Insurance companies in China require patients to first pay for treatment, and then send all claims and receipts to the insurance company. Some of the best hospitals in China have direct billing arrangements with certain international health insurance companies. These arrangements are still the exception rather than the rule. Contact your insurance broker to determine which hospitals have direct billing arrangements with your international health insurance provider.

Recently, a company called Dadi Insurance offers an insurance which is “Global Medical Insurance” for the upper class and foreigners in China. It’s the a newest medical plan cooperating with Global Benefits Group (GBG). It covers outpatient service, physical examination, childbirth, dentistry, ophthalmology and so on.
http://www.ccic-net.com.cn/
If you are currently traveling in China, you may consider purchasing separate travel insurance. Check with the website http://www.globalcare-cocco.com/ to get more details.
If you are looking for health insurance advice:
Telephone: +86 21 6445 4592
Fax: +86 21 6467 0328
http://www.global-health-insurance.com/country/china/

Local Medical Insurance

Foreigners in China cannot buy social medical insurance. But if they are living in China for a long time, they can buy business medical insurance. Requirements are: a passport and residence registration. Check with the local insurance companies to get more information.
The biggest insurance company in China is “Chian Life Insuranse(Group) Company”, their branches are all over China. Call at: 95519 http://www.chinalife.com.cn/

This hospital in Beijing accepts foreign insurance.
http://www.gamhospital.ac.cn/
Two more web sites for foreigners to get an insurance plan in China are:

1. http://www.jiankangxh.com/
2. http://www.bjanhui.com.cn/medical/global/

These two TCM pharmacies are the most recognized in larger cities.

1. Tongjitang Chinese Medicine http://www.tongjitang.com
   
2. Tonrentang Chinese Medicine http://www.tongrentang-yaodian.com.cn/
   

Here is a link to Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.
http://www.gamhospital.ac.cn/

1. Nepstar Chian Drugstore http://www.nepstar.cn/

This brand is one of the largest pharmacies in China and it has the most branches and the best sales in the north of China.

2. Laobaixing Chian Drugstore http://www.lbxdrugs.com/

This brand has lots of branches which cover the central part of China in blue color, check them on the map)

3. Yixingtang Chian drugstore http://www.hx8886.com/

Most of this brand’s branches are in South-west of China and the main branch is in Yunnan province.

In China, there are two types of hospitals, national hospitals and private hospitals. In larger places, you can find all kinds of divisional hospitals, especially in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. In smaller places, you will have less choice. In most of the cities in China, you will find a hospital called “people’s hospital”; some places have a few of the “people’s hospital” and they are called “First people’s hospital”, “Second people’s hospital” etc. Usually, they can be found in the capital of each province. But in the countryside or remote places, you might only find some local clinics. The difference between national hospitals and private hospitals are:

The number for First Aid information in China is 120. Here are two websites you can use to check the information of hospitals of China. It has all the details about the city, type, address, and contact numbers for hospitals all over China.

China Hospitals: http://www.hospital315.com/

Hospitals Guide: http://www.12077.com/

Seeing doctors in a national or local hospital

You cannot make an appointment to visit the doctor in national hospitals. You just have to go directly there. But you’d better go early, otherwise there will be a lot of people waiting in front of you and you may not get the chance to see the doctors before they get off work for the day. Once you arrive at the hospital, go to the information center to find out where the registration hall is and then go straight there to pay for the registration fees. You will get a receipt, keep it in your hand and go to where the doctor is and give it to the nurse. She’ll give you a waiting number, and then you wait to be called. Most of the old doctors don’t speak English, but some of the young doctors speak some English. If you don’t have somebody to translate for you, you’d better bring some notes in Chinese stating what you need, just in case there’s nobody there who speaks decent English. But you can make an appointment in private hospitals, and usually they can offer English service.

International Hospitals

The quality of international hospitals varies greatly from urban centers to rural countryside. Some urban hospitals have a special foreigner ward or VIP ward, both of which accept foreigners and are generally of a higher quality. There are a few international hospitals and clinics in major cities geared toward international visitors. If you have an emergency, check the Red Cross hospital where you are located. Red Cross hospitals tend to do a good job and their quality is good in general.

Below you will find information about some international hospitals in China.

Global Doctor: It runs 8 international clinics with the latest technology and telemedicine in Beijing, Nangjing, Shenyang, Changsha, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Chongqing and also provides emergency evacuation. Global Doctor’s Clinics are staffed by English speaking doctors using modern equipment in hygienic surroundings ensuring that all your health needs are met.

24hrs Alarm Center:

Room 3317,Van Palace Bld E Tower,No.2, Guandongdian S St., Chaoyang District,Beijing
TEL:+86 10 5131 6222
Fax:+86 10 5207 8144
Email:responsecenter@globaldoctor.com.au

Check http://www.globaldoctor.com for more details.

Below is a list of international hospitals in major cities:

1. Bethune International Peace Hospital. It’s the first international hospital in Beijing. It was built in 1973. http://www.peacehospital.com/
2. Beijing university international hospital http://www.pkucare.com/cn/
3. Beijing New Century International Hospital for Children http://www.ncich.com.cn/
4. Shanghai International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital http://www.ipmch.com.cn
5. Xiangya International Hospital http://www.xiangya.com.cn
6. Mingde International Hospital http://www.matilda.org/chi/index.php
7. Halixun International Hospital http://www.halixun.com/
8. Jiangxi Zhonghuan International Hospital http://www.zhhospital.com/
9. Chongqing Jinshan International Hospital http://www.hospitalcqmu.com/
10. Yunnan Richland International Hospital http://www.intrh.com/