Health Insurance for Expats from China
You’re not alone if you’re a Chinese citizen dreaming of an international move. There are more than 50 million Chinese nationals living overseas.
The majority of this diaspora lives in Southeast Asia. However, nearly every country in the world has a sizeable Chinese community.
Some Chinese individuals move abroad on a temporary basis to study, undertake an internship, or represent their company overseas. For others, the move is permanent. Often, expats from China join relatives who have been established in another country for a long time.
Whatever the motivation, Chinese expats can expect to adjust to many cultural differences. Every country has its own culture, style, and traditions. And, of course, every destination also has its own healthcare system. In many cases, they can look very different from the system in China.
If you’re about to be an expat, it’s time to start researching new healthcare systems and preparing for your big move.
Find the Best International Medical Insurance
- Compare multiple quotes from top insurers
- Get expert advice at no additional cost
- Find the right plan for your needs and budget
Will Your Chinese Health Insurance Cover You Abroad?
Healthcare coverage in China is based on residency. As such, when Chinese nationals move abroad, they must make arrangements to have their own health insurance. However, some university students in China may be enrolled in an insurance policy that covers their international studies.
Understanding the Cost of Services Overseas as a Chinese Expat
Expats from China are often in for a big surprise when they see the cost of healthcare overseas. Many healthcare services at Chinese public hospitals are very inexpensive. As such, when Chinese citizens move abroad, they’re often shocked by how expensive similar treatments are in other countries. Services like X-rays or basic blood tests may cost just a few dollars in China, but can easily cost $100 or even more abroad.
However, expats from China may be in for a pleasant surprise, depending on their location. While many hospitals and clinics in China require patients to pay upfront before treatment, this isn’t universal.
Depending on the country and the insurance you carry, you might not have to pay anything upfront at all. Many insurance companies allow for direct billing. Additionally, some countries have no copays or patient costs at all, depending on their universal healthcare structure. For people who are accustomed to paying large bills upfront, especially when they’re not feeling well, this is a welcome change.
Buying Private Global Insurance While Living Abroad
Chinese expats don’t want to be caught abroad without comprehensive insurance coverage. Depending on where they move, they might be eligible to enroll in the public healthcare system.
However, few countries offer coverage immediately upon arrival. Many require proof that new residents hold independent insurance policies as a condition for residency visas. This is to demonstrate that you won’t be a drain on the public healthcare system that you’re not yet a part of.
Having private global insurance means that you are never caught without coverage. Additionally, you have an entire support team behind you. Your insurance team can help you maintain your own medical records, get interpreters if needed, and provide comprehensive support.
Best Health Insurance for Chinese Nationals Living Abroad
The Cigna Global Health plan is a leading plan for Chinese nationals residing anywhere in the world. The plan offers multiple plan designs, allowing you to select the benefits that appeal to you the most. The plan provides comprehensive and basic coverage options to meet the needs of all types of clients.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Flexible plans tailored to your needs and budget
- 1.5M+ providers in 200+ countries
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
Best Medical Insurance in the US for Chinese Citizens
Chinese citizens require insurance in the USA to cover medical expenses in the event of illness or injury. The BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier health plan provides Chinese nationals access to the extensive Blue Cross Blue Shield network of doctors and hospitals. It will also cover them while they are visiting home in China or traveling abroad to other countries. The benefits are comprehensive, and the customer service team is excellent.
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
- Pre-existing conditions covered with prior insurance
- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Differences in Medical Practices Outside of China
Attitudes towards traditional Chinese medicine vary widely around the world. In many countries, practices such as acupuncture are widely accepted and integrated into different parts of the healthcare system. For instance, acupuncture is commonly used in sports medicine and physiotherapy in Canada and the United States.
However, in other countries, alternative medicine, such as homeopathy, is widely accepted, but traditional Chinese medicine may not be. Often, these practitioners will have their own small clinics, and patients self-refer. While styles can vary from country to country, in general, there is little coordination of care between Western medicine practitioners and alternative medicine practitioners.
While many physicians are open-minded about traditional Chinese medicine, this isn’t always the case. Expats from China might have to look around to find a doctor who’s open to discussing all possible avenues of treatment.
Anticipating Gaps Between Urban and Rural Care
In China, healthcare in rural areas is often limited, and in some cases, it is nonexistent. In rural areas, residents may have to wait hours or even days to reach the nearest clinic. As such, the modest standards of rural healthcare in other countries might come as a pleasant surprise.
However, Chinese citizens accustomed to the exemplary hospitals in Shanghai and Beijing may be shocked by the busy, crowded urban public hospitals found around the world. Depending on where you come from and where you settle, your new healthcare model may be quite different.
Holding private insurance in addition to public insurance in your new country gives you the best of both worlds. Whether you’re in an urban or rural area, you can see specialists more quickly and enjoy shorter appointment wait times. Additionally, you’ll be seen in more private and comfortable facilities.
Public Health and Smoking
China lags behind many countries when it comes to public health policies about tobacco control. While smoking remains popular in many Chinese workplaces and is seen as a sign of friendship, in many other countries, attitudes towards tobacco use are much more restrained.
Tobacco is banned in workplaces, restaurants, and even most public spaces in many countries around the world. Public health campaigns about the dangers of smoking are vigorous. Chinese expats who smoke can expect their new physician to talk to them about this habit.
There’s another side to smoking that citizens from China will have to adjust to. While up to 74% of Chinese men smoke, less than 8% of Chinese women use tobacco. While men, in general, are more likely to smoke than women around the world, few countries have this kind of gender gap. As such, in environments where smoking is permitted abroad, Chinese expats may be surprised to see that women are indulging nearly as much as men are.
Time Abroad and Planning to Return Home
When you return home to China, you won’t automatically be enrolled in public health insurance. You’ll likely need to re-enroll with your local provider and may have to wait until coverage takes effect. If you have purchased a global medical plan, you can maintain that coverage in China until your local plan starts – up to a maximum of 6 months.
Find the Best International Medical Insurance
- Compare multiple quotes from top insurers
- Get expert advice at no additional cost
- Find the right plan for your needs and budget
Joe Cronin, President of ICI, is a leading expert in international health, life, and travel insurance. An MBA and founder of multiple global businesses, he helps expatriates and travelers access trusted, comprehensive insurance solutions worldwide.
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