Bowtie Launches StillCover to Bridge Protection Gaps for Chronic Disease Patients

Bowtie, Hong Kong's first virtual insurer, today announced the launch of a new Supplementary Medical Plan - "Bowtie StillCover" (available in Basic and Advance Plans). Designed as a powerful supplement to Hong Kong's public healthcare system, the plan addresses the pain points faced by two distinct groups of people on their path to treatment.

Many people living with chronic conditions such as the "three highs" or diabetes may be declined or charged a premium loading by insurers when applying for a VHIS plan, based on their health declaration, which leaves them unable to access private medical coverage through VHIS.

At the same time, people who rely on the public healthcare system also face a dual burden under "long waiting times and costly self-financed items" - non-urgent surgeries at public hospitals (such as joint replacement, polypectomy and gallstone removal) commonly involve waits of two to seven years; while targeted cancer therapies (up to HK$25,000–80,000 a month), artificial knee joints (around HK$40,000–65,000 each) and prescribed diagnostic imaging (around HK$10,000–22,000 per scan) place a heavy financial burden on patients.

"Only around half of Hong Kong's population currently has medical coverage. Bowtie's mission has always been to close the protection gap and serve those who remain underinsured. Traditional underwriting mechanisms often reject 'model patients' who work hard to keep their health conditions under control, while those who rely on public hospitals continue to suffer the dual burden of long waits and high self-funded costs," said Mingo Tsang, Director, Marketing and Branding, Bowtie.

He added: "Launching 'StillCover' is a concrete step forward in extending the boundaries of what the market can protect. We want to add a missing piece to the puzzle beyond VHIS - so that whether it's chronic disease patients seeking fair coverage, or people looking to ease the burden of public hospital self-financed costs, everyone can access the financial safety net they deserve."

Bowtie StillCover's key benefits include a total benefit limit of up to HK$500,000 per policy year under a co-insurance mechanism, covering eligible hospitalisation and surgical expenses at Hong Kong public hospitals, self-financed drugs, and prescribed diagnostic imaging tests. The Advance Plan builds on this with additional cover for 182 designated surgical procedures and extends to a network of designated private hospitals and Greater Bay Area medical institutions.