Baby Insurance - Which insurance do babies need most?

【Baby Insurance】What kind of benefits and insurance products do newborn babies need most?

With a relatively weak immunity system, young children and particularly newborn babies are prone to illnesses, which may seriously threaten their health. To provide better protection and promote their healthy growth, purchasing insurance products for new born babies or children is worthy of consideration.

Having considered the wide range of insurance products available on the market, what type of protection do they need most? Rather than buying a bundle of insurance products, it is better to select the most suitable one according to the actual needs of the babies or children, or based on the problems and illnesses they may face and suffer from.

Medical > Critical Illness > Accident > Life

Is it necessary to buy medical insurance for babies?

Medical insurance mainly aims at covering the medical expenses involved in outpatient service or hospitalization which can be reimbursed as incurred. Before having a mature immune system and getting vaccinated with various vaccines, babies are more likely to suffer from different types of diseases. Nevertheless, there are only a few medicines on the market that are suitable for newborn babies. Therefore, when children get sick, parents will hope that their kids can receive professional treatment as soon as possible. Due to the long waiting time in public hospitals, emergency departments and health centres, as well as the high service costs of private hospitals or clinics, medical insurance is certainly a great option to offer basic protection for children.

In general, mild illness may not require hospitalization, but medical advice of specialists such as paediatricians is often required. Consequently, regarding the medical insurance for children, the primary consideration should be "outpatient benefit", which will generally cover the consultation fees in terms of general practitioners, Chinese and Western medicines, and specialists. Some insurance products also cover the expenses incurred by diagnostic imaging test, prescribed western medication, and treatments by chiropractor, psychiatrist and podiatrist. In addition to the above-mentioned coverage, the considerate outpatient coverage of Bupa Hero VHIS specially includes home consultation, and even covers the cost of getting various types of vaccines*.

*Clinical benefit of Bupa Hero VHIS (Deluxe or Deluxe Pro) covers vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), polio (poliomyelitis), diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, Leprosy, Japanese encephalitis, Meningitis, Hepatitis A, Measles, Influenza and other vaccinations recommended by the Hong Kong Government or World Health Organization from time to time

Since newborn babies with symptoms such as fever and vomiting may suffer from more serious diseases or complications, it will be safer for the sick babies to be admitted to the hospital for more detailed examination and observation. Therefore, it will be essential for baby insurance to include "hospital benefit". Besides the costs of general hospitalization and surgeries, the expenses incurred by the treatments of babies or children may involve the companion bed charges of accompanying parents during hospitalization, or the private nursing fees after discharge.

Moreover, it is necessary to pay attention to the duration and frequency of outpatient care services before and after admission or day case procedures. In order to ensure that patients can receive adequate and appropriate treatments, Bupa Hero VHIS has an extra-long treatment period, which not only sets no limits on the number of treatments, but also provides coverage for 90 days before admission or surgery, as well as 1 year of nursing care after discharge or surgery.

Is it necessary to buy critical illness insurance for babies?

Critical illness insurance mainly protects the insured by offering a lump sum compensation in the event of a specified illness to help pay for the medical treatments and living expenses to make up for the lost income due to inability to work.

To arrange better treatment plans for their children, some parents may seek private nursing service, as well as choosing to take leave without pay or even resign to take care of their kids. In these cases, critical illness insurance can help cover unexpected living expenses and reduce financial burdens.

Bupa HERO VHIS Detail

Is it necessary to buy accident insurance for babies?

Accident insurance mainly provides the insured with compensation for the injury or death in case of personal accident, which may cover the claims related to medical expenses.

As the whole family will give the baby full care after he or she is born, the probability of a baby facing an accident is relatively low. Therefore, it is less essential to purchase accident insurance for babies. However, children will inevitably get hurt during the learning process, and serious accidents may hence take place.

Is it necessary to buy life insurance for babies?

Life insurance, including savings, term and whole life insurance, mainly aims at providing a fixed payment upon the death of the insured or termination of the policy at a specified time. Some insurance products may even offer dividends.

What should I pay attention to when considering buying baby insurance? When should a baby get medical benefit after birth? With a relatively weak immunity system, infants and young children are generally prone to illness. It is hence recommended to prepare the purchase of insurance, including to study the detail and pick up the suitable plan by personal needs, before the child is born and obtain protection as soon as possible after the birth of the baby. Currently, Bupa has launched 3 medical insurance plans which are suitable for babies or children (Bupa Care Kid , Bupa All Together and Bupa Hero VHIS), providing coverage to newborn babies from 15 days old with a guarantee of lifetime renewal1. What is the minimum age for enjoying the coverage of baby insurance? Currently, Bupa has launched 3 medical insurance plans which are suitable for babies or children (Bupa Care Kid , Bupa All Together and Bupa Hero VHIS), providing coverage to newborn babies from 15 days old with a guarantee of lifetime renewal1. What baby insurance does Bupa offer? Currently, Bupa has launched 3 medical insurance plans which are suitable for infants or children, including: Bupa Care Kid : an affordable, entry-level medical insurance plan with a benefit limit up to $870,600 per year. Bupa All Together : a medical insurance plan that the whole family can share a generous combined annual benefit pool of up to $5 million with full cover benefit. Bupa Hero VHIS : a comprehensive medical insurance plan with full cover for eligible expenses up to $40 million per year. Does Bupa offer any critical illness insurance for babies? At present, Bupa Hero VHIS can be added with critical illness optional benefit for babies or children, covering up to 98% of critical illnesses with a lifetime benefit amount up to $3.3 million. If the insured baby is unfortunately ill and needs to make a claim, will it affect the renewal of the insurance in the future? Bupa has launched 3 medical insurance plans which are suitable for infants or children (Bupa Care Kid , Bupa All Together and Bupa Hero VHIS) and guarantees that your child’s cover is renewable for life1, regardless of any changes in your child’s health condition after becoming our member. Are there any additional discounts for existing Bupa members to purchase insurance for their baby? Existing Bupa individual members can add their baby or child to their existing plan as a family member, and will generally enjoy discounts2. Details of the discounts are subject to the promotion plan launched at the moment. For more information, please refer to Bupa All Together and Bupa Hero VHIS . Existing Bupa group members or civil servants can also apply for family insurance and enjoy discounts2. For details, please refer to Bupa VTop and Bupa Civil Servants. 1Bupa guarantees that your child’s cover is renewable for life, regardless of any changes in your child’s health condition after becoming our Bupa Care Kid member. When you child turns 18, we will arrange membership transfer to the same benefit level under Bupa CarePro medical insurance scheme. 2Terms & conditions apply.

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