Health insurance

Before you begin

Why health insurance matters

Healthcare in Shenzhen ranges from basic public facilities to premium international hospitals. Having appropriate health insurance ensures you can access quality care when needed without facing significant financial burden.

Key considerations:

• Medical costs can be high, especially at international facilities
• Public hospitals may have language barriers
• International hospitals typically require insurance or upfront payment
• Emergency care can be expensive without coverage

Types of health insurance

1. Social Insurance (Social Medical Insurance - 社会医疗保险)

• Mandatory for employees of Chinese companies
• Basic coverage at public hospitals
• Lower premiums but limited coverage
• High copayments and deductibles
• May not cover international hospitals

2. Private International Health Insurance

• Optional but highly recommended for expatriates
• Access to international hospitals
• English-speaking doctors
• Higher coverage limits
• May include medical evacuation

3. Combination Approach

• Many expatriates use both social insurance and private insurance
• Social insurance for basic needs
• Private insurance for comprehensive coverage

Social insurance (五险一金)

What is social insurance?

Social insurance (五险一金) is China’s mandatory social security system that includes five insurances and one fund:

Five Insurances:

1. Pension Insurance (养老保险)
2. Medical Insurance (医疗保险) - Health insurance component
3. Unemployment Insurance (失业保险)
4. Work Injury Insurance (工伤保险)
5. Maternity Insurance (生育保险)

One Fund:

• Housing Fund (住房公积金)

Medical insurance component

Coverage:

• Basic medical services at public hospitals
• Partial coverage of medical expenses
• Prescription medications (partial coverage)
• Emergency care

Limitations:

• High copayments (typically 20-30% of costs)
• Annual deductibles
• Limited coverage at private/international hospitals
• May not cover all procedures or medications
• Language barriers at public hospitals

Cost (2026 rates):

Insurance Tier	Employer	Employee	Total	Notes
Tier 1 (一档)	6%	2%	8%	Standard for most employees
Tier 2 (二档)	1.5%	0.5%	2%	No personal medical account

Contribution base (2026):

• Minimum: 6,727 RMB/month
• Maximum: 33,633 RMB/month

Example calculation (10,000 RMB/month salary, Tier 1):

• Employer: 10,000 × 6% = 600 RMB/month
• Employee: 10,000 × 2% = 200 RMB/month

Reimbursement rates:

• Inpatient: 90-95% at in-network public hospitals
• Outpatient (Tier 1): Personal account + pooling
• Outpatient (Tier 2): ~1,000 RMB/year pooling quota
• Annual maximum: Up to 1.8M+ RMB (varies by continuous enrollment)

How it works:

• Your employer automatically enrolls you
• Contributions deducted from salary monthly
• You receive a social insurance card (社保卡) — apply from 2nd month of enrollment
• Present card at designated hospitals for direct settlement
• Pay only copayment portion at time of service

Financial Social Security Card (金融社保卡):

• 12 Partner Banks: China Construction Bank, ICBC, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank, China Merchants Bank, Ping An Bank, Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank, Postal Savings Bank, Bank of Communications, CITIC Bank, China Minsheng Bank, Everbright Bank
• Fee: First application free, replacement 20 RMB
• Required: Passport original, social security card photo receipt

Special notes for foreigners:

• Mandatory: All foreign employees with work permits must participate
• Exemptions: Citizens from 12 countries with bilateral agreements can apply for exemption (Germany, South Korea, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Luxembourg, France, Serbia)
• Shenzhen Huimin Bao (深圳惠民保): Supplemental insurance, 88 RMB/year, 4M+ RMB coverage, includes rare disease drugs and Hong Kong/Macau drug access

Private international health insurance

Why consider private insurance?

