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Start your health insurance search in China by understanding what types of coverage are available and identifying which coverage is best for your situation as an expat. It’s also helpful to familiarize yourself with the insurance companies so you can select one that feels like the best fit.
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Are you trying to decide what health insurance plan you need as an expat in China? Perhaps you have already looked at a few plans and need help deciding.
Keep reading because there’s so much more to choosing the best international health insurance in China than the cost of premiums. Not all coverage is the same! Don’t worry—help analyzing insurance plans is right here.
This Pacific Prime article will highlight the benefits of working with a broker, explain the different coverage types for expat health insurance in China, and point out some of the top-rated international health insurance providers for expats in China. You’ll also get some helpful guidance for comparing plans.
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance as an Expat in China
You need to know what types of coverage are necessary to choose the best health insurance for an expatriate in China. You will also need to consider how high of a deductible you can afford and the geographical areas you need coverage. Then you can compare plans for the best medical insurance.
Working with an International Insurance Broker for Coverage in China
Comparison shopping for international health insurance in China and abroad is much easier with an insurance broker. Insurance broker services do not cost expatriates a single penny, but the broker’s advice and ability to find and compare multiple plans are invaluable.
Each broker may also offer additional services. For example, Pacific Prime has a dedicated claims support team and a free online plan comparison tool.
You can contact an insurance expert for personalized advice at any point. Keep reading to become familiar with the different types of coverage available. We’ll also point you to additional tips, tricks, and resources for understanding health insurance options in China.
Identifying Coverage Needs for Living Abroad in China
You need to identify your health insurance needs while living abroad in China. Every expat health insurance plan has its own coverage, deductible, and exclusions. Do you need basic coverage or comprehensive coverage? Will you need maternity, dental, and/or optical insurance?
We will explain these coverage options and help expats determine which coverage selections meet their needs.
Basic Health Insurance Coverage for Expats in China
Basic health insurance coverage for expats in China typically includes inpatient medical expenses only. This means that day-to-day minor medical expenses are paid out-of-pocket by the expat, and only major medical expenses that require hospitalization would be covered by insurance.
The benefit of selecting a plan with very basic coverage is that the premiums are very affordable. Many expats with basic-coverage-only plans will pay less than USD $100 per month.
The risk is that the cost of outpatient medical expenses can add up quickly. So, even if you don’t expect to need a doctor frequently while in China, you could face exorbitant medical bills that aren’t covered by a basic health insurance plan.
Comprehensive Health Insurance Coverage for Expats in China
Comprehensive health insurance for expats covers inpatient and outpatient medical expenses according to the policy terms. Some comprehensive health insurance plans cover preventative medicine like check-ups and vaccinations, and other plans exclude these.
You can check the plan’s policy or ask your insurance broker to help you understand whether preventative medical expenses are covered under a particular plan.
Get more tips for staying healthy in China with this blog post.
Dental and Optical Coverage for Expats in China
Dental and optical expenses may be covered under a comprehensive health insurance plan in China, or these coverage options may be available as an additional rider on the policy. Be aware that many expat plans with dental coverage have a brief waiting period before coverage begins.
A waiting period is the length of time your insurance company collects premiums but does not provide coverage for a particular expense. Waiting periods help insurance companies keep premium costs down by offsetting the potential expenses of new clients.
Maternity Health Insurance in China for Expats
Maternity health insurance covers pregnancy and delivery, and expat maternity coverage has a waiting period. That means that expats who want to start or grow their families while living in China need to select and sign up for maternity coverage before becoming pregnant.
Expats in China can enjoy maternity coverage waiting periods as short as 180 days. That’s a bargain since many plans around the world require a waiting period of up to two years before coverage begins.
Pre-Existing Condition Coverage for Expats in China
Pre-existing coverage for expats in China is best secured through an employer or a large group policy because insurance companies waive medical history qualifications for large groups. On an individual expat health insurance policy, pre-existing condition coverage has to be approved by underwriters.
For additional information on securing pre-existing condition coverage abroad, check out this resource from Pacific Prime and/or contact an advisor today.
Deductible and Co-insurance Options for Expats
Expats in China have a lot of options for deductibles and copays/coinsurance. $0 deductible plans are available from multiple insurers. You’ll pay more for a $0 deductible plan in premiums but save money at the hospital or clinic, especially if you receive lots of medical care.
If you’re healthy and don’t plan on needing much medical care, you can select a higher deductible plan and save money on premiums. As long as you can cover the deductible, you could save a lot of money that way.
Prescription Drug Coverage for Expats in China
Be aware that most expat health insurance plans have an annual limit on benefits for prescription drug coverage. Check the policy for more information about outpatient and inpatient prescription drug coverage while living in China.
The good news is that most prescriptions are more affordable abroad than in the United States. However, to avoid high out-of-pocket costs, you may want to choose a plan with a very high benefit limit for prescription drugs.
Finding the Top-Rated International Health Insurance Companies
In addition to the policy’s exclusions, coverage options, and premiums, expats in China need to know how insurance carriers compare to one another. Health Insurance companies have their own networks and customer service experiences. Find one of the top-rated companies for a better experience.
The 11 best international health insurance companies in China include
- Cigna
- Allianz
- NOW Health International
- AXA
- GeoBlue
- MSH International
- IMG Global
- April International
- Ping An
- Bupa
- ICBC-AXA
For more information about the highlights of each of the 11 best insurance companies, click here.
Comparing Quotes for Expat Health Insurance in China
The fastest way to find and compare quotes for expat health insurance in China is to use a comparison tool that searches available plans and displays all the plans that meet your search parameters. From there, you can click on specific plans to find more details about the plan.
- To begin comparing plans, enter your information in the quote generator. The more information you provide, the more reliable and helpful the quotes will be.
- At a minimum, you will need to provide the desired country of coverage, your age, and gender. You may also select the types of coverage you’re seeking: inpatient, outpatient, dental, and maternity.
- Add additional family members seeking coverage, if applicable.
- During the next step, you’ll also indicate which country is your home country.
- From there, you can sort plans based on the insurance carrier, premium cost, annual benefit limits, deductibles, and more.
- Clicking on each insurance offer in the results will provide details about outpatient, inpatient, and maternity coverage. The expandable information in the plan details will also indicate whether or not preventative medical expenses are included in coverage.
To watch a video tutorial for the quote generator, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use Medicare in China?
US Medicare does not cover medical expenses in China because Medicare is only applicable in the United States and its territories. Medicare cannot be used for any medical expenses abroad. You will need to secure travel or expat health insurance for medical expense coverage abroad.
How much does health insurance in China cost for expats?
Premiums for basic expat health insurance can be under USD $100 monthly. More comprehensive plans may cost up to several hundred dollars per month, depending on coverage selections and the policyholder’s geographic coverage area.
Can expats get health insurance in China?
Expats have many private international health insurance options in China. Plans can cover China and the surrounding countries only or the entire world, including or excluding the United States. Legal residents in China have options through the public healthcare system as well.
Conclusion
Expats can choose from many high-quality, customer-oriented international insurance providers for insurance in China. Basic to comprehensive coverage is available depending on your budget and needs. Be aware of other policy information to help you find and compare insurance quotes.
Don’t forget that working with an insurance broker will make finding and comparing plans much easier! For assistance, contact an insurance expert at Pacific Prime online or by calling 1-800-868-1451.
For more information about the insurance regulations in China, check out this blog post from Pacific Prime.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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