China Travel Insurance: How to Choose in 2024

Many drivers don’t pay attention. Some disobey traffic signs, frequently running through red lights, turning corners without looking and speeding. This all makes crossing the street a dangerous task for you.

It’s mandatory to wear your seatbelt in the car. But you might not find them in taxis or public buses. In fact, Chinese drivers and passengers rarely buckle their seatbelts at all. Without a seatbelt, you increase your risk of serious injury.

Subway stations during rush hour can be chaotically overcrowded. With everyone pushing to get on the train, you might not feel someone’s hand slipping your wallet out of your back pocket.

The tap water in China may look clear. But it’s almost always undrinkable. Water quality is not well regulated. And it can contain harmful bacteria and materials. As a result, even the smallest of sips could make you sick.

China is known for its endless supply of cheap street foods. However, you don’t know how long those meat skewers or egg tarts have been sitting in the sun. If they aren’t cooked properly, you could get an upset stomach or even food poisoning.

Bicycles may be a great way to navigate the city. But they’re also prime targets for thieves. Experienced thieves can easily pick the locks or take off with your individual bike parts.

The air pollution in Beijing can be extremely hazardous to your health. You don’t have to spend extended periods in China to feel its effects. Even if you’re normally healthy, having asthma or other respiratory problems could actually land you in the hospital.

China’s airports are notorious for long delays and even canceled flights. While delayed flights are inconvenient, they could also result in missed connections and lost baggage. This means more money out of your pocket.

If for some reason, you are unable to go on your trip to China, the trip cancellation insurance will reimburse any non-refundable costs. The amount of trip cancellation coverage differs between companies and policies. However, you should purchase a travel insurance plan covers the total cost of your trip.

Keep in mind that your reason for canceling needs to be outlined by the insurance company. You can’t just file a travel insurance claim if you found a better deal on a hotel, or if want to take the later flight home.

Some of the most common reasons include illness, the death of a family member and natural disasters.

Unfortunately, incidents can happen while you’re already traveling through China. If you have to return home due to an illness or family emergency, travel insurance will cover your costs.

Similar to trip cancellation coverage, a great trip interruption plan should cover the entire cost of your trip.

If you get into an accident or need to see a doctor abroad, medical emergency insurance will cover the cost of your medical bills.

At the very least, you should purchase $100,000 of medical emergency coverage. This amount should cover you for everything from minor doctor visits to severe injuries.

If your illness or injury becomes severe, the hospital in China may not be equipped to handle the emergency. Then you’ll need to be flown back home. In this case, you’ll be thankful to have medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Being airlifted to a hospital or flown back home from China is extremely expensive. It can cost thousands of dollars. For this reason, you should have at least $100,000 of evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Maybe your airlines lost your luggage during your connection from Tokyo. Or perhaps your wallet was nabbed while you were on the train. Either way, your travel insurance should cover the costs.

While you can’t claim items that were left unattended, you can get refunded for stolen or damaged belongings.

Before you leave for your trip, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

First, store your travel insurance information somewhere accessible. If you didn’t receive a card in the mail, you should be able to print one online. Make sure the card includes your full name and policy number.

Second, fill out the information in your passport. You should typically include your full name, address and phone number. You should also include details of an emergency contact. Always make a copy of your passport information to carry instead of the real thing. This way you can lock up your passport when you don’t need it.

And finally, research the in-network providers in China that accept your travel insurance. If an emergency arises, you’ll have a list of hospitals that you can go to if needed.

Good travel insurance in China should have a 24-hour customer service line. To start the claim filing process, call your travel insurance company to inform them of your situation. In fact, the travel insurance representative can also assist with finding the nearest hospital or police station.

In dire situations, go straight to the hospital or local authorities in China. You can always call your insurance provider after.

Travel insurance companies require a detailed paper trail. It’s important to collect and save any documentation, receipts or written notices. This way you can submit them to the travel insurance company.

For example, let’s say you need to cancel your trip due to illness. This means you’ll need to submit your trip itinerary and cost breakdown of the nonrefundable flights and hotels. You’ll also need a medical certificate saying you are unable to travel.

Remember, it’s your responsibility to gather the documents from the airline companies, the police or the hospital.

The process for filing a claim with your insurance provider is easier than ever. Many companies let you submit your claim directly from their website online.

It’s important that you submit your claim to your China travel insurance company quickly. Insurance companies have different timelines for filing claims. But most need to be submitted between 10 and 60 days.

After you’ve filed your claim, you’ll need to wait for the travel insurance company to approve the reimbursement. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

It’s best to file early. And it’s ideal to send as much information as possible to avoid complications. Of course, you have a higher chance of getting approved if you submit your claim on time and with the necessary documentation.