While social insurance provides basic coverage, most expatriates supplement with private international health insurance for:

• Access to international hospitals with English-speaking staff
• Higher coverage limits for serious conditions
• Lower or no copayments at preferred facilities
• Medical evacuation coverage for serious conditions
• Dental and vision coverage (often as add-ons)
• Coverage outside China (depending on plan)

Major insurance providers

Cigna (招商信诺)

Features:

• Global network with direct billing
• Multilingual customer service
• Medical evacuation included
• Hong Kong/Macau drug access (港澳药械通)

Plans & Premiums (2025-2026):

• Silver: $200-300/month (~600-800 RMB/month basic)
• Gold: $300-500/month
• Platinum: $500-800/month

Best for: Comprehensive coverage, frequent travelers, executives

Aetna

Features:

• Strong China network
• Preventive care coverage
• Family plans available
• Health management services

Plans & Premiums (2025-2026):

• Standard: 8,000-15,000 RMB/year

Best for: Families, long-term residents, preventive care focus

Allianz (安联)

Features:

• Global coverage
• Flexible deductibles
• Direct billing available
• Multiple plan tiers

Plans & Premiums (2025-2026):

• Smart (智选版): 6,000-10,000 RMB/year
• Premium (至尊版): 12,000-20,000 RMB/year

Best for: Global coverage needs, middle-to-high income families

AIA (友邦)

Features:

• Greater Bay Area focus
• Cross-border services (HK/Macau)
• Cancer care and chronic disease management
• Various plan tiers

Plans & Premiums (2025-2026):

• High-end (iCare): 10,000-18,000 RMB/year

Best for: Frequent Guangdong-HK-Macau travelers, Asia-focused coverage

Ping An (平安保险)

Features:

• Largest Chinese insurer
• Extensive hospital network (100% of top-100 hospitals)
• Competitive pricing
• “e 生保 PLUS” mid-range plans

Plans & Premiums (2025-2026):

• Mid-range: 3,000-6,000 RMB/year
• e 生 e 爱/e 养: 800-1,200 RMB/year (basic)

Best for: Budget-conscious, localized services, comfortable with Chinese

MSH

Features:

• 欣享人生 (Enjoy Life) series
• Special department coverage (特需部)
• High-quality medical experience
• Direct billing network

Plans & Premiums (2025-2026):

• Plan D: 8,000-15,000 RMB/year

Best for: Premium medical experience seekers, special department access

Choosing a plan

Key factors to consider:

1. Coverage limits: Annual and lifetime maximums
2. Network hospitals: Which facilities are covered?
3. Copayments and deductibles: Out-of-pocket costs
4. Geographic coverage: China only or worldwide?
5. Pre-existing conditions: Are they covered?
6. Family coverage: Options for spouse and children
7. Dental and vision: Included or separate?
8. Medical evacuation: Is it included?
9. Premium cost: Monthly or annual premiums
10. Customer service: English support availability

Typical plan costs (2025-2026 estimates):

Tier	Annual Premium (Individual)	Monthly Equivalent
Basic (social insurance + Huimin Bao)	~1,700-8,100 RMB/year	~140-675 RMB/month
Basic commercial	3,000-6,000 RMB/year	~250-500 RMB/month
Mid-range	8,000-15,000 RMB/year	~670-1,250 RMB/month
Comprehensive	15,000-30,000 RMB/year	~1,250-2,500 RMB/month
Premium/Executive	30,000-50,000+ RMB/year	~2,500-4,200+ RMB/month
Family plans	Typically 2-3x individual cost	Varies

Accessing healthcare

International hospitals in Shenzhen

Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital - International Medical Center (IMC)

香港大学深圳医院国际医疗中心

• Address: 福田区海园一路 1 号 V 栋 (Futian District, Haiyuan 1st Road)
• Website: https://www.hku-szh.org/
• Insurance: Direct billing with 30+ international insurance companies
• Doctors: 89 physicians with Hong Kong cross-border practice licenses
• Special features:
  • “Hong Kong-Macau Drug and Equipment Access” (港澳药械通): 34 HK drugs, 18 advanced devices
  • Multilingual services (Chinese-English bilingual)
  • Hotel-style environment

Fee Schedule (2026):

Service	Cost	Notes
GP Outpatient	200-500 RMB/visit	Includes consultation, routine exam, 7-day meds
Specialist	100-400 RMB/visit	Medications and tests extra
Expert (Chief/Professor)	1,000-3,000 RMB/visit	Senior consultants
Standard Single Room	2,500 RMB/day	Private bathroom, basic appliances
Deluxe Suite	3,500 RMB/day	Balcony, fridge, safe, dedicated care area
Executive Checkup	12,000-50,000 RMB	Basic to premium packages
Emergency	500-1,000 RMB	Public international dept

