If you’re going to be an international student in China, there’s a lot you have to be prepared for. One way to make sure you’re prepared is by getting the right health insurance policy. Want to know what your options are for health insurance, for Chinese student visas, how the Chinese medical system works, and more? Then take a look at the article below!
Travel insurance is one detail that students often don’t worry themselves over, but it’s incredibly important to guarantee you have a safe and healthy stay overseas. Not to mention, you’ll also probably have to show proof of medical coverage to enroll in your course!
With this in mind, I’ve put together today’s list with the best options for medical insurance for students in China, alongside some other useful information like the types of Chinese student visas available to you, what types of courses you can enroll in, and how the Chinese medical system works.
Let’s dive in!
Why do international students in China need to have health insurance?
he biggest reason most people get health insurance while overseas is to make sure they are covered if anything happens in the new country they now call home.
But in the case of China specifically, it’s extra important that international students have private insurance since foreigners don’t have access to China’s free public health system.
Which brings me to the next question you might have….
How does the healthcare system work in China?
China’s healthcare system relies on free public care. But with more than 1 billion residents, it can be a bit limited, especially in the more rural areas. That’s why healthcare in China is a combination of private and public health coverage.
Despite having a good public healthcare structure overall, these public services aren’t available to foreigners. And China’s private healthcare services are priced above average for hospitalizations and emergencies.
Because of this, getting an international health insurance policy before you leave home is essential.
But that’s not the only reason international students should get insurance, as you’ll see in the next question…
Do international students have to show proof of medical insurance (or coverage) to enroll in a Chinese school?
There’s an easy answer here: yes! You’ll need to show proof of private health insurance both to enter the country on your student visa and to actually enroll in your educational institution.
Because according to Chinese law, all international students are required to have medical insurance. And you’ll have to show it at your university alongside a personal medical exam and some other documents.
The 5 best and cheapest health insurance plans for international students in China
As always, I recommend that you get a quote from all the companies I’ve listed below… it might take a bit more time, but it can help you save a lot of money that you can instead spend making the most of your time in China! 
Ah! And to help make this research process easier and quicker for you, after our list of the best international health insurance plans for student exchanges in China, you’ll find a table comparing all of your options for student plans.
And to know more about the types of courses you can take and what types of student visas you can apply for, make sure to continue reading until the end of the article.
IMG has a large variety of health insurance plans for students to choose from (including lots of options for insurance plans for expats in general).
They have three main plans designed for students. But since one of them is only for students that are going to study abroad in the United States (The Patriot Exchange Program), we’ll just talk about two of them below.
Plan #1: Student Health Advantage
This “basic” plan should have all it needs to meet the basic coverage requirements requested by your school (though it is always good to first verify the minimum coverage they want!).
This particular plan offers lots of coverage that other plans don’t – such as mental health care, maternity care, and pre-existing conditions care. IMG also has coverage for costs incurred by Covid-19, as well as telemedicine.
Plan #2: Student Health Advantage Platinum
This plan is identical to the previous one except it offers double the maximum coverage: for up to USD 1,000,000.
What I like about the Student Health Advantage plans from IMG:
- Their plans are created specifically for students
- They cover students of all nationalities
- They have more than 17,000 health professionals in their network worldwide
- They have 24/7 customer service
- They offer coverage for Covid-19 and telemedicine
What I don’t like about the Student Health Advantage plans from IMG:
- Some of their plans require a 1-year waiting period for pre-existing condition coverage
2. International student health insurance from Cigna Global
As one of the largest international insurance providers in the world, Cigna has plans created just for travelers, expats, and international students.
They offer 3 main types of plans: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These plans will cover you not only in China, but around the world!
If you have plans to visit other countries during your stay in China, you can choose if you’d like your policy to cover you elsewhere as well (though this can sometimes make your policy a bit more expensive, so a travel insurance policy may be best for short trips).
Here’s a table comparing Cigna’s 3 plan options:
Cigna’s plans are really flexible and allow you to add on whatever type of extra coverage you may need (such as eye and dental treatments or international evacuation).
Another benefit is that Cigna plans all have flexible payment options with annual, monthly, trimesterly payments.
