for 7.1 days.

If the medical insurance plan includes SMM, the expected reimbursement ratio can be increased from 74.5% to 94.9%.

	St. Teresa Hospital	Bowtie VHIS Flexi Regular – Benefit Limit
Surgeon’s fee	HK$95,000	HK$60,000（Note 1）+ HK$21,000（Note 1）+ HK$960 X 7.1= HK$87,816#
Anesthesiologist’s fee
Attending doctor’s visit fee
Room and board#	HK$750 X 7.1 = $5,325	Full coverage（HK$5,325）
Operating theatre charges	HK$10,870	Full coverage（HK$10,870）
Abdominal MRI (Plain + Contrast)	HK$9,900	HK$6,930（Note 2）
Miscellaneous Charges (Note 3)	HK$51,858	HK$18,000
Supplementary Major Medical (SMM)		(HK$7,184+2,970+33,858）* X 80% = HK$35,209.6
Total surgical fee	HK$172,953
Estimated reimbursement amount/self-payment (without SMM)		HK$128,941 / $44,012
Estimated reimbursement amount/self-payment (with SMM)		HK$164,150.62 / HK$8,802.4
Reimbursement Ratio		74.5% => 94.9%

#Stay in a 3-4 people standard room for 7.1 days
Note 1: Assuming that VHIS benefits limit for “surgeon's fee” and “Operating theatre charges” can be used up.
Note 2: If there is a 30% co-insurance, 70% of the cost will be reimbursed.
Note 3: Assuming that the miscellaneous expenses = hospitalization expenses - Room and board - Operating theatre charges - Abdominal MRI fee
*The miscellaneous expenses will exceed the benefit limit by HK$33,858 = HK$51,858 - HK$18,000// Surgeon fee and Anesthesiologist’s fee will exceed the benefit limit by HK$7,184 = HK$95,000 - HK$87,816

In summary, SMM can make your insurance coverage more comprehensive!

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^{*Full coverage shall mean no itemized benefit sub-limits, and applies to designated benefit items only. The benefit payable shall be subject to the remaining deductible (if applicable), annual benefit limit, lifetime benefit limit and other limitations such as reasonable and customary charges, a pre-existing condition, “List of Designated Hospitals in Mainland China” and receiving medical treatment in the United States. For detailed terms and conditions, product risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.}
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Bowtie Team

The Bowtie Life Insurance Company Limited is an authorized life insurance company and Hong Kong’s very first virtual insurer approved. Through the use of modern technology and medical expertise, Bowtie offers an agent-free, commission-free and more convenient online platform for customers to quote, apply and claim for Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) anytime anywhere. Bowtie is ranked first in the direct channel sales throughout 2021.

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