Medically reviewed by Dr. Wang, Medical Editor, ChinaCureLink
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Introduction
Medical insurance in China covers more than 95% of the people who live there, but it does not cover patients who travel to China for treatment. For an international patient, the more useful question is whether their own insurance can help.
The answer is sometimes yes. Some private health plans sold outside China include treatment abroad, and a few name China specifically. This guide explains how China's system treats foreign patients, which insurers offer plans that may cover treatment in China, and what to expect when travelling without cover.
How Medical Insurance in China Works
China's public medical insurance has two main schemes, overseen by the National Healthcare Security Administration and run city by city:
Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance is mandatory for people in formal jobs. Employers pay 7% to 10.5% of wages and employees pay 2%.
Urban and Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance covers everyone else, funded by government subsidies and individual premiums.
Together they covered more than 95% of the population in 2023, paying roughly 70% of inpatient and 50% of outpatient costs. City-level supplementary plans called Huimin Bao and a small private insurance market fill part of the gap.
Foreigners who live in China can be part of this system. Foreign employees must be enrolled by their employer under rules in force since October 2011, some cities open resident insurance to permanent residents, and international students must hold insurance throughout their studies. Visitors, including patients who come only for treatment, are excluded.
Table of Content
Can International Patients Use Their Own Insurance in China?
Sometimes. Whether a private health plan pays for treatment in China usually depends on its area of cover: the countries where the insurer will pay. Some plans cover only the home country, while higher plan levels often extend to Asia or the whole world.
Three points are worth knowing early:
Travel insurance is designed for emergencies, and most policies exclude travelling abroad for planned treatment.
Existing conditions are excluded from new policies, so only a policy held before diagnosis can help.
Planned treatment abroad usually needs the insurer's approval in advance.
Insurance Plans That May Cover Treatment in China
The insurers below offer plans whose cover can include treatment in China, based on their own published information as of October 2026.
Insurer | Plan | What the insurer states | Sold to |
Prudential Indonesia | PRUWell Medical | Area of cover set by plan level: Gold covers Asia, Platinum covers worldwide except the United States, and Diamond covers worldwide; cancer treatment benefits included | Residents of Indonesia |
Prudential Malaysia | PRUMedic Overseas (add-on rider) | Covers treatment in Singapore, Hong Kong or China for listed serious conditions, including cancer-related surgery | Residents of Malaysia |
AIA Hong Kong | Individual medical plans | Cashless hospitalisation in mainland China at listed hospitals, with approval before admission | Hong Kong policyholders |
Bupa Hong Kong | Care Bridge Health Insurance Scheme (launched May 2026) | Inpatient cover across mainland China or Greater China, depending on plan level | Hong Kong residents |
Important: these examples are for information only and are not a recommendation of any insurer or plan. Cover depends on the exact policy wording, plan level, exclusions and waiting periods, and products change over time. Patients should check with their insurer, in writing, that their specific treatment in mainland China is covered before making travel plans.
Going to China Without Insurance Cover
Without cover, an international patient is a self-paying patient. That brings practical limits:
Chinese public hospitals ask for payment before each step, and inpatient treatment requires a deposit before admission.
Not declaring the purpose of the trip to a travel insurer can invalidate the policy.
A patient who travels without a confirmed treatment plan risks paying for travel only to learn that the hospital cannot take the case or recommends a different treatment.
Using a Medical Tourism Facilitator
A facilitator does not replace insurance, but it removes much of the uncertainty before money is spent on travel. ChinaCureLink represents the patient rather than any single hospital, and there is no fee to apply to hospitals; a moderate fee applies only for on-site support.
The process starts with a free advisory call. ChinaCureLink then identifies and compares up to three suitable hospitals or specialists, and the patient has a video second opinion with the chosen specialist before booking any travel. If the patient decides to proceed, ChinaCureLink coordinates the appointment, records and translation, hospital communication, treatment planning, travel and in-China support.
For a checklist that applies to any facilitator, see ChinaCureLink's guide on how to choose a medical facilitator in China.
