Travel Insurance for China: Do You Need It and What to Cover

The short version

Travel insurance is not an entry requirement for tourists in China, but you should not travel without it.

• No insurance check at the border. China’s official visa-free FAQ suggests carrying documents such as invitation letters and flight and hotel bookings. Insurance is not on that list.
• You pay first in Chinese hospitals. Hospitals usually take payment at each step, and ask for a deposit of around RMB 3,000 to 7,000 before admitting you, according to the UK government.
• Foreign cards often don’t work at hospitals. Many take cash, Chinese bank cards, Alipay or WeChat Pay instead.
• Evacuation is the big cost. The UK government calls medical evacuation from China “extremely expensive”.

Buy a policy from home that covers medical treatment, hospital stays, medical evacuation and repatriation, for the whole trip and every activity you plan.

Is travel insurance required for China?

Even when no one checks, insurance decides whether a hospital stay is an inconvenience or a financial disaster.

How hospitals work for foreign visitors

Knowing how the system works explains what your policy must do. From the UK government’s guidance:

1. Registration. You fill in a form at the hospital, often with an application for a hospital payment card.
2. Pay as you go. After seeing a doctor, you pay at the cashier for medicine and tests before you receive them.
3. Admission deposit. If you need to stay, you register an admission notice and pay a deposit, typically RMB 3,000 to 7,000. Costs are deducted from it, you top it up if it runs out, and any balance is refunded.
4. Insurance does not skip the deposit. Hospitals often still want the deposit before your insurer has paid, and treatment may be delayed until it is paid.
5. Payment methods. Many hospitals do not accept international cards. Deposits may need cash or a Chinese bank account. Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted in many hospitals.
6. Direct billing. Some hospitals in large cities have partnerships with foreign insurers and can treat you without a deposit. Ask your insurer which ones.

Other things that surprise visitors

• VIP wards. Many hospitals have private VIP wards that cost much more. Staff may assume a foreigner wants one. Say clearly if you do not, and check whether your policy pays for it.
• Nursing care. Some tasks done by nurses at home, such as bringing food or changing sheets, may be expected of family members, especially in remote areas. Hospitals may provide a carer for a fee.
• Ambulances are not free. Dial 120 (or 999 in Beijing). The fee depends on distance and the medicine used.
• Care outside cities is limited. Canada’s travel advice says medical care is widely available in urban areas but not in remote areas, that clinics offering international-standard care are much more expensive, and that payment is expected at the time of service.

What your policy should cover

Based on the UK government’s travel insurance guidance, applied to a China trip:

Buy it soon after booking the trip, as the UK government advises, so cancellation cover starts early. Take the policy number and the insurer’s emergency phone number with you, and share them with someone at home.

Exclusions to check

Read the small print for:

• alcohol and drugs: most policies don’t pay for incidents after heavy drinking or drug use;
• adventure activities: such as rafting, climbing, skiing or riding scooters and quad bikes;
• high altitude: Tibet, Qinghai, western Sichuan and parts of Xinjiang are above 3,000 meters; Canada advises cover that includes helicopter rescue for trekking;
• pre-existing and mental health conditions you did not declare;
• age limits, especially on annual policies;
• natural disasters and unrest, which some policies cover only partly;
• government travel warnings: a policy may be invalid in areas your government advises against visiting.

How much does travel insurance for China cost?

We cannot give a fair single price, because it varies so much. The main factors are:

• your age and medical history;
• trip length and whether you buy a single-trip or annual policy;
• medical and evacuation limits you choose;
• extras such as adventure sports, cancellation, baggage or gadget cover;
• your country of residence, since policies are sold under local rules.

Compare policies on the medical limit, evacuation cover and excess, not only the price. A cheap policy that excludes evacuation is poor value for China.

If you get sick or injured in China

1. Call 120 for an ambulance in an emergency, or go to the nearest large hospital.
2. Call your insurer’s 24-hour assistance line as soon as you are referred for treatment. Keep your policy number and that phone number on your phone and on paper.
3. Have a way to pay the deposit: a wallet such as WeChat Pay or Alipay linked to your card, plus some cash. See Cash and ATMs in China.
4. Decline a VIP ward unless your insurer agrees to pay for it.
5. Keep every receipt and doctor’s note for your claim.
6. Contact your embassy if you need help. The UK government, for example, says its embassy can help you contact your insurer and communicate with hospital staff, and publishes a list of English-speaking doctors, but cannot pay medical bills or arrange evacuation.

Common mistakes

For wider safety advice, from scams to tap water, see Is China safe for tourists? and pack medicines correctly with China customs rules.

If you are planning a trip with older travelers, a medical condition or remote regions, tell us in the free trip planning form. We can plan routes with sensible hospital access and a realistic pace.