Paying for hospital care in China
Paying is often the most confusing part of a hospital visit in China. You pay at almost every step — registration, each test, medicines — and mostly by phone. Here is how to be ready.
How hospitals are paid
Outpatient visits: pay first, then see the doctor. In regular outpatient care there is no deposit. You pay for registration before the consultation, then pay for each test, treatment or medicine the doctor orders before you have it. Payment is at a counter, at a self-service machine or through the hospital's app.
Hospital stays, including surgery: a deposit on admission. If you are admitted to hospital — for surgery, or for an inpatient program such as stroke rehabilitation — the hospital asks for a deposit when you are admitted, and you settle the balance when you leave.
International departments often work differently: some bill your commercial insurer directly, and many ask for an insurance card or a guarantee letter before treatment. Check this with us before you travel.
Ways to pay
| Method | What to know |
|---|---|
| Alipay | Can be set up with a foreign phone number and linked to an international card. Widely accepted in hospitals. |
| WeChat Pay | Also accepts international cards. Widely accepted in hospitals. |
| TenPayGo | A payment app from WeChat Pay for foreign visitors. Register with an email address and link an international card or a supported wallet; it works wherever WeChat Pay is accepted. |
| International bank cards | Accepted by some hospital counters, not all. Do not rely on a card alone. |
| Cash (RMB) | Accepted at hospital counters. Useful as a backup. |
Sources: China Services Info on paying for medical treatment; ProPakistani, September 2026 on TenPayGo. Payment rules change often; we check them before your trip.
Before you travel
- Set up one or two payment apps and test a small payment before you leave home.
- Tell your bank you will be in China, so card payments are not blocked.
- Staying in hospital? Check your card limits. The deposit on admission, for surgery or an inpatient program, can be larger than everyday spending limits on cards and payment apps. Ask your bank about raising them before you travel.
- Bring some cash, and a second card from a different network if you can.
- Russian and some other cards may not work in China. If you are unsure whether yours will, tell us early so we can look at options with you.
How we help
- Before your trip, we tell you which payment methods your hospital accepts.
- In China, your escort helps you pay at each step, sets up or troubleshoots TenPayGo and your apps, and makes sure every payment has a receipt.
- Before you fly home, we check you have the invoices and itemized bills your insurer may need.
You pay the hospital directly for your care, and it issues receipts in your name. The only hospital charge we ever pay for you is an appointment fee at booking, which we pass on at cost with the hospital's receipt.
Questions
Do I need a Chinese bank account? No.
I'm staying in hospital. How do I pay the deposit? On admission, directly with your own credit card. This applies to surgery and to inpatient programs such as stroke rehabilitation. If the hospital does not accept credit cards at the counter, you pay through TenPayGo linked to your credit card. Your escort helps you set it up and makes sure you get a receipt.
Will my insurer pay the hospital directly? Sometimes, at international departments that work with your insurer. In regular outpatient care, you pay and claim afterwards. Can I use my insurance?