Insurance Guide

So many people in crowded Hong Kong have very little space for themselves, let alone a pet, so many opt for smaller, easier companions like fish or cats. Still, there are over 247,000 dogs living in the city and many are treated as an indispensable member of the family (or sometimes as a status symbol). Dogs are even shown to live longer in Hong Kong than in other places around the world, perhaps because of the care and attention they receive from families with fewer children than in other countries. Many families with dogs opt to live in outlying areas of Hong Kong, rather than smack in the middle of the city, in order to give their pooch room to roam. But wherever their home may be, all dogs love a change of pace and extra exercise, and that’s a great reason to visit dog-friendly areas all around Hong Kong. By seeking out these doggie hot-spots, pups get the chance to sniff something new, while their humanoid owners can enjoy exploring the city and spending time outdoors. Here are some ideas to get started on adventures with a dog in tow.

In this information-rich era, we can access health information anytime and anywhere through various channels, and our own health issues are receiving increasing attention. Especially living in an international metropolis like Hong Kong, many city dwellers today bear heavy life pressures and have to cope with long working hours, making their bodies naturally prone to problems. On the other hand, our health is also affected by many external factors. Environmental pollution has caused problems in food, water sources, and even air quality, which is worrying. Moreover, in recent years, there have been occasional reports of newly discovered virus strains. The SARS coronavirus outbreak more than ten years ago caused global panic, and the newly discovered viruses in the mainland recently also pose significant threats to our health. Kwiksure believes that the general public must seriously consider purchasing quality medical insurance. Even if unfortunate and unexpected illnesses occur, appropriate medical support can be obtained. Besides protecting oneself, it is also an investment in the health of one’s family. In recent years, with prices rising year after year, medical expenses inevitably continue to increase. What we care about is the service level provided by medical institutions, as high-quality medical services often come at a high cost. To ensure that oneself and family members can receive high-quality medical services when ill, it is absolutely necessary to participate in comprehensive medical insurance plans. Kwiksure has established long-term cooperative relationships with many well-known global insurance companies to provide customers with various types of medical insurance plans, covering critical illness, dental, accident, maternity, and more. Our team of consultants is happy to offer independent and professional advice, helping clients select ideal insurance plans from numerous companies, exchanging affordable premiums for sufficient and suitable coverage. Besides individual plans, we also offer insurance plans for families or corporate groups. Kwiksure’s consultants have rich experience and, in addition to serving local clients, our team can also cater to expatriates who have moved to Hong Kong or even the mainland, tailoring the most thoughtful medical protection plans. Even when living abroad, it is easy to obtain the most appropriate medical coverage. We welcome everyone to contact our consultant team to learn more about various protection plans. We firmly believe that quality medical insurance plans are an important part of building a healthy life.

Exercising and eating well aren’t just important for the human contingent of your family. Pets can be affected by so-called lifestyle illnesses too, and if you want your pet to live a happy, healthy life then it’s important that you include them in your efforts to improve and maintain the overall health and fitness of your family. Read on for Kwiksure’s top tips on how having a pet can actually do wonders for your own - as well as your pet’s - health, happiness and wellbeing.

Mark Six Lottery fever is in full effect in Hong Kong and every week hundreds of thousands of ticket holders are already planning how to spend their winnings, as soon as they correctly match all six balls. And with the highest single payout at more than HK$86 million, there are plenty of popular and expensive items to consider buying. Anyone interested in flashy cars will find just the ride they're looking for at show rooms all around Hong Kong. So even if the next big winner is not a car guy or girl, a new set of wheels should definitely be in order because mega-millionaires don’t ride the Metro, and a boring Mercedes-Benz, Bentley or Rolls-Royce simply won’t do. Here is a short list of the priciest auto options; for most of us simply a wish list, but for the next Mark Six winner, some very applicable advice.

