How you pay
| Item | Method | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital medical fees | At the hospital cashier: UnionPay, international credit card, WeChat Pay, Alipay or cash | CNY (hospital rate) |
| Facilitation fee | Bank transfer or card before arrival, invoice issued | CNY or USD |
| Hotel and transfers | Paid to the provider | CNY |
Will your insurance reimburse?
Most international private medical insurers treat licensed Chinese public hospitals as eligible providers, but reimbursement is decided case by case. Three things decide it: whether the treatment is deemed medically necessary, whether TCM is explicitly included in your plan, and whether the hospital is on the insurer’s provider list.
- Ask your insurer, before travelling, whether acupuncture, tuina, cupping, moxibustion and herbal prescriptions are covered, and whether a referral or pre-authorisation is required.
- Request itemised invoices and a medical report from the hospital — insurers rarely accept a summary receipt.
- Keep the prescription slips: herbal medicine is often reimbursed separately from therapy sessions.
- Photograph every receipt on the day you pay; Chinese hospital invoices are printed on thermal paper and fade.
What is not covered by anyone
- Treatment judged not medically necessary (for example cosmetic or purely wellness purposes).
- Travel costs for a companion.
- Extended stays beyond the period stated in your pre-authorisation.
What you should arrange before flying
Buy travel medical insurance that covers China for the full length of your stay, including any extension you might request. Check that it covers pre-existing conditions if you have them, and that the policy territory is mainland China and not merely “worldwide excluding USA”.
We do not sell insurance and we do not receive commission from any insurer. If a hospital requires a deposit before admission, it is refunded against the final bill at discharge.