What I like about international student insurance from Cigna Global:
- They respond quickly to claims (according to the company, most reimbursement requests are received in 10 days or less)
- They have a list of more than 3,000 available hospitals, as well as information guides, in their online help center
- They offer many options for medical care through their partnerships with more than 1.65 million hospitals, doctors, clinics, and specialists worldwide
- They have 24/7 customer service
What I don’t like about international student insurance from Cigna Global:
- The most basic plan doesn’t cover pre- and post-natal care
- They don’t cover outpatient consultations with specialists and doctors
Foyer Global Health has a huge variety of plans to choose from! From Basic to Premium, with short- to long-term, for individuals or a family… no matter what you need while in China, you can find it with Foyer!
The company has 3 primary plans for students to choose from. Here’s a quick summary of what each of these plans includes:
FOYER GLOBAL HEALTH ESSENTIAL
- Surgery and anesthetics, as well as any needed consultations
- Medical devices (such as cardiac pacemakers) as a rescue measure if necessary
- Up to a maximum of 100,000 euros per life for congenital diseases
- No maternity or childbirth coverage
FOYER GLOBAL HEALTH SPECIAL
- Surgery and anesthetics, as well as any need consultations
- Therapeutic devices (such as artificial limbs or prostheses) up to 2,000 euros
- Up to a maximum of 150,000 euros per life for congenital diseases
- Maternity and childbirth care (up to 5,000 euros with a 10-month waiting period)
FOYER GLOBAL HEALTH EXCLUSIVE
- Surgery and anesthetics, as well as any needed consultations
- Therapeutic devices
- Up to a maximum of 200,000 euros per life for congenital diseases
- Maternity care, childbirth care, and midwife or hospital nursing services (up to 20,000 euros with a 10-month waiting period)
What I like about student insurance from Foyer Global Health:
- All of their plans cover primary dental consultations, surgeries, and treatments
- They have 24/7 customer service via telephone and online platforms (such as email) with experienced consultants, doctors, and specialists
- They offer evacuation and repatriation coverage
- They offer pre-trip medical support and recommendations (such as information on relevant vaccines and the preparation of a first aid kit)
What I don’t like about student insurance from Foyer Global Health:
- Their most basic plan doesn’t cover pre- and post-natal care
4. WorldTrips
The four levels of student insurance that they offer will all work very well for whatever you may need in China! The four levels are:
StudentSecure Elite
- Has lower deductibles and higher maximum coverage than many of the other companies on this list (but costs the most of any of HCCMIS’s student plans)
- 6-month waiting period until any care for a pre-existing condition can be covered
- Offers sports coverage for club/intercollegiate participation
- Offers Personal Liability Coverage
StudentSecure Select
- 6-month waiting period until any care for a pre-existing condition can be covered
- Optional Crisis Response add-on for ransom, personal belongings, and crisis response fees
StudentSecure Budget
- 12-month waiting period until any care for a pre-existing condition can be covered
StudentSecure Smart
- Lowest cost StudentSecure plan (though also with the least benefits)
- Higher deductible than the other plans above
- Doesn’t offer coverage for club sports
- Only covers pre-existing conditions in their acute onset
Here’s a more detailed comparison of the 4 HCC StudentSecure plans (click to see the full table):
What I like about HCCMIS’s StudentSecure plans:
- They offer emergency dental support up to USD 250 per tooth and up to $500 in total for the validity of the plan
- They have more budget-friendly prices if you pay for the plan upfront
- They have some of the cheapest plans for students on the entire list
What I don’t like about HCCMIS’s StudentSecure plans:
- They don’t offer pre-existing condition coverage on the Smart plan
- There is a 6-month waiting period for pre-existing condition coverage (even on the Elite plan)
- There is no coverage for vaccinations unless you choose the Elite plan
- The Smart plan doesn’t cover maternity or newborn care
- Their cheapest plans have quite high deductibles
5. Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International from Global Underwriters
Global Underwriters offers a wide variety of international insurance plans for all types of travelers, including exchange students overseas and international students abroad.
When it comes to plans from Global Underwriters, I recommend the Diplomat Long Term or Diplomat International plan for international students in China.
What I like about the Diplomat plans from Global Underwriters:
- Their plans for students offer coverage for medical evacuations, dental emergencies, and repatriation of mortal remains
- Both plans offer coverage up to 1,000,000 USD
- They offer coverage and assistance for lost baggage and travel interruptions
- They have 24/7 customer service
What I don’t like about the Diplomat plans from Global Underwriters:
- The Diplomat International plan doesn’t have Covid-19 coverage
- The Diplomat Long Term plan isn’t available to students who reside in Australia, Iran, New York, Maryland, and South Dakota (though this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re moving to China!)
