Travel Insurance for China: Coverage, Prices and Best Plans

In China, foreign travellers generally have to pay medical expenses before receiving treatment, especially in international hospitals in major cities. A hospital stay can quickly cost several thousand euros in just a few days. European public healthcare systems usually do not cover these expenses in China.

Even though it is not always formally required for a tourist visa, travel insurance for China is strongly recommended — and may sometimes be required for specific administrative procedures or longer stays. It helps cover medical expenses, medical repatriation and provides assistance services capable of organising treatment locally.

Before travelling, it is therefore essential to choose insurance with a high medical coverage limit, medical evacuation and 24/7 assistance. In this guide we analyse the best travel insurance for China, the guarantees you should prioritise, typical prices and the key elements to check before departure.

Comparing different policies helps identify real coverage limits, deductibles and the quality of assistance services in order to avoid significant expenses if something goes wrong during your trip.

What are the risks when travelling to China?

The Chinese healthcare system

China has a highly contrasted healthcare system. Two main types of facilities are available:

• public hospitals, usually cheaper but often very crowded and where staff may not speak English
• international hospitals, better equipped and typically used by expatriates and foreign travellers

In international hospitals, treatment is generally faster and communication easier, but costs are significantly higher.

Healthcare costs in China compared with Europe

Medical care in China can be significantly more expensive for foreign travellers, particularly in international hospitals that cater to expatriates and tourists. While public hospitals are cheaper, language barriers and waiting times often lead travellers to private or international clinics.

Typical healthcare costs can vary widely depending on the city and hospital:

• Doctor consultation: €80 – €150 in China vs €25 – €60 in Europe
• Emergency room visit: €300 – €800 in China vs €50 – €200 in Europe
• Hospital stay (per day): €1,000 – €3,000 in China vs €200 – €800 in Europe
• Surgery: €5,000 – €15,000 or more in China vs €1,500 – €6,000 in Europe

Because foreign travellers are usually treated in international facilities, healthcare costs can increase quickly. For this reason, most insurers recommend choosing travel insurance for China with at least €300,000 of medical coverage, and ideally €500,000 or more.

Common health issues travellers may face in China

China is generally a safe destination, but travellers may still face a number of health issues during their stay.

Among the most common problems reported by travellers are:

• respiratory irritation caused by air pollution in large cities such as Beijing or Shanghai
• food poisoning linked to unfamiliar cuisine or street food
• digestive issues due to changes in diet
• minor traffic accidents involving scooters, bicycles or electric scooters
• heat exhaustion during summer months

Most of these situations are not serious, but they can still require medical consultation or treatment. Access to international clinics can be expensive, which is why travel insurance for China is strongly recommended to cover unexpected medical expenses.

Is travel insurance mandatory for China?

For a standard tourist visa, travel insurance is generally not mandatory. However, certain specific situations (university programmes, long stays, or particular events) may require proof of insurance coverage.

But the absence of a legal requirement does not mean it is optional.

In practice, several factors make travel insurance almost essential:

• European public healthcare systems do not cover medical expenses in China
• private health insurance policies in Europe rarely reimburse treatment outside Europe
• hospitals may require a financial guarantee before starting treatment

Without insurance, travellers therefore have to pay the full cost of medical treatment directly on site.

What should travel insurance for China cover at minimum?

Not all insurance policies offer the same level of protection. For a trip to China, certain guarantees are essential.

The five guarantees that are truly essential are:

1. high medical coverage
2. medical repatriation
3. 24/7 assistance
4. personal liability coverage
5. baggage protection

Medical expenses abroad

The medical coverage limit is the most important element.

Experts generally recommend:

• minimum: €300,000
• ideal: €500,000 or more

Some insurance policies cover medical expenses from the first euro and up to 100% of actual costs in case of hospitalisation.

Emergency dental care is usually covered with a sub-limit of around €250–€300.

Medical repatriation

This guarantee covers:

• transport to an appropriate medical facility
• repatriation to the traveller’s home country
• organisation of medical evacuation

In most policies these costs are covered without a specific limit, as medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of euros.

Personal liability abroad

Personal liability insurance covers damage you may cause to third parties during your trip.

Coverage limits can reach:

• several million euros for bodily injury
• several hundred thousand euros for property damage

A deductible of around €80 per claim may apply in some policies.

Baggage coverage

Baggage insurance covers loss, theft or damage to personal belongings.

Coverage limits are generally around:

• €1,500 per traveller

Some insurance policies also provide compensation in case of delayed baggage.

24/7 assistance with direct payment of medical costs

Assistance services are often the most useful guarantee in practice. They allow insurers to:

• organise hospital admission
• connect travellers with doctors
• advance medical expenses
• arrange medical evacuation or repatriation

A good policy is cashless, meaning you do not have to pay upfront and request reimbursement later: the insurer pays the healthcare provider directly.