Peking University Shenzhen Hospital - International Medical Department

北京大学深圳医院国际医疗部

• Location: Nanshan District (南山区)
• Tier: 3A (三甲) - Top-tier public hospital
• Features: Expert resources, some English-speaking staff, international insurance accepted
• Best for: Specialist consultations, complex conditions

Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital - International Medical Center

深圳南山医院国际医疗部

• Address: 南山区桃园路 9 号
• Registration: 80-150 RMB
• Features: Dedicated international department, extensive foreign patient experience
• Best for: Nanshan residents, routine international-standard care

Private Clinics & Hospitals

Hospital	Type	Registration	Room/Day	Features
United Family (和睦家)	Private	800-1,500 RMB	3,000-6,000 RMB	American service, full English, premium pricing
Amcare (美中宜和)	Private	300-600 RMB	1,500-3,000 RMB	OB/GYN and pediatrics specialty
Arrail Medical (卓正医疗)	Private Clinic	300-800 RMB	No inpatient	American-style GP, appointment-based, English

Cost Reference:

• Outpatient: Public international 200-500 RMB, Private 300-1,500 RMB
• Inpatient: Public international 1,500-3,500 RMB/day, Private 3,000-6,000 RMB/day
• Emergency: Public international 500-1,000 RMB, Private 1,000-3,000 RMB

Public hospitals

Characteristics:

• Lower costs (especially with social insurance)
• May have language barriers
• Can be crowded
• Longer wait times
• Basic English support may be limited

When to use:

• Routine care if comfortable with Chinese
• Emergency situations
• When cost is primary concern
• For procedures covered by social insurance

Common issues and solutions

Issue: Insurance doesn’t cover preferred hospital

Solution:

• Check if hospital is in insurance network
• Contact insurance to add hospital to network (may be possible)
• Consider switching to plan with better network
• Use out-of-network coverage (higher copayment)
• Negotiate cash payment discount if paying out-of-pocket

Issue: Pre-existing condition not covered

Solution:

• Some plans cover pre-existing conditions after waiting period
• Look for plans with pre-existing condition coverage
• Consider higher-tier plans
• May need to pay out-of-pocket for related care
• Consult insurance broker for options

Issue: High copayments or deductibles

Solution:

• Understand your plan’s cost-sharing structure
• Choose plan with lower copayments if budget allows
• Use in-network providers to minimize costs
• Consider Health Savings Account if available
• Negotiate payment plans for large bills

Issue: Language barriers at public hospitals

Solution:

• Use international hospitals (if insurance covers)
• Bring Chinese-speaking friend or translator
• Use translation apps
• Some public hospitals have international departments
• Consider private clinics with English support

Issue: Leaving China permanently

Solution:

• Refund option: Apply to terminate social insurance, refund personal account balance (individual contribution portion only)
• Keep account: If planning to return, keep account to accumulate contribution years
• Required documents: Passport, work permit cancellation certificate, bank card, refund application form (company seal)
• Process: Visit social security bureau before departure

Issue: Need medical evacuation

Solution:

• Ensure your plan includes medical evacuation coverage
• Understand evacuation procedures and limits
• Keep insurance emergency contact numbers handy
• Some plans cover evacuation to home country
• Verify coverage before traveling

Tips and best practices

Before choosing insurance

• Assess your needs: Consider health history, family situation, travel plans
• Compare multiple providers: Get quotes from 3-5 insurers
• Read policy details: Understand coverage, exclusions, limits
• Check hospital networks: Verify your preferred hospitals are covered
• Consider your budget: Balance coverage needs with premium costs

After getting insurance

• Carry insurance card: Always have your insurance information
• Know your network: Familiarize yourself with covered hospitals
• Save emergency contacts: Insurance customer service, emergency numbers
• Understand claims process: How to file claims if needed
• Keep records: Save all medical receipts and documents

Using your insurance

• Verify coverage: Check if service is covered before treatment
• Use network providers: Minimize out-of-pocket costs
• Bring insurance card: Present at hospital registration
• Understand costs: Know your copayment and deductible
• Keep receipts: For reimbursement if needed

