Be insured

There’s never been a more important time to consider insurance for yourself and your family. With Covid-19 still a real concern in the community, there’s even more reasons to dive in and navigate the plethora of options that are available. One thing you should know right from the start is that insurance in Hong Kong can be tricky at the best of times. It’s an ultra-competitive industry with options that can leave you bewildered and quickly out of pocket. But insurance, be it medical, home, personal accident, income protection, life insurance or critical illness is well worth having, if only for peace of mind in today's increasingly complex world. healthcare in Hong Kong is among the most competitive industries in town. The likes of HSBC, AIA, FWD, Cigna, Bupa, AXA, Zurich, Manulife and Prudential are just some of the many options around for families. Depending on what level of coverage you are looking for, pricing can range wildly - as do the types of insurance packages that are available. Our number one tip is to do your homework, understand the finer

There’s no shortage of options, but it’s critical that you decide early what’s best for you and your family. You don’t want to get yourself locked into an expensive insurance package filled with things you don’t need. In the past year demand for health and life insurance has surged. We hear demand has become so great that some of the bigger international groups have sold out of their key life insurance packages and won’t take new customers.

Expensive medical treatment due to illnesses or hospitalisation can have a disastrous impact on your financial resources and medical insurance can save you from this. But unlike the US where healthcare costs are high and health insurance is extremely beneficial, Hong Kong gives us the option of a much cheaper and reliable government system. Yes, private health coverage will give you access to some of the most stunning hospital rooms in the world, but private hospitals often rely quite heavily on the public system, especially for emergencies.

As the coronavirus pandemic took hold, insurers across Hong Kong stepped up to offer a range of protections, most of them free for existing customers. FWD has one of the cheaper yearround protection packages at just $147 and includes up to $1,000 daily cash benefit in case you are diagnosed with Covid-19 and subsequently hospitalised. AXA offers a 24-hour customer service hotline as part of its offering, which also comes with a travel cancellation element. Cigna will cover you for up to $10,000 over three months if you are hospitalised.

One of the more interesting facets of insurance in Hong Kong is that many will offer an aggressive savings and wealth accumulation plan as part of their offering. Whether you are saving for your child’s education or building wealth for retirement, the likes of Manulife, HSBC, AIA and Zurich offer

Unfortunately most insurers in Hong Kong will discriminate against pre-existing conditions. Some may ask for medical history going back as far as seven years. Others require more. If you have been sick you might find yourself on a waiting list for up to two years until your coverage is approved. In worst case scenarios you may not be insurable at all.

Like many industries, insurance is moving with the times and understanding customer data has become a top priority for the insurance industry giants. Many will now offer incentives and rewards for customers who take good care of themselves. Some, like ManulifeMOVE and the newly-launched HSBC Live Well+ will offer additional benefits to those of you who go one step further and track your fitness, sleeping patterns, how you eat and the number of calories you burn. So if synching your insurance plan to personal data is cool, then there’s options around. Welcome to the age of data collection.

Run by a team of expats with extensive childcare experience, Nanny & Me understands that no two families are the same. It provides a range of services including full and part-time nannies, maternity nurses and even babysitting, to cater to every family's needs. nannyand.me

One of the largest childcare networks in the city, Babysitter.hk has over 3,000 professional full time and part time nannies along with tutors on call every day, especially in an emergency. It also offers a childcare support scheme for low-income families. babysitter.hk

A professional childcare service offering English speaking nannies on a temporary or permanent basis for all ages. Ideal for an evening of babysitting or for mums returning to work, it even offers maternity services such as 24-hour maternity nurses and sleep troubleshooting for first-time parents. rent-a-mum.com 10 | Hong Kong Family Guide

This group is specifically for under 18-yearolds who have an interest in childcare and are looking for babysitting jobs, who have the energy to run around and entertain the kids. Availability limited around school hours.

For parents that miss swiping, this Tinder-like app helps you find your tribe. Scroll through the app and make friends with Mumz (or Dadz) in your area to create your own play dates. The app was created by Ekta Tejwani who also runs a Facebook group: Meet Mumz.

The first international unaccompanied day care centre for children under the age of two in Hong Kong. Childhood programmes are offered in Mandarin, English and Cantonese at its Happy Valley and Repulse Bay campuses.

Located in the heart of Wan Chai, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong is home to one of the best hotel outdoor play areas for kids. With a specified outdoor pool for children, parents can be assured their children keep safe while having a splashing good time. Each hotel room also comes with a rollaway bed and can sleep up to four people. hyatt.com

Well-known for its babysitting services, the Four Seasons Hotel offers a range of complimentary children's activities from nail art to cooking classes to keep the little ones entertained. For those with younger children, the hotel provides infant amenities including diapers and blankets at no extra cost. fourseasons.com

Partnering up with Junior Aviator Academy (JAA), The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong is offering a Fly High Dream High Junior Aviator Program for younger guests. Children can experience a flight simulator, try on pilot uniforms and attend an aircraft model making session. This experience is available until April 15.

The St. Regis Hong Kong offers the highest level of personalised five star luxury in the heart of Wan Chai. Children are thoughtfully considered with the hotel currently offering complimentary breakfast for under 12’s. Rooms are stocked with high-end amenities such as Mustela baby products and a chargeable outside babysitting service is also available.

The majority of residents, particularly those with children, usually hire a domestic helper. Local helpers can be hired on a part or full-time basis. Foreign domestic helpers (typically from the Philippines or Indonesia) can only legally be employed full time on a two-year, live-in contract.

A Hong Kong resident with a monthly household income of no less than $15,000.

It is best to do so by word of mouth. There are specialist helper recruitment agencies but many have come under fire for disreputable practices. Either way, you must enter into a binding Standard Employment Contract (ID407) and apply to the Immigration Department for an employment visa for the helper.

The Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for a full-time live-in helper (at the time of writing) is $4,630 per month, but many people pay above this depending on years of duty and level of experience. Employers must also provide food, or a food allowance of no less than $1,121 per month; suitable accommodation with access to cooking and bathroom facilities; insurance and medical care; pay all hiring-related costs and airfares for an annual trip home leave.

• Employers must give their helpers a full day of rest every week. • Helpers are entitled to 12 statutory paid holiday days as well as annual leave (seven days per year in their first two years of contract). It is up to you whether you also wish to give your helper extra time off such as all general public

holidays or an extended holiday. • A special application must be made should you need your helper to take up driving duties, for which they also need a valid Hong

Kong driving licence. • It is illegal to employ a full-time foreign domestic helper who doesn’t live in your home.

Interviewing a domestic helper may seem daunting as you will probably feel under pressure to get the right fit for your needs and family dynamics. View the interview as a general conversation about who they are and what work experience they have had (eg. What is your current daily schedule? Can you cook? Do you have experience with children?) and remember that the helper will likely be as nervous as you are. Don’t feel you have to hire on the spot or after one meeting and if possible, get references from a previous employer. Hong Kong Family Guide | 11