- Their plans are a little more expensive than the others on this list
Bonus: 2 international health insurance companies for expats that you can also use as an international student in China
Since the two companies below don’t offer health insurance specifically for students, I left them off the list above. However, they do offer international health insurance policies for expats that will likely also be accepted by your school as proof of medical coverage.
So, here’s my advice to you: get a quote with these two companies below and compare them with the quotes you’ve received from the companies above. If you think that one of these options has better coverage for a lower price than the others on the list, check with your school to see if they’ll accept this type of insurance policy.
GeoBlue is another good option if you’re in search of a health insurance policy to cover you while you’re in China.
What I like about international health insurance plans with GeoBlue:
- Their plans are very flexible and adaptable to your needs
- They have 24/7 customer service
- Some plans cover extras like evacuation, preventative medical care, and maternity care
- You have the option to add coverage for eye and dental services
- The Xplorer plan doesn’t charge deductibles for standard services nor does charge a cancellation fee
- The Xplorer Premier plan also covers unlimited adventure sports
What I don’t like about international health insurance plans with GeoBlue:
- Policies are not available for residents of New York and Washington (though this shouldn’t be a problem if you move your official residence to China)
- You’ll need to speak with an insurance broker to get a quote (which makes the process a little complicated)
Aetna is a very well-known company when it comes to health insurance.
One advantage of Aetna is that their plans are very flexible. In other words, you can personalize your plan based on whatever you need. Plus they are known for having excellent customer service (as far as insurance companies go).
What I like about international health insurance plans with Aetna:
- They have more than 50 years of experience in the health insurance field
- They have flexible plans that you can easily personalize
- They have 24/7 customer service
- Their plans offer coverage for emergency evacuations, cancer treatments, repatriation, and hospitalizations
- They’ve won awards like “Best International Private Health Insurer”
- They have a platform that incentivizes health habits with points and prizes
What I don’t like about international health insurance plans with Aetna:
- Their website isn’t very clear on the exact coverage limits for some of their plans
- They don’t offer any travel insurance plans
Comparison table of the best health insurance plans for international/exchange students in China
| Cigna Global | Foyer Global Health | WorldTrips | |||
| Medical Maximum | Unlimited (for the Platinum plan) | $5,000,000 | There are no limits independent of the plan | US$1,000,000 per year | $1,000,000 |
| Mental Health Benefit | Unspecified | Unlimited for up to 90 days | Included in all plans with a 10-month waiting period | Outpatient: $50 per day max up to $500 in total | Yes |
| Inpatient Prescription Drugs | 80% coverage out-of-network, 100% in the USA and internationally | Unspecified | Coverage available | Name-brand drugs: 50% coinsurance
Generic drugs: 100% coinsurance Special drugs: no coverage |
Yes |
| Outpatient Prescription Drugs | 50% of actual costs, 90 days maximum per dispensation | Unspecified | Unspecified | coinsurance
Generic drugs: 100% coinsurance Special drugs: no coverage |
Yes |
| Mental Health Benefit | Inpatient and Outpatient: $5,000 lifetime maximum to paid in full depending on the plan | Inpatient and Outpatient: $50,000 lifetime maximum | None | Inpatient and Outpatient: limit not specified | Inpatient, outpatient, and therapy: limit not specific |
| Outpatient Prescription Drugs | None, unless you buy the International Outpatient Option | Up to $8,000,000 | Full reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Repatriation of Remains | $25,000 maximum or $5,000 for cremation | Optional | Optional | $50,000 maximum or $5,000 for cremation | $13,500 maximum |
| Emergency Evacuation | $50,000 | Optional | Optional | $10,000 | Yes |
| Hospital room coverage | Offered up to the average semi-private room rate | Private room | Private Room | Usual | Usual |
| Terrorism | $50,000 | Unspecified | Unspecified | $100,000 | N/A |
| Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD & D) | Principal sum of $25,000 that is not subject to deduction | $25,000 for main policy holder, $10,000 for spouse on the plan, $5,000 for child on the plan
Total limit of $250,000 |
Optional | $25,000 for main policy holder, $10,000 for spouse on the plan, $5,000 for child on the plan
Total limit of $250,000 |
There is coverage |
| Emergency Dental | $500 per injury for the coverage period | Optional | Optional | $2,500 | Yes |
| Maternity Care | Only covered in Platinum plan | $14,000/€11,000/£9,000 in the Platinum plan | Only available in the Special and Exclusive plans | Within the US: up to 80% coverage with a $25,000 limit within the PPO network/Outside PPO: up to 50% coverage with a $25,000 limit