Compare the best travel insurance plans carefully selected by our experts for China.

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What are the best travel insurance plans for China?

For a trip to China, we recommend choosing travel insurance that provides:

• at least €300,000 of medical coverage
• ideally €500,000 or more
• 24/7 medical assistance
• direct payment of hospital expenses

In major Chinese cities, international hospitals often request a financial guarantee before starting treatment. Insurance that can advance or guarantee payment can therefore make a significant difference.

Below are five travel insurance plans particularly suitable for travelling to China, offering high medical limits and comprehensive international assistance.

Secure Gold

Insured by IMA Assurances

Medical expenses€1,500,000

Repatriation assistance 24/7Actual costs

Trip cancellationOptional

Luggage€4,000

Priority 24/7 assistance

Search & rescue coverage: €6,000

Rental car excess coverage included

Enhanced delay coverage

More benefits

Secure Silver

Insured by IMA Assurances

Medical expenses€1,000,000

Repatriation assistance 24/7Actual costs

Trip cancellationOptional

Luggage€3,000

Enhanced 24/7 assistance via the app

No upfront payments, even in emergencies

Better coverage for trip extensions

Full assistance in case of lost documents, keys or cards

More benefits

Safe Care

Insured by AIG

Medical expenses€500,000

Repatriation assistance 24/7Actual costs

Trip cancellationNot included

LuggageNot included

Ideal for short tourist stays

Worldwide coverage up to 60 days

Sports and leisure covered (excluding professional practice)

Mountain search and rescue costs included

More benefits

How much does travel insurance for China cost?

The price of travel insurance for China mainly depends on the traveller’s age, the duration of the trip and the level of coverage selected. Based on real HelloSafe quotes analysed for short trips of 7 to 14 days, prices remain relatively affordable.

Here are the average prices observed for a one-week trip to China:

Real price examples (1 week in China)

💡 Key takeaway:
For a typical tourist trip to China, good travel insurance generally costs between €20 and €40 per week per traveller, with medical coverage limits ranging from €300,000 to €1,000,000 and medical evacuation included.

For higher coverage levels (larger medical limits, enhanced baggage coverage or premium assistance), the price can reach €60–€70 per week.

The most important things to check before travelling to China

Beyond standard exclusions, several technical aspects of an insurance policy can make a major difference if something happens during your trip.

1. Sub-limits

A policy may advertise a high medical limit (for example €500,000), but still include sub-limits on specific types of treatment such as:

• hospitalisation
• medical imaging
• ambulance transport
• emergency dental care
• consultations

These internal limits can significantly reduce the actual reimbursement you receive.

2. Deductibles

The deductible is the portion of expenses that remains payable by the traveller before reimbursement.

For example:

• medical deductible of €100 to €300 per claim
• baggage deductible per item
• deductible on trip cancellation coverage

Some premium policies offer zero deductible, which simplifies reimbursements.

3. The quality of medical assistance

This is often overlooked.

In the event of hospitalisation abroad, the key element is not only the insurer but also the assistance provider (the company managing the emergency situation).

• organising hospital admission
• guaranteeing payment to the hospital
• coordinating medical care
• arranging medical evacuation

A strong assistance network often prevents travellers from having to advance thousands of euros.

4. Direct payment of medical expenses

Some insurance policies operate on a reimbursement basis: you pay first and are reimbursed later.

Others offer direct payment to the hospital, which is usually preferable in the event of hospitalisation.

5. Assistance procedures

In many policies, failing to contact the assistance service before hospitalisation may reduce coverage.

This is one of the most common mistakes travellers make.

Is bank card insurance enough for travelling to China?

In Europe, many bank cards include travel insurance. However, it is important to distinguish between premium cards (Visa Gold, Mastercard Gold) and standard cards, which usually provide much more limited coverage.

Typical coverage levels are shown below:

The main limitations of bank card insurance

No medical coverage with entry-level cards
Most standard European bank cards do not include real medical coverage abroad, or only very limited amounts. In practice, these cards mainly cover assistance or repatriation.

Medical limits often too low
Even with premium cards, medical limits are usually around €150,000, which may be insufficient in the event of serious hospitalisation abroad.

Conditional activation
Coverage usually applies only if the main transport (flight, train, package trip) was paid using the card.

Limited duration
Coverage generally applies only to the first 90 days of travel.

Frequent sub-limits
Some important guarantees are often limited:

• emergency dental treatment
• baggage per item
• trip interruption

Limited organisation of care
Bank card insurance often operates through reimbursement, while dedicated travel insurance can organise hospitalisation directly.

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