Paying for healthcare in China: mobile payment, cards, deposits and insurance
Short answer
Most foreigners pay Chinese hospitals with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign Visa or Mastercard, plus cash as a backup. Foreign credit cards are reliably accepted mainly at international departments and private hospitals. Unless your insurer has a direct-billing arrangement, expect to pay first and claim later — so ask for the official invoice (发票), an itemised bill and your medical records before you leave.
Key facts
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign bank cards. Reported limits for overseas users are about US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year.
- Mobile-payment apps may charge a service fee on larger foreign-card payments; check the fee shown before you confirm.
- Public hospitals usually charge step by step: registration, each test, then medicines.
- Inpatient admission usually requires a deposit (住院押金), settled at discharge.
- Chinese public medical insurance (医保) covers only people enrolled through work or residence in China. Visitors pay as self-paying patients.
- For insurance claims, keep the 发票 (official invoice), 费用清单 (itemised bill), 病历 (medical record) and 诊断证明 (diagnosis certificate).
Set up payment before you need it
Do this before you travel, not in a hospital corridor:
- Install Alipay (支付宝) and/or WeChat (微信), verify your identity with your passport, and link a Visa, Mastercard or other supported foreign card.
- Make a small test payment once you arrive.
- Tell your bank you'll be in China so it doesn't block the transactions.
- Carry some cash in RMB. Cashier windows in public hospitals accept it.
How hospitals charge
Public hospitals usually charge as you go. You pay the registration fee, then pay separately for each test or treatment the doctor orders, then pay for medicines before collecting them. You can usually pay:
- by scanning a QR code in the hospital's WeChat or Alipay mini-program,
- at a self-service kiosk (some only accept Chinese ID or medical insurance cards), or
- at the cashier window (收费处 / 缴费处), which also takes cash.
International departments and private hospitals often bill at the end of the visit and take foreign credit cards.
Inpatient deposits
If you're admitted, the hospital usually asks for a deposit (住院押金) and settles the final bill at discharge. Ask early how much is needed and how it can be paid. Large amounts may need a bank transfer or a card payment at the international department, because they can exceed mobile-payment limits.
Insurance
- Chinese public insurance (医保) covers people enrolled through work or residence in China. Short-term visitors aren't covered and pay as self-paying patients (自费).
- International health or travel insurance may offer direct billing at private hospitals and some international departments. For planned treatment, ask your insurer for pre-authorisation or a guarantee of payment first.
- Without direct billing, you pay and then claim. Most claims fail for missing paperwork, not because the treatment isn't covered.
The paperwork to collect
请给我开发票。
Qǐng gěi wǒ kāi fāpiào.
请给我费用明细清单。
Qǐng gěi wǒ fèiyòng míngxì qīngdān.
可以给我一份病历复印件吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yí fèn bìnglì fùyìnjiàn ma?
如果可以，请用英文写诊断。
Rúguǒ kěyǐ, qǐng yòng Yīngwén xiě zhěnduàn.
| Document | Chinese | Why you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Official invoice | 发票 (fāpiào) | Proof of payment that insurers accept |
| Itemised bill | 费用清单 / 费用明细 | Shows what each charge was for |
| Medical record | 病历 (bìnglì) | Shows the diagnosis and treatment |
| Diagnosis certificate | 诊断证明 (zhěnduàn zhèngmíng) | Formal statement of diagnosis, often required for claims |
| Test reports | 检查报告 / 检验报告 | Needed for follow-up care at home |
Photograph everything as soon as you receive it, and keep the originals — some insurers require printed copies.
Questions people ask
Can I pay a Chinese hospital with a foreign credit card?
Sometimes. International departments and private international hospitals generally accept Visa and Mastercard. Cashier windows at public hospitals vary, and many patients pay through hospital QR codes instead. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before you travel, and carry some cash.
Does my travel insurance pay the hospital directly?
Only if your insurer has an arrangement with that hospital and has approved the treatment, usually by issuing a guarantee of payment. Call your insurer's assistance line before non-emergency treatment. Otherwise you pay and claim reimbursement with the paperwork listed above.
How much is a hospital deposit in China?
It depends on the hospital and the expected treatment, and can range from a few thousand yuan to much more for surgery or intensive care. Large deposits can exceed mobile-payment limits, so ask the hospital in advance which methods it accepts, such as bank transfer or a credit card at the international department.
Can I get receipts in English?
The official invoice (发票) is in Chinese. International departments and private hospitals can often provide English medical summaries and itemised bills. Ask before you're discharged, because getting documents later is harder.
Sources
- Hospital payment methods in China: a 2026 practical guide for international patients, Medical Travel China
- Alipay for foreigners: complete setup guide (2026), China Neighbor
- Healthcare costs for foreigners in China: price guide (2026), China Neighbor