Hong Kong is easy to travel around and has fantastic public transport connections, so in this city, a car is not a necessity. While locales around the world work tirelessly to push the electric car and other environmentally friendly public transport options, Hong Kong seems to stay in its own bubble, continuing to celebrate the more luxurious, high maintenance car models. Just take a drive along Gloucester Road and Queen’s Road Central in Wanchai to get an idea of what people in Hong Kong want to buy. From Lamborghini and Ferrari dealerships to Porsche and Rolls-Royce showrooms, all the big names are waiting to be taken for a spin - often by drivers of equally impressive stardom. And as if the big engines and flashy alloys weren't enough, there is also a huge demand for private number plates to accompany the cars. Very often these number plates are added to quite standard BMW cars because their owners want to add a bit of individuality to their vehicles by giving them a name like 'GIGGLES' or ‘DREAMY,’ or the more arrogant drivers use their plate to make a certain kind of statement, with ‘U WISH’ and ‘ARRIVED’ displayed on the front and back of two Hong Kong sports cars. The most common vanity plates in Hong Kong include the lucky number 8 - or they use the owners’ initials to turn the car into even more of a status symbol. This is the case for Bank of East Asia’s CEO David Li, whose car has the number plate DL 1, and China Club’s David Tang who has at least two licence plates beginning with the letters DT. Hong Kong tycoon and ‘King of Gambling’ Stanley Ho is also known to be a fan of this style of number plate and has been rumoured to own a yellow and silver Rolls-Royce Ghost with the number plate SH and another silver Rolls-Royce Phantom with the well-known HK1 plate.

It may come as a suprrise to some but, every year people get injured and even killed in household accidents. There’s no need to be alarmed but it pays to be aware. There are often simple things that can be done to help guard homes and families from these hazards. Being informed of the potential dangers is the first step.

The discovery of a new strain of bird flu, H7N9, a subtype of Influenza A virus was announced last month. So far, 60 people have been diagnosed with the new strain of flu, of which 13 people have died. As a result, Shanghai has declared a state emergency plan as a result of the outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence as yet to show transmission occurs from human to human. The results of a seven year old in Hong Kong, who was thought to have contracted the flu after a trip to Shanghai, came back negative for H7N9. This week, the government expects to release a bird flu test which will be able to provide results rapidly in a matter of hours. Although H7N9 was deemed to have low virulence and only transmissible from animals to humans, the chance of the virus mutating to be able to spread from human to human has not been ruled out. Gene data sequences from the first three victims who died, published by the WHO Chinese National Influenza Center , revealed a gene present in the samples that was not found in the Avian samples, demonstrating that the virus already has the ability to adapt and thrive in humans. More alarmingly, findings by researchers at the South University of Science and Technology , suggest that the speed of mutation might be around eight times faster than the usual flu virus. In uncertain times such as this, taking out private health insurance may provide more advantages besides access to private healthcare, should the virus spread. Procuring treatment for an unexpected sickness or injury resulting from an accident might be challenging during such an outbreak. For example, if a parent was taking a child with a broken leg to the nearby accident and emergency department in a public hospital, the wait time could be as long as four hours or more. Furthermore, waiting in such close proximity to others at a time of a flu outbreak, where viruses can easily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or others, increases the chances of catching the virus yourself. Under the circumstances, having the option of obtaining treatment at a private hospital would be ideal, minus the increased expense. This is where private medical insurance comes in handy. A typical medical insurance policy will usually include inpatient benefits and have optional outpatient coverage available. Therefore, if an overnight stay is required, the inpatient portion may cover the cost of the hospital stay and other surgical procedures incurred. In Hong Kong, where private healthcare ranks among the worlds most expensive, basic treatment for a broken leg could cost as much as US$35,000, emphasizing the need for private health insurance. Furthermore, there is an issue of availability of beds in Hong Kong. Towards the end of 2011, the government produced a Hong Kong fact sheet regarding public health which revealed that there are only approximately 35,000 beds available at any one time in Hong Kong. Around 27,000 beds are located in the region's 38 public hospitals, over 4000 in private hospitals, another 4100 in nursing homes and about 800 in correctional facilities. Given that the local population totals near 8 million people, the chances of getting a bed would be difficult for those unlucky to have contracted the virus in a flu outbreak. Having a private insurance policy may increase the chances of securing a bed under such circumstances, as it affords access to both private and public beds compared to an individual who has only access to public beds.

Anyone who loves cars knows that buying a new car isn't just exciting; it’s like starting a romance. Make, model, color, horsepower, seating options, fuel mileage, power-equipment packages, warranty, GPS, Bluetooth connectivity, iPod docks - all of these are critical considerations, right? And don't forget about getting a great purchase price and the potential resale value when it comes time to replace ol' Betsy in a few years. But what about safety features? After all, just like love, there are some practical aspects that have to be considered when buying a new car; not every decision can be made with your heart. Some still have to be made with your head. It’s easy to assume that all the safety stuff has been sorted out by the auto industry and that all new cars are pretty much the same, but the reality is that there are still some very big differences in safety features between new cars today, even amongst different models from the same automaker. A lot of time has passed since the steel coffins of the 1950's and 60's plied the motorways, and since that time some great (and occasionally not-so-great) ideas have been developed to make our automobiles both safer and more efficient, but it's up to you to make sure you take advantage of these improvements in your next purchase.