Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The advisory on China also provides very important information
regarding the availability of medical care consistent with Western standards:
Western style medical facilities with international staffs are available in Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou and a few other large cities. Many other hospitals in
major Chinese cities have so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang). These feature
reasonably up-to-date medical technology and physicians who are both knowl-
edgeable and skilled. Most VIP wards also provide medical services to foreign-
ers and have English-speaking doctors and nurses. Most hospitals in China
will not accept medical insurance from the United States. Travelers will be
asked to post a deposit prior to admission to cover the expected cost of treatment.
Many hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards for payment. Even in the
VIP/ Foreigner wards of major hospitals, however, American patients have fre-
quently encountered difficulty due to cultural and regulatory differences. Physi-
cians and hospitals have sometimes refused to supply American patients with
complete copies of their Chinese hospital medical records, including laboratory
test results, scans, and x-rays. All Americans traveling to China are strongly
encouraged to buy foreign medical care and medical evacuation insurance prior
to arrival.
4
The advisory continues:
Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and ambulance per-
sonnel generally have little or no medical training. Therefore, injured or seri-
ously ill Americans may be required to take taxis or other immediately available
vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to
arrive. In rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are generally avail-
able. Medical personnel in rural areas are often poorly trained, have little med-
ical equipment or availability to medications. Rural clinics are often reluctant
to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations.
Foreign-operated medical providers catering to expatriates and visitors are avail-
able in China. SOS International, Ltd., operates modern medical and dental
clinics and provides medical evacuation and medical escort services in several
Chinese cities.
Americans are advised not to travel to China without both health insurance
and medical evacuation insurance (often included in so-called “travel” insur-
ance and provided as part of a tour group package). U.S. medical insurance is
not always valid outside the United States. Medicare/Medicaid programs do not
provide coverage for medical services outside the United States. Even when insur-
ance does cover services received in China, it will usually be necessary to pay first
and then file for reimbursement with the insurance company upon returning
to the United States. Supplemental insurance with specific overseas coverage,
