In China, you are not required to have health insurance. However, you are risking both your physical health and financial well-being. Before traveling to China, it highly recommended that you take out a travel medical insurance policy or expat health insurance.
If you are going to China to work, most employers will offer a basic health insurance plan. If you feel that the coverage is not enough, you can always purchase your own insurance to supplement the one you have from your employer. Your insurance premium is dependent on your medical history, age, location, and any extra benefits that you may want to add.
For those who are not covered by their employer, we recommend that you get private expat health insurance. Basic coverage will include in-patient care and emergencies. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the details of the plan, and understand how much coverage you have. If you need advise or someone to explain some of the insurance terms to you, there are brokers who offer free advice and assistance. Many take their commissions directly from the insurer at no extra cost to you.
Expatriate Health Insurance
When purchasing international private health insurance, always look for a policy that covers emergency medical transportation costs. Without coverage, costs have been as high as $100,000 USD, depending on your location and medical condition.
Another thing to look for when considering which plan or insurer you want to purchase insurance with is the level of service that the company provides. It is important that your provider has a 24-hour emergency hotline that allows you to call for emergency assistance and valuable information about the quality and location of the hospitals and physicians in the area around you. They can even help you locate an English-speaking doctor.
Since medical treatment in China is very cheap, many people are tempted to not buy insurance and instead pay for treatments themselves. If you do decide to do so, you can save a lot of money, but be warned that if in a situation where you are seriously ill or injured, the costs will be very expensive. You may even need to be evacuated back to your home country for treatment.