Medical care in China from the United States

Cost is the most common reason. In the 2025 KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey, published in October 2025, the average annual family premium reached US$26,993 and the average single-coverage deductible was US$1,886, with 34 percent of covered workers facing US$2,000 or more. With a high deductible or no insurance, a planned operation can mean paying a large amount out of pocket.

Prices for the same operation also vary widely between hospitals, and self-pay patients struggle to get a clear total beforehand. Insurance rules add a second reason: planned surgery and newer cancer medicines need prior authorization, which can be refused or delayed.

Availability is a third reason, because a few treatments approved in China are not yet approved or in clinical use in the US. US care is excellent for most people. China mainly adds options or speed for a small group of patients.

From the US west coast, nonstop flights to major Chinese cities take roughly 12 to 14 hours, and from the east coast about 14 to 16 hours. With one connection, total travel time is often 18 to 24 hours.

Time zones matter. Allow a few days to settle before any assessment, and plan the return flight with your surgeon, because flying soon after surgery raises the risk of blood clots. We help with seating, wheelchairs and timing.

US citizens normally need a visa before travelling to mainland China. The US Department of State advises that in general you must apply for a visa before you travel, and that visa-free entry applies only in limited situations.

China's National Immigration Administration runs a 240-hour, or 10 day, visa-free transit scheme that includes US passport holders. It needs an onward ticket to a third country and entry at a designated port, and it covers tourism, business, visits and family reunions. It is a transit scheme, not a route to a planned hospital stay.

Rules change, and the right category depends on your plans and the hospital's paperwork. We check current requirements with the Chinese consulate for your state and tell you in writing which visa to apply for.

Medicare usually does not pay for health care outside the US. Medicare.gov lists only narrow exceptions, such as certain emergencies near a US border or port, and Part D does not cover medicines bought abroad. Planned treatment in China will not be reimbursed.

Private plans vary, and many cover emergencies abroad but exclude planned treatment. Travel insurance almost always excludes treatment you travelled for. Ask your insurer in writing about planned care abroad, an unrelated emergency while away, and follow-up at home.

We ask patients to involve their own doctor from the start. Records, imaging and pathology are translated for specialist review, and the opinion that comes back is translated into English.

After treatment we provide a discharge summary, drug list and imaging in English, and help plan follow-up before you fly home. Your physician at home keeps responsibility for long-term care.