How to Prepare
Planning Guide
⏱ 10 min read · Medical Tourism Desk · ✅ Updated 2026-05
Medical tourism is not complicated, but it rewards preparation. The patients who have the smoothest experiences are those who arrive with complete medical records, confirmed appointments, and realistic timelines. This guide walks through every step — from your first contact with a hospital to getting your records home.
01 🔍
Research & remote consultation
- ✓ Identify 2–3 candidate hospitals from our hospitals guide and search for their international patient department contact.
- ✓ Compile your medical records: recent imaging (bring digital files on USB), lab results, surgical history, current medications, and a written summary of your condition in plain language.
- ✓ Email the international patient department with your records and a description of the procedure you are seeking. Request a preliminary assessment and cost estimate.
- ✓ Most hospitals respond within 2–3 business days. Compare quotes from multiple hospitals before deciding.
- ✓ For complex cases (oncology, advanced surgery), a telemedicine pre-consultation is often available for $50–150 — worth doing before booking flights.
02 🛂
Visa & travel logistics
- ✓ Most Western nationals now qualify for visa-free entry to China (54+ nationalities get 240-hour transit; 38+ get full visa-free stay). Check our Visa-Free Policy guide for current eligibility.
- ✓ For longer stays (surgery + recovery), a tourist visa (L visa) allows up to 30 days per entry and is straightforward to obtain. Apply at the Chinese consulate or visa center in your home country.
- ✓ Book flights into the city where your hospital is located: Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), or Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) all have direct long-haul connections from major Western cities.
- ✓ Plan your arrival date at least one full day before your first hospital appointment to allow for jet lag and any document preparation.
03 🏨
Accommodation near the hospital
- ✓ Most major hospitals are surrounded by hotels at a range of price points. Book accommodation within 1–2 km of your hospital — this matters for recovery days when getting around is difficult.
- ✓ For longer stays, serviced apartments are often better value than hotels and provide kitchen access for dietary needs during recovery.
- ✓ Ask your hospital's international patient coordinator for accommodation recommendations — many have preferred partners with transport arrangements.
- ✓ Budget ¥400–800/night ($55–110) for a comfortable hotel near a major hospital in Beijing or Shanghai. Serviced apartments run ¥300–600/night ($40–85).
04 🏥
On arrival — hospital intake
- ✓ Your international patient coordinator will meet you on arrival at the hospital and guide you through registration, which requires your passport.
- ✓ Bring all medical records — printed and on USB if available. Bring the original imaging discs or files, not just reports.
- ✓ Payment is typically required upfront or at discharge. Major hospitals accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard); bring a card with sufficient limit and notify your bank of international travel before departure.
- ✓ Interpreter service is included in most international patient packages. For highly technical specialist consultations, you can also hire a dedicated medical interpreter through the hospital.
- ✓ Most hospitals provide a detailed treatment plan and itemized cost estimate before any procedures begin — review this carefully.
05 🩹
Recovery & follow-up
- ✓ Plan for adequate recovery time in China before flying home — typically 7–14 days for major orthopedic surgery, 2–5 days for dental or vision procedures.
- ✓ Request complete bilingual discharge documentation (Chinese and English): diagnosis, procedures performed, medications prescribed, and follow-up instructions.
- ✓ Bring enough of any prescribed medications to last through your return journey and until you can see your home physician.
- ✓ Share all records with your primary care physician on return. Most are accustomed to reviewing international records and can manage follow-up care.
- ✓ Keep copies of all receipts and documentation for insurance purposes — some plans reimburse emergency or medically necessary treatment abroad.
06 💳
Insurance & payments
- ✓ Most U.S. domestic health insurance does not cover elective treatment abroad. Treat medical tourism as self-pay and plan accordingly.
- ✓ Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended — not because complications are likely, but because evacuation costs without coverage are enormous.
- ✓ Some international health insurance plans (Cigna Global, Aetna International, Allianz Care) cover treatment in China. Check your policy before traveling.
- ✓ Medical tourism brokers can sometimes negotiate package pricing or arrange financing for larger procedures — useful for oncology or complex surgery.
🧳 What to bring
Progress0/10
- Passport (original + 2 copies)Identity
- Complete medical records (print + USB)Critical
- Imaging files (CT, MRI, X-ray — digital preferred)Medical
- Current medication list with dosagesMedical
- Sufficient home medications for trip + bufferMedical
- Travel insurance documentsInsurance
- Credit card with sufficient limit (notify bank)Finance
- Hospital appointment confirmationCritical
- Emergency contact informationSafety
- International phone plan or local SIMComms