Payment
How to pay for medical care in China as a visitor
Paying a hospital in China is easier for visitors than it was a few years ago, but it still trips people up. Public hospitals usually expect payment as you go, and mobile payment has limits you should know before you arrive.
The short answer
Bring two ways to pay: a mobile wallet (Alipay or WeChat Pay) linked to your international card, and the card itself. If you have international health insurance, ask your insurer before you travel whether the hospital bills them directly, and get a guarantee of payment in writing.
Payment methods compared
| Method | What we can confirm | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay / WeChat Pay with a foreign card | Visitors can link international cards such as Visa and Mastercard. From 2024 the single-transaction limit for overseas visitors was raised to US$5,000 and the annual limit to US$50,000. | A large hospital bill can exceed one transaction. Set up and test before you travel. |
| Bank card at the hospital | China Daily's guide lists credit cards such as UnionPay, Visa and JCB among accepted methods. | Acceptance varies by hospital and by counter. Ask in advance. |
| Cash | Listed as accepted. | Carrying large amounts is risky; banks may limit withdrawals. |
| Insurance direct billing | Some hospitals bill commercial insurers directly. Huashan Hospital, for example, reports agreements with more than 30 insurers and third parties. | International departments usually ask for your insurance card and a guarantee letter. Without them, you pay first and claim later. |
Paying at a public hospital
Public hospitals generally ask you to pay for each step as you go: registration, then tests, then medicines. International departments often handle this at one desk. The hospital profiles note where a hospital publishes its payment arrangements, and our visit preparation guide explains registration.
Insurance: before you travel
Check whether your policy covers care abroad
Many domestic health policies do not cover planned treatment abroad. Ask your insurer in writing.
Ask about direct billing
If your insurer has a direct-billing agreement with the hospital, ask them to issue a guarantee of payment before your appointment. Bring the insurance card and the guarantee letter.
If there is no direct billing
Pay the hospital, keep every invoice and itemised bill, and ask the hospital for an English-language medical report to support your claim.
Keeping costs predictable
Ask for a written estimate that separates consultation, tests, procedures, materials and medicines. Our costs page shows the few prices we can trace, and explains why international department prices are higher. Treatments that may need a second trip, listed on the treatments page, should be budgeted for twice.
If you ask us to coordinate your visit, our own fee is separate from the hospital bill and is shown on the pricing page before you agree. We do not take a share of what you pay the hospital; see how we are paid.
Currency, exchange and card fees
Hospital bills in China are in renminbi (CNY). If you pay by international card, directly or through a mobile wallet, your bank converts the amount and may add a foreign transaction fee. Check your bank's fees before you travel and, if you have a choice, use a card without foreign transaction fees. Keep a small amount of cash as a backup, but do not plan to settle a large bill in cash.
Deposits and hospital stays
For procedures and overnight stays, hospitals may ask for a deposit before admission. Ask in advance how much, how it can be paid, and how and when any unused amount is refunded to a foreign card. If your insurer has issued a guarantee of payment, ask whether the deposit is still required.
Keeping records for an insurance claim
| Document | Why your insurer wants it |
|---|---|
| Itemised invoice | Shows what each charge was for |
| Payment receipts | Proves you paid, and how much |
| Medical report, ideally in English | Shows the diagnosis and treatment |
| Prescriptions | Supports claims for medicines |
| Appointment confirmation | Shows the visit was planned and where |
Ask for English versions before you leave the hospital; obtaining them later from abroad is slower.
Paying on behalf of someone else
If a relative abroad is paying, ask the hospital in advance whether a card can be used when the cardholder is not present, and whether it accepts payment before arrival. Arrangements differ between hospitals, and we have not found a published rule. Insurance direct billing avoids the problem when it is available.
Quotes in foreign currency
Some agencies quote in US dollars or euros. The hospital itself bills in renminbi. Ask for the hospital's own estimate in CNY, so you can see whether a foreign-currency quote includes an agency margin. Our own coordination fee is quoted separately from the hospital bill.
If something looks wrong on the bill
Ask for the itemised bill at the payment counter and compare it with the estimate. If you were charged twice or for a test that did not happen, ask the counter how refunds are handled and keep the original receipt; refunds to foreign cards can take time to appear. If you have direct billing, tell your insurer as well.
A simple budget worksheet
Fill this in with your own quotes before you commit. The contingency line is our suggestion, not a rule: tests get added, stays get longer, and a second trip may be needed.
| Line | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|
| Hospital estimate | The hospital's written estimate, in CNY |
| Items not in the estimate | Ask the hospital what is usually added |
| Flights and hotel | Your own bookings, with spare nights |
| Interpreter and translation | Quotes from the provider |
| Visa | Your visa centre's fee list |
| Insurance excess | Your policy |
| Contingency | A margin you choose for extra tests or nights |
| Possible second trip | Only if the treatment may need one |
Red flags
- An agent who asks you to pay the hospital bill to them rather than to the hospital.
- A price that "includes everything" without an itemised breakdown.
- Pressure to pay a large deposit before the hospital has confirmed your appointment.
- Claims of guaranteed results. Our editorial policy explains why we never make them.
Our terms and privacy policy set out how we handle your information if you contact us about payment, and our verification method explains how we check the figures in this guide.
City differences
The payment rules above are national. Individual hospitals in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen set their own counter arrangements, so check with the hospital you choose; the city comparison and our other guides cover the rest of the trip. If you are entering on a visa-free basis, read the visa guide first.
Questions to ask the hospital about payment
- Which payment methods does the international department accept? Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay?
- Do I pay before each test, or once at the end?
- Do you bill [my insurer] directly? What do you need from them, and how far in advance?
- Will I receive an itemised invoice in English?
- Is a deposit required for any procedure or overnight stay?
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alipay limit for foreign visitors?
From 2024, US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year, according to the People's Bank of China announcement reported by Xinhua.
Can I pay a Chinese hospital with Visa or Mastercard?
Many hospitals accept international cards, but acceptance varies by hospital and counter. Ask in advance and carry a backup.
Will my insurance pay the hospital directly?
Only if your insurer has an agreement with that hospital. Ask your insurer for a guarantee of payment before the appointment.
Do I need a Chinese bank account?
No. Visitors can link foreign cards to Alipay or WeChat Pay with an overseas phone number.
Can an unused deposit be refunded to my foreign card?
Ask the hospital before you pay. Refund arrangements differ between hospitals and we have not found a published national rule. Keep the original receipt, because the counter will usually ask for it, and allow time for a card refund to appear.
Should I pay an agency instead of the hospital?
We recommend paying the hospital directly for medical care, against its own itemised bill. Pay a coordinator only for the services it provides, at a price agreed in advance.
Sources
- International Medical Center (国际医疗中心), Huashan Hospital, Fudan University (official website). Read 19 Oct 2026. Page shows no publication date.
- China raises mobile payment limits for foreign visitors, The State Council of the PRC (english.gov.cn, relaying Xinhua), 2 Mar 2024. Read 19 Oct 2026. Announced by PBOC deputy governor Zhang Qingsong.
- How can I get medical treatment in China?, China Daily (chinaservicesinfo.com), 14 Aug 2025. Read 19 Oct 2026. Date taken from the URL.