CAR-T and Innovative Drugs: China's 2026 Commercial Insurance List
On 7 December 2025, China's National Healthcare Security Administration released two lists that took effect on 1 January 2026. The national reimbursement drug list added 114 drugs, bringing it to 3,253, and the first Commercial Health Insurance Innovative Drug List named 19 high-cost drugs for cancers, rare diseases and Alzheimer's disease.
Five CAR-T cell therapies are on the commercial list, including axicabtagene ciloleucel (Fosun Kite) and relmacabtagene autoleucel (JW Therapeutics). Their inclusion shows how established CAR-T has become in China's mainstream cancer care.
The list guides what Chinese insurance plans can cover; it does not create cover for visitors. International patients receiving CAR-T in China pay the hospital themselves or rely on their own insurer where the policy allows. ChinaCureLink's guide on how to get cancer treatment in China as a foreigner explains the next steps.
Planning Treatment in China From Abroad?
These guides explain the next steps:
Get a Second Opinion Before Fly to China
For suitable cases, ChinaCureLink can then coordinate an online consultation with the specialist to discuss the technical treatment details directly. The purpose is to help the patient understand which treatment option and which specialist center may be most appropriate before making an international treatment decision.
What Patients Say About ChinaCureLink & Medebound HEALTH
China CureLink operates under Medebound HEALTH — an internationally recognized healthcare navigation company incorporated in New York, with operations across North America and Asia-Pacific.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Foreigners Use China's Medical Insurance?
Only foreigners who live in China. Foreign employees must be enrolled by their employer, and some cities let permanent residents join resident insurance. Visitors, including patients who travel to China for treatment, cannot use China's public insurance and pay hospitals directly unless their own insurance pays.
Does Prudential Insurance Cover Treatment in China?
Some Prudential plans may. In Indonesia, PRUWell Medical's area of cover ranges from Indonesia only to worldwide depending on the plan level, and Prudential Malaysia offers an overseas rider that names China for listed serious conditions. Policyholders should confirm their cover with Prudential before travelling.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Medical Treatment in China?
Usually only emergencies. Travel insurance is designed for sudden illness or injury during a trip, and most policies exclude travelling abroad for planned treatment. Patients travelling to China for treatment should declare the purpose of the trip and check whether a health plan covers it instead.
Do Chinese Hospitals Accept Foreign Insurance?
Some do. International departments and private hospitals often bill international insurers directly, and each hospital publishes its list of signed insurers. Most public hospitals require payment first, so patients usually pay and then claim from their insurer.
Can Foreigners Use Chinese Medical Insurance for CAR-T Therapy?
Visitors cannot. China's 2026 commercial insurance drug list includes five CAR-T therapies, but it applies to Chinese insurance plans. International patients usually pay the hospital directly or rely on their own insurer if their policy covers treatment in China.
About ChinaCureLink
ChinaCureLink helps patients across the world access the best cancer treatment at China's top hospitals, without the delays, language barriers, and administrative confusion that typically come with seeking care abroad.
We connect patients directly with China's top cancer hospitals, ensuring that from the first case submission through to treatment and follow-up, every step is guided, translated, and coordinated by a team experienced in cross-border patient care.
ChinaCureLink is proudly affiliated with Medebound HEALTH — founded by US physicians, with over 10 years of experience and more than 3,000 patients served worldwide, Medebound HEALTH is recognized by Forbes and it is one of the most trusted patient cross-border concierge service company across North America and the Asia Pacific.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical or financial advice. Treatment eligibility, protocols, and costs vary by individual case — confirm specifics with a coordinator and treating physician before making any decisions.
References
The Commonwealth Fund. International Health Care System Profiles: China. May 1, 2026.
Science and Technology Daily. Social Insurance Tips for Foreigners Working in China. July 27, 2023.
Peking University Office of International Relations. Insurance for Admitted Students.
Prudential Indonesia. Ringkasan Informasi Asuransi Kesehatan PRUWell Medical, 2026.
Bupa Hong Kong. Bupa Care Bridge Health Insurance Scheme. May 19, 2026.
Beijing Municipal Government. Medical Guide for Foreigners in Beijing.
LaingBuisson IMTJ. Clearing up the confusion: insurance and medical tourism. Updated March 31, 2021.
