[Healthcare Plan Comparison 2022] How is it different from outpatient insurance? Is it worthwhile for bonesetting or dental care?

10Life previously compared nine outpatient insurance plans. However, it turns out that products offering outpatient cover on the market are not limited to outpatient insurance. In recent years, many insurers have gradually launched “healthcare plans” to enrol members, allowing them to use general practitioner, specialist, Chinese medicine outpatient, physiotherapy, bone-setting and other services at preferential prices. Although a “healthcare plan” is not insurance, its nature is in fact very similar to outpatient insurance.

At present, the commonly seen healthcare plans include BowtieGo by Bowtie, FWD Health Pass, and OneDegree Medical Passport. BowtieGo has multiple versions, among which 3Care BowtieGo (hereafter “BowtieGo”) is a commercial partnership between 3 Hong Kong and Bowtie, and is open to both 3 Hong Kong customers and non-customers alike.

Healthcare plans are restricted to use with network doctors, but you should also pay attention to the ratio of Chinese medicine practitioners to Western medicine doctors within the network. Taking BowtieGo as an example, it offers more than 1,000 doctors, of which around 80% are Chinese medicine practitioners according to the website. FWD’s network healthcare services and doctor partners exceed 1,400, and according to the brochure, more than 1,000 of them are in the Chinese medicine, acupuncture, cupping and tui na categories.

OneDegree also provides a medical network covering more than 900 clinics, and its website features a healthcare services map listing doctors or practitioners from different categories. If interested, readers may also enquire with the insurer about the network service list before enrolling to see whether the doctor they usually visit is included.

It is worth noting that members of the above health plans are required to bear part of the consultation fee. BowtieGo members should enquire with the clinic; FWD offers discount benefits; and OneDegree specifies the actual amount payable.

In addition to coverage, the annual fee of a health plan is also an important consideration. FWD’s annual fee is HK$680, which includes one primary member and three family members. By contrast, Bowtie and OneDegree charge on a per-person basis, at HK$948 and HK$200 per person respectively. Before enrolling, readers may wish to do the maths and see which pricing model is the most cost-effective.

When injured or suffering from strains, some people choose physiotherapy or traditional Chinese treatments. FWD and OneDegree include physiotherapy, bone-setting, chiropractic treatment and acupuncture. In addition, in relation to oral health, both plans cover dental examinations and scaling. As for other benefits, BowtieGo includes one health check-up per year, while the FWD plan covers tuina massage, cupping, dietitian consultations and psychological consultations.

Many people may wonder what the difference is between these healthcare plans and outpatient insurance. For the average consumer, a healthcare plan is not an insurance product and does not come with a cooling-off period. If you wish to have your “membership fee” refunded, you will need to negotiate directly with the insurer. In addition, healthcare plans are also not subject to insurance premium levies. Apart from these points, the plan is still very similar in function to ordinary outpatient insurance.

Finally, high-end medical insurance and flexible VHIS plans generally cover outpatient treatment within a specified number of days before admission and after discharge. Such outpatient benefits are related to hospitalisation, for example pre-operative assessments and post-operative follow-up. Some plans may offer outpatient coverage through the purchase of an optional add-on benefit. To learn more, feel free to use 10Life’s “Product Decoder” to compare VHIS and High-End Medical Insurance, or refer to our earlier articles:

1.【VHIS Semi-Private Room Comparison 2022】The showdown of “5-star” VHIS plans: full coverage and pricing revealed 
2.Is it really just “full cover”? Unpacking the exceptional protection of high-end medical insurance! 

 

Notes:

1. This article was produced by 10Life based on market information collected from various sources and is for general reference only. It has not taken into account any individual needs or suitability, and should not be regarded as sales advice. Before taking out insurance, you should discuss with a licensed insurance adviser to find a suitable insurance solution, and rely on the information provided by the insurance company.
2. Last updated on 8 April 2022.

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.