Maintaining coverage

• Pay premiums on time: Avoid coverage lapses
• Update information: Notify insurer of address or family changes
• Review annually: Ensure coverage still meets your needs
• Understand renewal: Know when and how to renew
• Consider life changes: Marriage, children, job changes may affect needs

Costs and fees

Social insurance costs (2026)

Contribution rates:

• Employee (Tier 1): 2% of monthly salary
• Employer (Tier 1): 6% of monthly salary
• Employee (Tier 2): 0.5% (no personal account)
• Employer (Tier 2): 1.5%

Contribution base (2026):

• Minimum: 6,727 RMB/month
• Maximum: 33,633 RMB/month

Example (10,000 RMB/month salary, Tier 1):

• Employee pays: 200 RMB/month (2,400 RMB/year)
• Employer pays: 600 RMB/month (7,200 RMB/year)

Reimbursement:

• Inpatient: 90-95% at in-network public hospitals
• Outpatient: Personal account (Tier 1) or ~1,000 RMB/year pooling (Tier 2)
• Copayments: 5-10% for in-network services

Shenzhen Huimin Bao (深圳惠民保):

• Cost: 88 RMB/year
• Coverage: 4M+ RMB
• Eligibility: Must have Shenzhen social insurance
• Benefits: Rare disease drugs, Hong Kong/Macau drug access, reduced deductibles

Private insurance costs (2025-2026)

Annual premiums (individual):

• Basic commercial: 3,000-6,000 RMB/year (Ping An e 生保，Taikang e 生)
• Mid-range: 8,000-15,000 RMB/year (Cigna Silver/Gold, MSH Plan D)
• Comprehensive: 15,000-30,000 RMB/year (Allianz Smart, AIA iCare)
• Premium/Executive: 30,000-50,000+ RMB/year (Allianz Premium, Cigna Platinum)

Additional costs:

• Deductibles: 0-50,000 RMB/year (varies by plan, higher deductible = lower premium)
• Copayments: 0-30% per visit/service (depends on plan and provider network)
• Out-of-network: Higher costs, may require upfront payment
• Pre-existing conditions: 3-18 month waiting period (some high-end plans cover immediately)

Resources

Official Channels

Shenzhen Healthcare Security Bureau (深圳市医疗保障局)

• Website: https://hsa.sz.gov.cn/
• Hotline: 12345 (Government Service Hotline)
• Address: 深圳市福田区彩田路 2038 号海天综合大厦 9 楼

Social Insurance Registration

• Online: “i Shenzhen” APP → Social Security Services
• WeChat: “深圳社保” Official Account → Mobile Services
• Offline: 28 service centers, 4,700 self-service terminals, 82 partner locations
• Required: Passport, work permit, labor contract, residence proof

Insurance Providers

Company	Website	Contact
Cigna (招商信诺)	cigna.com.cn	Check website for China hotline
Aetna International	aetnainternational.com	Global customer service
Allianz (安联)	allianz-care.com	China: 400-888-9999
AIA (友邦)	aia.com.cn	400-820-3588
Ping An (平安)	pingan.com	95511
MSH	mshchina.com	400-611-9999

Healthcare Facilities

• Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital - International Medical Center
• Peking University Shenzhen Hospital - International Department
• Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital - International Medical Center
• United Family Healthcare - Shenzhen clinic

Helpful Information

• Employer HR department: Social insurance enrollment and questions
• Insurance brokers: Compare private plans (see Professional help)
• Shenzhen Huimin Bao (深圳惠民保): 88 RMB/year supplemental insurance, 4M+ coverage

Related Articles

• Moving to Shenzhen - General relocation guide
• Professional help - Insurance brokers and advisors
• A Registered Address - Required for many services
• A phone number - Needed for insurance apps and hotlines

Need help?

Legal assistance

Where to find help:

• Your country's consulate in Guangzhou
• International Chambers of Commerce
• Professional legal services specializing in expatriate issues

HeyShenzhen Community

Information changes frequently in Shenzhen. While we strive to keep our guides accurate and up-to-date, the latest information is often best found by asking in our community groups.

Join our community to get real-time updates, tips, and suggestions from our members:

• Discord - For general discussions and quick questions
• Facebook - For community updates and events
• WeChat: Add me (ID: jayjenxi)