Comparison and Key Benefits of Different Ward Classes in VHIS
What Are the Different Ward Levels?
The ward level chosen upon admission, such as standard ward (commonly known as shared ward), semi-private ward, and private ward, will affect the charges at private hospitals .
The higher the ward level, the more expensive the service charges. For example, the daily room rate, companion bed fee, and surgical fees for a semi-private ward may be 1.5 to 2 times more expensive than a standard ward, while a private ward may be 2 to 3 times more expensive.
Therefore, even the same voluntary health insurance plan offers different ward options to cater to the needs of different consumers.
| Ward Type | How is it classified? |
| Shared/Standard Ward |
|
| Semi-Private Ward |
|
| Private Ward |
|
Above private wards, there are suites, which offer larger spaces and more luxurious amenities, such as companion rooms, living rooms, dining areas, refrigerators, and even massage chairs and hydrotherapy pools.
- *Actual arrangements may vary by hospital.
Higher Ward Level Means Better Treatment? Wrong!
The key consideration in choosing a ward is privacy. As for treatment quality, it does not change based on the ward.
How Ward Levels Affect Medical Fees?
In private hospitals, different ward levels not only vary in room rates, but the fees for diagnosis, treatment, and nursing services for inpatients also differ according to the accommodation level. Bowtie has compiled examples of service fees for different ward levels from 5 private hospitals for your reference:
| Item | Standard Ward Fees | Semi-Private Ward Fees | Private Ward Fees |
| Daily Room Rate | $1,000－$1,200 | $2,100－$3,250 | $4,600－$4,800 |
| Brain CT Scan | $6,100 | $7,930－$8,850 | $9,760 |
| Brain MRI | $15,100 | $19,630－$21,900 | $24,160 |
| Bilateral Breast Ultrasound | $2,700 | $3,510－$3,920 | $4,320 |
| Item | Standard Ward Fees | Semi-Private Ward Fees | Private Ward Fees |
| Daily Room Rate | $850－$1,200 | $1,900－$2,320 | $3,880－$4,780 |
| Brain CT Scan | $4,450 | $5,563 | $6,675 |
| Brain MRI | $10,200 | $12,750 | $15,300 |
| Breast Ultrasound | $1,440 | $2,160 | $2,880 |
| Item | Standard Ward Fees | Semi-Private Ward Fees | Private Ward Fees |
| Daily Room Rate | $760－$900 | $1,380－$1,480 | $3,800－$4,880 |
| Brain CT Scan | $3,930 | $4,910 | $6,280 |
| Brain MRI | $9,940 | $12,430 | $15,910 |
| Bilateral Breast Ultrasound | $1,140 | $1,430 | $1,830 |
| Item | Standard Ward Fees | Semi-Private Ward Fees | Private Ward Fees |
| Daily Room Rate | $1,000－1,250 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Brain CT Scan | $4,700 | $6,580 | $7,050 |
| Brain MRI | $10,400 | $14,560 | $15,600 |
| Breast Ultrasound | $1,900 | $2,660 | $2,850 |
| Item | Standard Ward Fees | Semi-Private Ward Fees | Private Ward Fees |
| Daily Room Rate | $610－$800 | $1,000－$1,750 | $2,100－$4,100 |
| Brain CT Scan | $3,900 | $5,500 | $6,000 |
| Brain MRI | $10,100 | $14,100 | $15,700 |
| Bilateral Breast Ultrasound | $1,200 | $1,680 | $1,860 |
- 1CT and MRI fees include contrast-enhanced scanning diagnostic services
- 2The above hospital fees were last updated on September 2, 2025, for reference only. All are subject to the hospital's latest announcement.
