Health care, health insurance, etc

[doki doki]

I'm coming from the USA for a year in Beijing and wanted to hear some experiences with health care there. I'm going to need some non-emergency check ups for a minor pre-existing condition that I can't put off until I'm back in the states, so interaction with the health system is a definite. I'm most concerned about price, and how I can cover my butt in the event that it's more than I expect, but I'd also like to hear personal experiences.

Questions:

Have you been to a primary care physician or specialist in Beijing (or other major cities)? What was your experience like? Any differences in Western-geared hospitals vs. Chinese run institutions? What are the best hospitals/clinics in the area? Where do most foreigners go for treatment?

What are the costs like? Do you have traveler's insurance? Insurance through a Chinese provider? Are there any Chinese providers? I've been looking into several options, and I don't think traveler's will work for me, but if the costs are low enough, I'll just pay out of pocket. I'm particularly interested if there is insurance one can pay for that is more comprehensive (includes annual preventive care, etc).

I'm going to be a student at BLCU and basic first aid/emergency won't be a prob, but I'm looking to get a better handle on what I should expect and how I can keep my costs down. Any and all experiences very welcome! Just want to hear your take.

[cdn_in_bj]

Have you been to a primary care physician or specialist in Beijing (or other major cities)? What was your experience like?

Unlike in the US, people here generally don't "go to see the doctor" (unless it's for TCM) - they head straight for the hospital, usually spending most of the day in triage (in Chinese, "gua hao"). The one time I've been to a hospital here as a patient, I had a cough and a fever that was a bit on the high side so I got to bypass the triage and go straight to the special SARS section where they took a chest xray, blood sample, and once they determined that I didn't have SARS, prescribed me some nasty tasting medication and sent me on my way. It was pretty cheap, around 70 RMB plus the cost of the medication (the hospital is no doubt making a tidy profit here).

Any differences in Western-geared hospitals vs. Chinese run institutions? What are the best hospitals/clinics in the area?

I've heard the claim from several Chinese who have immigrated to the US/Canada that surgeons at the better hospitals here do better procedures than in the west, just by the sheer volume of patients that they see. But I'm not totally convinced.

Each hospital has its own pharmacy, which I feel presents a conflict of interest for doctors prescribing medications (and there have been publicized cases about doctors over-prescribing).

Where do most foreigners go for treatment?

If they have a good health plan, they'll go to Beijing United. Otherwise, choose from one of the better public hospitals.

What are the costs like?

For minor issues, it's fairly cheap. Things get a bit more expensive if you need a room. I've heard that procedures here do tend to be cheaper, but back home you'd probably be covered by medical insurance.

Do you have traveler's insurance?

No, but I really should.

Insurance through a Chinese provider?

Yes, I have basic coverage through the plan at work.

Are there any Chinese providers?

There are, but I can't give you more details.

I've been looking into several options, and I don't think traveler's will work for me, but if the costs are low enough, I'll just pay out of pocket. I'm particularly interested if there is insurance one can pay for that is more comprehensive (includes annual preventive care, etc).

The only "package deal" I've heard of here is for prenatal care. But this is also something I've not looked into too seriously.

You might get better responses if you were to tell us in general terms about your condition. Of course, you may choose not to do that for privacy reasons.

[doki doki]

Your info is great! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer.

I'd prefer not to discuss specifics, but I'll need to see a specialist though it's nothing life threatening. Something more like checking to make sure everything is still looking good after having a procedure here in the US. I probably won't need to go more than once or twice while I'm there.

But I still want to keep this thread going! I was surprised that I didn't find a lot of info about people's encounters with the Chinese medical system and if we can talk about our experiences here, it might help others.

I'm probably going to get traveler's insurance, but was told that's mostly for flus, bumps, bruises and such. And to make sure I can get back on US comprehensive medical when I get back to the States (things get complicated if you aren't covered for a certain amount of time).

Do you happen to know the name of the basic plan your work offers? I'm trying to find out options for plans there, and was thinking I could contact some employer-funded plans because they might have individual options.

[simonlaing]

if you're going to be a student at BCLU you will probably automatically get health insurance that covers 90% of medical costs.

For relatively common medications you campus probably has a clinic that will give it to you.

Since you have a checkup situation you can arrange that at a hospital.

There are western SOS clinics where non emergency procedures and check-ups can be done. The doctor usually is western and speaks english though the costs will be much higher than Chinese ones.

There are rare international caliber hospitals around I know of a Taiwanese one in Kunshan a suburb of Shanghai and HK has some good ones.

I guess it depends on what the tests are required, they have x ray machines, ECGs and some places even CAT scans so it might take some looking around but I am sure you'll find what you're looking for. It is good to take an interpreter along with you to the appointments as the doctors usually only speak basic english. (This might be different in Big Beijing or Shanghai).

Stay healthy,

SImon:)

[roddy]

This info is probably not the most up to date as I haven't lived in Beijing for a year and a bit, and never really used any medical care when I was there, but what I've read / been told is that

Beijing Xiehe (Peking Union) at Dongdan is seen as the best of the 'Chinese' hospitals, and has a 'rich people and foreigners' wing. If you go through one of the foreign places and they don't have the specialist you need, you could well end up here anyway.

[Rincewind]

I took out "backpackers" insurance for my first year here which covered travel and medical issues. This lasted for 1 year which would be enough to cover your study time. Since then I have had a local insurance policy. Most insurances are for the big problems and they have a minimum that you must cover before the insurance takes over. For my backpackers I had to pay the first £50 of any claim and the insurance covered the rest. So it isn't really practical for small issues like your, "Flus, bumps, bruises and such." You should also remember that most insurances wont cover you for pre existing conditions that you had before you took out the policy.

Medical costs here are much less than the US though since I come from the UK I see them as much more. For minor things you will just pay it out of your change rather than claim insurance. What you really need insurance for is for the big unexpected costs. I posted some costs of X-rays, ECG's and CAT scans on another thread a year ago when one of my students was in hospital but I don't remember the figures now. It was nothing that would upset a westerner's finances. Remember there's more than one hospital and more than one pharmacist here so if you don't like the look of one, just leave and go to another

The actual quality of the care can vary from one hospital to another. Some doctors seem better qualified than others. I have taken the opportunity to get quite a lot of dental work done while I am here. The surgery is clean, the equipment modern and the doctor competent. The cost is about 1/4 of what I'd pay in the UK at an NHS dentist.