Outside the United States: Up to 80% coverage with a $25,000 limit. Benefits reduced by 25% if pregnancy is not reported within the first 90 days. |
Not specified |
| Pre-existing condition exclusion period | Maximum limit of $1,500 with a 12-month waiting period | $14,000/€11,000/£9,000 in the Platinum plan | Coverage available | Limited of $250,000 per plan | Unspecified |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) | 100% coverage after the deductible has been met | Full coverage with the Platinum plan | Coverage available | Up to $50,000 | Not specified |
| Vaccines | Unspecified | Optional | Only in the Special and Exclusive plans | $200 | Yes, but must be paid as a separate plan |
| Routine care for newborns | Unspecified | Optional | Only in the Special and Exclusive plans | Up to $750 | Yes, but must be paid as a separate plan |
| Pre-existing annual maximum once covered | Unlimited depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Full reimbursement | Unlimited depending on the plan | Depends on the plan |
| Pre-existing lifetime maximum once covered | Unlimited depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Full reimbursement | Unlimited depending on the plan | Depends on the plan |
Worldwide Medical Insurance / Comparison Chart*
Part of the table courtesy of Tokio Marine HCC
*Note: this table is just for informational purposes and subject to change. It was accurate as of the time we wrote it here, but please check each company’s individual website for updated info.
Types of courses you can sign up for as an international student in China
Now that you have a better idea of how the Chinese healthcare system works and what the best options for student health insurance are, you just need to know what type of course you’ll apply for.
So, here are the 2 most common types of courses that international students apply for in China.
Note: China invests a lot of money into research and international students, so it’s worth doing some searching to see what type of scholarships you may be able to apply for.
Language courses
China is a country whose global influence is always growing, so studying mandarin can have lots of professional benefits.
You can take a language course with private educational institutions. But Chinese universities also offer language exchanges through the Chinese Language Program.
You can enroll in one of two ways: signing up directly with the university, or through a third-party agency. Your language course can last anywhere from one month to one year.
Higher education courses & degrees
If you’re interested in completing a college degree overseas, China can be a great option. You can study anywhere from 1 to 5 years and, in some cases, you may also be allowed to work and bring family (like your spouse or children, for example).
The Chinese government has a program to incentivize higher education called Project 211, which facilitates the enrollment of international students.
You can choose from bachelor-, master-, or even PhD-level coursework, and you can find full degree programs all over the country taught in English.
Types of visas you can apply for to study in China
If you’re thinking of studying abroad, you have to look carefully at the types of visas you qualify for and how you can apply.
After you’ve enrolled in an educational institution, you have two types of student visas to choose from: the X Visa and the F Visa. The Chinese X Visa is for students who only plan to study while in China and to stay more than 6 months. The Chinese F Visa is for students who plan to study or be an intern for less than 6 months in total.
As a student, you’ll have one month to ask for a residency permit if you haven’t prepared it before.
No matter what type of Chinese student visa you apply for, these are the documents you’ll need:
- Application for a student visa (document JW201 or JW202) issued by your country’s Chinese embassy or by the educational institution that you will study at
- Passport with at least 6 months of validity
- Recent passport photos
- Proof of admittance to the university
- A Foreigner Physical Examination Form
Student exchange agencies can be a great help in sorting through the bureaucracy of applying for a visa stress-free.
In sum…
Once again, these are the 5 best and cheapest travel insurance policies for international students in China:
- Student Health Advantage from IMG
- International student health insurance from Cigna Global
- Foyer Global Health
- StudentSecure from HCCMIS
- Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International from Global Underwriters
In conclusion…
Overall…alongside all your other preparations to study overseas in China as an international student, make sure you don’t forget to plan for your health insurance.
Because at the end of the day, you won’t be able to study in the country without it… plus you don’t want to have to pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses!
If you still have any questions about your options for health insurance for students in China (or about moving overseas in general), let me know in the comments area below and I’ll get back to you!