FWD Hong Kong has formalised a strategic partnership with New Frontier Group to deliver cross-border healthcare services to policyholders across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The initiative aims to meet the evolving medical needs of a highly mobile population in Southern China.
It will integrate Guangzhou United Family Hospital and Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital into FWD’s healthcare ecosystem, enabling insured members to access a range of services including:
The partnership builds on FWD’s existing direct billing arrangements with more than 120 Grade 3A hospitals in Mainland China.
Under the expanded scheme, policyholders will receive access to the insurer’s PREMIER THE ONEcierge One Team Health Management network, which includes medical professionals who assist with navigating treatment plans across top-tier regional hospitals.
FWD customers using services at the partnered facilities can avoid out-of-pocket payments during hospitalisation and benefit from scheduling support for consultations with doctors both within and outside the UFH network.
Additionally, cancer cases will be jointly managed by physicians from both sides of the border via virtual case reviews.
Guangzhou United Family Hospital offers a full spectrum of clinical services, including 24/7 emergency support, general surgery, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital, which adheres to Joint Commission International (JCI) guidelines, spans over 70,000 square meters and provides care aligned with global standards for middle- to upper-income households in the region.
FWD group chair Frederick Ma (pictured left) said the GBA’s economic integration is increasing the demand for interoperable health services.
“Through strategic collaborations, FWD will continue to provide innovative health protection services for our customers. We look forward to working closely with New Frontier Group to improve healthcare accessibility in the GBA and beyond, offering more diverse health protection solutions to our customers,” he said.
New Frontier Group chair Antony Leung (pictured right) noted that combining insurance and clinical networks can help streamline access to care.
“We will provide customers with diversified medical services to achieve a truly seamless cross-border medical experience, thereby improving the level of health protection for residents in the GBA,” he said.
The new service launch coincides with FWD Group’s renewed effort to list on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The May 19 submission included a draft prospectus under Form A1, which was published in line with HKEX and Securities and Futures Commission requirements. The company clarified that this does not constitute an offer of securities in any market and remains subject to regulatory review.
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been engaged as joint coordinators. FWD stated that additional advisors may be named in accordance with listing regulations.
The application follows a Q1 financial update showing a 55% rise in new business contractual service margin (CSM) to US$465 million and a 46% year-on-year increase in annual premium equivalent (APE) to US$679 million.
FWD attributed its performance to strong uptake in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and demand from Mainland visitors. Emerging Asian markets also contributed to overall growth, although conditions in Thailand and Cambodia remained subdued.
