China Expat Health

Newly arrived expats in China have a lot of questions and concerns about health care and medical insurance — and well they should.  One of the big differences between China health care and the US system has to do with the notion of inpatient care and outpatient care.  You’ll find that in China, out-patient care can be a lot cheaper than it is in the US — but choices abound and quality varies widely.   Make your decisions about health care and medical insurance BEFORE you need either!

‘Inpatient’ refers to the admission process. If you are admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay, you are an “inpatient”, and all of the procedures you undergo are considered inpatient procedures.

‘Outpatient’ or ‘ambulatory’ procedures involve walking in and walking out the same day. This kind of medical attention does not always require hospital facilities.

Example:  John takes a spill at school and fractures his wrist.  That same day, his dad Bob has trouble with stomach ulcers.  They go to the hospital together.  Johnny is treated on an OUTPATIENT basis.  He’s x-rayed, wrapped in plaster and released that night.  Bob sees his doctor to get tests and a diagnosis.  The doctor’s visit, diagnostic tests and prescription are all ‘outpatient’ procedures. A month later, Bob is admitted to the hospital for a surgical procedure and will have to spend 2 nights there under observation. The hospital stay, surgery and associated expenses are all considered ‘inpatient’ procedures.

China expats have a few things to consider to understand how this applies to their particular situations.

1. Hospitals in China have gotten better – and more expensive. Financial advisors used to be quite skeptical about international healthcare policies that covered outpatient care because it was so cheap — and of questionable effectiveness – in China. Nowadays the major cities in China offer international-style clinics for outpatient care that rivals (or surpasses) US HMOs. Unfortunately, the advances in care have been accompanied by advances in pricing.

2. Chinese inpatient care still doesn’t make the grade for many people. Prescribing, diagnosing, bandaging and setting in plaster are one thing – surgery and other sophisticated procedures are a different story. If you don’t have confidence in Chinese hospitals, you will want a policy that includes “medical evacuation”, medical travel, and choice of hospital and doctor. These features are expensive, but if you (or your firm) are willing to foot the bill then you can choose the doctor and hospital anywhere in the world for your procedure.

3. Does it cover the US? Expect to pay 200 – 300% more in premiums for policies that include coverage in the US. Don’t blame the Chinese or the international carrier for this – the US healthcare system is so expensive and Byzantine that you’ll have to pay through the nose. Many international policies include (or offer) provisions for emergency cover in the US for a limited time period.

 Contact us for more information about healthcare and insurance in China.

Health and medical issues for expats in China used to be simple.  If you had a medical or health problem, you would leave China as soon as possible to get professional health care back home.  Expats in China have more options now, but they come at a price.  Hospitals and clinics in places like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Suzhou now profivide international-level medical treatment — but will charge you just as much as facilities in the West.  Buying insurance and medical coverage in China is getting more complicated, but help is available.  There are plenty of qualified experts who can help you analyze your family healthcare needs and find the best solution for you unique household situation.