Healthcare in China: social insurance, hospitals and the 120 call
If you are legally employed in China you are already enrolled in the state medical scheme — five insurances, by law, within 30 days. Here is what that covers and what to do in an emergency.
Most arrivals assume they need private international insurance and nothing else. In fact, if you are lawfully employed in China you are legally enrolled in the state social insurance system, and that includes medical cover.
The five insurances are compulsory
Foreigners lawfully recruited and employed by organisations in China shall participate in:
- Basic old-age insurance (pension)
- Basic medical insurance
- Work injury insurance
- Unemployment insurance
- Maternity insurance
Both employer and employee contribute at prescribed rates. This is not optional and not something you opt into — it is a statutory obligation on your employer.
The 30-day employer deadline
Employers must complete social insurance registration for a hired foreigner within 30 days of processing the employment permit. If you are more than a month into a job and have never been asked for documents for this, ask HR directly — late registration is your employer’s failure but your gap in cover.
Using the system
Once enrolled you receive a social security card. With it you can:
- Attend designated public hospitals for treatment
- Buy medicine at designated medical insurance pharmacies
- Have part of the cost deducted directly at the point of payment
The card does not cover everything, and reimbursement rates vary by city and by treatment. Many employed foreigners keep a private policy alongside it for private-hospital access and evacuation cover — the two are complementary, not alternatives.
Emergencies: dial 120
120 is the ambulance and pre-hospital emergency number across the Chinese mainland. It is not the same as the police number. Save it before you need it.
Practically: operators may not speak English, so having a Chinese-speaking colleague, neighbour or your address written in Chinese to hand makes a material difference. This is a strong argument for completing your accommodation registration early — it gives you your address in the official Chinese form.
Hospitals
Effectively all hospitals have emergency departments providing acute care. Larger tertiary hospitals in major cities run international departments with English-speaking staff, longer appointment slots and higher fees. For anything non-urgent, an international department is usually worth the premium; for an emergency, go to the nearest hospital.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration — Social Insurance
- The State Council — Interim Measures for Social Insurance Coverage of Foreigners Working in China
- Beijing Municipal Government — Medical Guide for Foreigners
- Beijing Human Resources and Social Security Bureau — Provisional Measures on Social Insurance for Foreigners
Contribution rates, reimbursement levels and designated-hospital lists are set locally and differ between cities. This page records what the official sources said on the verification date shown above. It is general information, not medical or insurance advice.