Bowtie VHIS Premiums by Room Type
Since medical expenses vary by room level, VHIS products covering different room types provide corresponding coverage limits, resulting in premium differences. For a 35-year-old non-smoking insured person as an example:
| Room Type | Bowtie VHIS Plan | Monthly Premium
(Male) |
Monthly Premium
(Female) |
| Ward | Bowtie VHIS Standard | $164 | $205 |
| Bowtie VHIS Flexi Regular | $299 | $389 | |
| Bowtie Pink (Ward) (Deductible $0) | $801 | $801 | |
| Semi-Private Room | Bowtie VHIS Flexi Plus | $533 | $631 |
| Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private) (Deductible $0) | $1,033 | $1,033 | |
| Private Room | Bowtie Pink (Private) (Deductible $0) | $1,588 | $1,588 |
Premium Comparison of 5 Popular Products (Ward Levels)
Using a 35-year-old non-smoking insured as an example, let’s compare the annual premiums for Bowtie VHIS with those of 4 other insurance companies:
| Ward Level | Bowtie | Company A | Company B | Company C | Company F |
| Standard Ward
Bowtie VHIS Standard |
$1,860 (Male)👍
$2,328 (Female)👍 |
$2,176 (Male)
$3,462 (Female) |
$3,169 (Male)
$3,169 (Female) |
$3,311 (Male)
$3,311 (Female) |
$2,685 (Male)
$3,736 (Female) |
| Semi-Private Ward
Bowtie VHIS Flexi ($0 Deductible) |
$11,376
(Same for Male and Female) 👍 |
$16,488
(Same for Male and Female) |
$15,719
(Same for Male and Female) |
$16,546
(Same for Male and Female) |
$14,687
(Same for Male and Female) |
| Private Ward
Bowtie VHIS Flexi ($0 Deductible) |
$17,484
(Same for Male and Female) 👍 |
Plan not available | $19,156
(Same for Male and Female) |
Plan not available | $21,362
(Same for Male and Female) |
Coverage Limits Vary by Ward Level
Taking Bowtie Pink VHIS as an example, it offers 3 levels of private ward (Ward/Semi-Private/Private), with full reimbursement* for eligible medical expenses such as diagnosis, hospitalization, surgery, and prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments in semi-private and private rooms. However, the annual and lifetime limits differ for the 3 ward levels.
| Bowtie Pink VHIS | Annual Coverage Limit | Lifetime Coverage Limit |
| Ward | $8M | $40M |
| Semi-Private | $10M | $50M |
| Private | $20M | $80M |
Is Bowtie’s Coverage Level Sufficient Compared to Peers?
Taking the ward-level high-end VHIS as an example, we compared Bowtie Pink with 7 other popular products on the market. It’s not hard to see that Bowtie has an advantage in annual coverage, and although the lifetime coverage has a limit, the $40M amount is already quite sufficient.
| High-End VHIS | Annual Coverage Limit | Lifetime Coverage Limit |
| Bowtie Pink (Ward) | $8M | $40M |
| Company F | $8M | No Limit |
| Company B | $6M | $40M |
| Company A | $5M | No Limit |
| Company C | $5M | No Limit |
| Company H | $5M | $20M |
| Company M | $5M | $20M |
Which Bowtie Pink Ward Level is Most Popular?
Among over 12,000 active Bowtie Pink VHIS policies, the semi-private room is the most chosen (58%), followed by the ward (38%).
- Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private): 58%
- Bowtie Pink (Ward): 38%
- Bowtie Pink (Private): 4%
- *Data as of September 24, 2025, based on effective policy dates, percentages are approximate.
Ward Restrictions by Region: Avoid Pitfalls
When selecting a VHIS plan, in addition to noting the covered ward level, it’s important to pay attention to the plan’s geographical coverage limits. Even for high-end VHIS plans with full reimbursement, some may only cover Greater China or Asia, rather than providing global coverage.
Taking semi-private room level high-end VHIS as an example, many insurance companies’ products (top-tier plans) offer less comprehensive geographical coverage compared to Bowtie Pink:
| High-End VHIS | Coverage Region |
| Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private) | Global (excluding US) |
| Company B | Global (excluding US) |
| Company P | Global (excluding US) |
| Company C | Asia |
| Company A | Asia |
| Company M | Asia |
| Company H | Asia |
Additionally, some traditional medical insurance plans may only apply coverage to network doctors (with possibly lower reimbursement for non-network, such as 80%), or may only cover inpatient services for non-emergency outpatient. Policyholders must pay attention when selecting products to avoid pitfalls!
Other Important Notes
1. Full Reimbursement for Medical Expenses?
General medical insurance typically sets reimbursement limits for items such as surgeon fees, operating room fees, and miscellaneous expenses. In the market, only a few voluntary health insurance schemes provide full reimbursement for standard rooms, semi-private rooms, and private rooms, and Bowtie Pink VHIS is one of the few.
2. Cashless Arrangement Available?
Private room charges are expensive and not affordable for everyone. Generally, with medical insurance, patients pay first and then claim from the insurance company. However, many insurance companies offer ” cashless hospital discharge ” arrangements, with some companies providing it for designated hospitals (excluding non-network doctor services and emergency services), attending physicians, and pre-arranged services. Therefore, even if it claims “cashless,” it is recommended to confirm the details before purchasing or admission.
