Is Bowtie Pink Good? Top 6 Queries from Hong Kong Forums

The Bowtie team has noticed that many users on local forums have questions about our Bowtie Pink product. In this article, we aim to explain the benefits of Bowtie Pink and directly address concerns regarding product combinations, premiums, and coverage for emigration.

What Are the Benefits of Bowtie Pink?

Bowtie Pink is Bowtie’s premium voluntary health insurance product, tailored for customers with high expectations for medical services and who already have corporate health insurance, making it an ideal choice for topping up coverage. 

With monthly premiums starting as low as $197*, Bowtie Pink offers no sub-limits on claims and 100% reimbursement# for any hospital, doctor, or surgery, eliminating concerns about insufficient coverage.

Bowtie Pink provides four deductible options ($0, $20,000, $50,000, and $80,000), designed to avoid overlapping coverage with corporate health insurance. By selecting a deductible, customers can reduce their premium costs, and the deductible amount can be fully or partially offset by claims from their corporate insurance.

*For example, a 30-year-old non-smoking male insuring with Bowtie Pink Voluntary Health Insurance (Standard Ward) with an $80,000 deductible.

#100% reimbursement means no sub-limits on specific items and applies only to designated coverage items. Claims are subject to the remaining deductible (if applicable), annual benefit limit, lifetime benefit limit, and other conditions, including reasonable and customary charges, pre-existing conditions, designated hospital lists in mainland China, and treatment in the US. For detailed terms, conditions, product risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.

Questions from Forums about Bowtie Pink

Question 1: Which Bowtie Pink Plan should I choose??

Many are interested in Bowtie Pink but unsure about selecting the right product combination. Here are our recommendations:

When purchasing Bowtie Pink, consider the ward type you prefer for treatment, your existing medical coverage (e.g., corporate health insurance), and your personal financial situation to determine the deductible option. Higher deductibles result in lower premiums.

1. If you already have corporate health insurance or other personal health insurance, you can choose a deductible based on the ward and meal allowance specified in your existing policy. Below is a reference for Bowtie Pink plans across different ward levels:

2. 
   If you do not have any corporate or personal health insurance, or are nearing retirement:

Consider purchasing Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance (Flexi Plan) and adding the Bowtie Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Health Package for HK$200 per month. This combination provides full reimbursement^ for medical expenses at a lower premium than Bowtie Pink, easing concerns about post-retirement insurance costs. Plus, it has no deductible, meaning no out-of-pocket expenses, reducing your financial burden.

^Full reimbursement for designated medical packages is subject to the annual benefit limit of the Voluntary Health Insurance Flexi Plan.

Question 2: Is Bowtie Pink’s Long-Term Premium Expensive?

Typically, insurance companies offering online applications, like Bowtie, have lower premiums than traditional insurers due to savings on intermediary commissions and administrative costs.

However, since some worry that Bowtie Pink’s long-term premiums are expensive, we’ve compared it with two other companies offering similar online voluntary health insurance products—high-end plans with deductible options and semi-private ward coverage.

The table shows that, over 10 years (ages 30–39), Bowtie Pink’s premiums are consistently lower than those of Company B and Company C, both annually and in total, dispelling the notion that it’s “expensive in the long run.” For instance, Bowtie Pink costs over $20,000 less than Company B over this period.

Beyond premiums, geographical coverage is key. Many high-end insurance products have regional limits—e.g., Company C’s full reimbursement applies only in Asia (including Australia and New Zealand). In contrast, Bowtie Pink’s full reimbursement# is global (excluding the US).

As you age and lose corporate health insurance upon retirement, premiums for any high-end plan will rise. For retirees, we recommend Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance (Flexi Plan) paired with the GHK Wellness Package (HK$200/month). Unlike Bowtie Pink, which requires you to pay the deductible yourself after retirement, this combination offers full reimbursement^ without a deductible—a rare and practical option in the market.

^Full reimbursement for the 249 designated medical packages is subject to the annual benefit limit of the Voluntary Health Insurance Flexi Plan.

Question 3: Does Bowtie Pink Cover Emigration? What Happens If I Leave Hong Kong for More Than 180 Days?

Bowtie Pink continues to provide coverage even if you emigrate! Following feedback, we updated our “Change of Residence” clause in May 2022. Bowtie accepts all Hong Kong residents with a Hong Kong ID card, and Bowtie Pink (along with other Bowtie policies) won’t be canceled due to a change in residence (except for sanctioned countries/regions).

However, risks may vary overseas, so we assess each case individually. Depending on your destination’s risk profile, you may need to pay an additional premium to maintain fairness to other policyholders—e.g., areas with ongoing conflicts carry higher mortality risks.

The following countries, upon Bowtie’s review, may not require extra premiums:

• Australia
• Canada
• Mainland China (excluding Tibet and Xinjiang)
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Africa (only Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban)
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom
• United States

How to Handle Your Policy If Planning to Emigrate?

If you plan to emigrate or stay overseas for over 180 days, contact Bowtie as soon as possible. No re-underwriting is needed post-emigration, but we’ll review your premium based on your destination, potentially requiring an additional fee. For claims after emigrating, you can submit documents via our online platform—no need to return to Hong Kong.

Question 4: Does Bowtie Pink Sell Insurance Without a License?

In Hong Kong, all insurance sales require a license. While Bowtie operates without intermediaries, as a virtual insurer, we hold a virtual insurance license and are regulated by the Insurance Authority, enabling us to offer life and health insurance products online.

Bowtie employs professional actuaries, medical, underwriting, and claims staff, with all online sales and promotional materials reviewed by experts. Our customer service specialists are licensed insurance intermediaries—equivalent to traditional agents—but without commissions, ensuring unbiased advice for prospective and existing customers.

Question 5: Is the Free Health Checkup Intended to Find Issues During the Waiting Period to Deny Claims?

Our free health checkups aren’t designed to identify pre-existing conditions during the waiting period to reject claims. Bowtie is committed to “preventive care,” believing early detection benefits both parties:

• Customers can seek treatment sooner, improving recovery chances.
• Bowtie’s insurance risk pool stays healthier, reducing long-term pressure on premium hikes.

Question 6: Is the $50 Million Coverage Unnecessary?

Some forum users cite “10Life research showing cancer treatment in a standard private ward costs just a few million,” suggesting Bowtie Pink’s HK$50 million lifetime coverage is excessive. However, with severe global medical inflation, today’s few million could become tens of millions in decades. As a high-end product, we believe HK$50 million offers peace of mind against rising costs and inadequate coverage.

If you have corporate or personal health insurance, smart deductible choices allow you to secure over HK$10 million in coverage with full reimbursement# at a price comparable to standard insurance. Bowtie Pink, for example, provides HK$10 million annually and HK$50 million lifetime coverage.

Here are the monthly premiums for Bowtie Pink (Semi-Private Ward, HK$80,000 deductible) across different ages:

References

1. Questions about Bowtie Pink – LIHKG
2. Has anyone used Bowtie insurance (2) – LIHKG
3. Newbie question ~ Bowtie insurance – LIHKG