How to guides · · 2 min read
Health insurance and medical care for international students in China
China requires comprehensive medical insurance for international students. Here is what the national scheme covers and what it does not.
Quick answer
What is covered
The national comprehensive medical insurance scheme for international students, costing around CNY 800 per year, covers hospitalisation and a defined set of outpatient services at designated hospitals, typically with a co-payment. CSC and most provincial scholarships include it.
University campus clinics provide basic consultations, vaccinations and referrals at little or no cost, and are the first place to go for minor problems.
What is not covered
Dental treatment, optical care, routine check-ups, pre-existing conditions and treatment outside the designated hospital network are generally excluded or only partly covered. Prescription medicines are usually paid for out of pocket.
Many international students buy a supplementary international policy for major medical and evacuation cover, particularly if they travel widely or have a chronic condition.
How treatment works
Chinese hospitals operate largely on a pay-first model: you pay at the time of treatment and claim reimbursement from the insurer afterwards, submitting receipts, the diagnosis certificate and the medical record. Keep every receipt. Campus clinics can help with the paperwork.
Emergency departments at major hospitals operate 24 hours. The ambulance number is 120 and the police number is 110 — both have English-speaking operators in major cities, though not reliably.