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What is VHIS?

There are two types of VHIS plans: Standard and Flexi. Both types of plans provide individual health insurance that reimburse your actual medical expenses.

Standard and Flexi

Flexi plan

  • Provide higher coverage or terms and conditions that exceed the minimum standards in the Standard Plan
  • Encourage product innovation, competition and diversity to meet market needs

Standard plan

  • Based on the government's minimum product specifications for VHIS
  • Coverage specified within VHIS

How is VHIS different?

One key feature of VHIS is that it creates minimum standards for individual medical insurance. The coverage, terms and conditions of the policy are standardised. What's more, renewal is guaranteed up to age 100. Coverage is extended to unknown pre-existing conditions, day case procedures, non-surgical cancer treatments and psychiatric treatments. However, the standard premiums charged by different VHIS providers may vary by age and gender.



VHIS certified plans
Other individual medical insurance plans
a. Product specifications

Standard coverage, policy terms and conditions based on the Health Bureau's minimum product specifications

Coverage, policy terms and conditions are different for every insurer

b. Lifetime benefit limit

No lifetime benefit limit

May have a lifetime benefit limit

c. Renewal

Guaranteed renewal until age 100

Renewal isn't always guaranteed. Often, plans can be renewed every year up to an age limit.


*Bupa's medical insurance plans offer lifetime guaranteed renewal when renewal terms are met.
d. Coverage

Extended coverage for:

  1. Unknown pre-existing conditions:
    First policy year: no coverage
    Second policy year: 25% reimbursement
    Third policy year: 50% reimbursement
    Fourth policy year onwards: full coverage
  2. Congenital conditions (appearing or diagnosed from age 8)
  3. Day case procedures (e.g. endoscopy)
  4. Prescribed diagnostic imaging tests (including CT and MRI scans, subject to a maximum of 30% coinsurance)
  5. Prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments (i.e. radiotherapy [including but not limited to proton therapy, gamma knife and cyber knife], chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy)
  6. Psychiatric treatments

Usually, any conditions that existed before your insurance policy was in effect aren't covered. Congenital diseases and psychiatric treatment aren't typically covered either. Some medical insurance plans may not cover day case surgeries as well.


*Bupa's medical insurance plans do cover eligible day case procedures.
e. Tax deduction

Tax deduction for qualifying premiums can be claimed every tax year (up to HK$8,000 per insured person each year)

No tax deductions available

a. Product specifications

VHIS certified plans

based on the Health Bureau's minimum product specifications

Other individual medical insurance plans

Coverage, policy terms and conditions are different for every insurer

b. Lifetime benefit limit

VHIS certified plans

No lifetime benefit limit

Other individual medical insurance plans

May have a lifetime benefit limit

c. Renewal

VHIS certified plans

Guaranteed renewal until age 100

Other individual medical insurance plans

Renewal isn't always guaranteed. Often, plans can be renewed every year up to an age limit.


*Bupa's medical insurance plans offer lifetime guaranteed renewal when renewal terms are met.

d. Coverage

VHIS certified plans

Extended coverage for:

  1. Unknown pre-existing conditions:

    First policy year: no coverage

    Second policy year: 25% reimbursement

    Third policy year: 50% reimbursement

    Fourth policy year onwards: full coverage

  2. Congenital conditions (appearing or diagnosed after age 8)

  3. Day case procedures (eg, endoscopy)

  4. Prescribed diagnostic imaging tests (including CT and MRI scans, subject to a maximum of 30% coinsurance)

  5. Prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments (including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy)

  6. Psychiatric treatments

Other individual medical insurance plans

Usually, any conditions that existed before your insurance policy was in effect aren't covered. Congenital diseases and psychiatric treatment aren't typically covered either. Some medical insurance plans may not cover day case surgeries as well.


*Bupa's medical insurance plans do cover eligible day case procedures.

e.Tax deduction

VHIS certified plans

Tax deduction for qualifying premiums can be claimed every tax year (up to HK$8,000 per insured person each year)

Other individual medical insurance plans

No tax deductions available


If I've already purchased a personal hospital insurance plan, can I transfer to a VHIS plan?

Yes, if your insurance company has registered to participate in VHIS. Registered companies are obligated to provide an opportunity for current policy holders of individual hospital insurance to transfer their existing plan to a VHIS certified plan. But the specific transfer plan and arrangements for each company may be different.



What's a successive policy holder?

If you're a policy holder for your family member(s), you can choose a person to take your place as the policy holder in case you pass away. If you don't choose a successive policy holder, the ownership of the policy will be transferred to the insured person (if age 18 or older) or his/her parent or guardian.



Related Articles:

Public and private hospital care

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Tax deduction for VHIS plans

Learn More

VHIS plan:

Bupa Hero VHIS Plan


Learn More

Bupa MyFlexi VHIS Plan


Learn More

Bupa MyBasic VHIS Plan


Learn More

Talk to us

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Rewards for referrers

Get HK$300 supermarket coupons for every successful referral!

No limit on the referrals you can make!

Rewards and enrolment discount for referees

The referees can also get HK$300 supermarket coupons if they successfully enrol in any Bupa individual insurance scheme* PLUS the following first-year subscription / premium discount on designated schemes # :

  • 【Bupa Hero exciting enrolment offer】 Get discounts worth up to 80% of first-year premiums!
  • 【Newly launch】 Bupa All Together Health Insurance Scheme: Enjoy up to 50% off on the first-year premium  for a family enrolment of 3 #
  • Other selected individual medical schemes: up to 20% off

The promotion is valid until 31 December 2024. Act now!


To enjoy the referral reward, the referee must submit the Bupa Member-get-Member Programme Registration Form (PDF, 209KB)together with the Bupa health insurance application.
*The referee must successfully enrol in any Bupa individual insurance scheme with first year's net annual premium or subscription over HK$3,000 through a Bupa insurance intermediary.
#Subject to terms and conditions of the programme.

Bupa Member-get-Member programme Terms and Conditions (PDF, 286KB)

Bupa Hero VHIS Plan enrolment offer terms and conditions (PDF, 282KB)

Bupa All Together Health Insurance Scheme Welcome Promotion Offer Terms and conditions (PDF, 231KB)
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