Two separate payment relationships
The single most useful thing to understand is that money flows to two different organisations, and they are not interchangeable.
You pay YilianCare
Coordination fees, quoted in USD at published rates, invoiced before each stage begins. Card, bank transfer, or WeChat Pay / Alipay if you are in mainland China.
You pay the hospital
All clinical costs, in CNY, directly to the hospital. We never take custody of hospital funds, and we do not add a margin to anything the hospital charges.
Paying a Chinese hospital remotely
Large Chinese hospitals increasingly support international payment, but the practical routes vary considerably by hospital.
| Method | Practical notes |
|---|---|
| Hospital international desk | Many tertiary hospitals can process a foreign card at the international patient counter, and can issue an itemised invoice. Ask in advance whether they accept foreign cards at all. |
| Bank transfer in CNY or USD | Reliable for larger sums, but remember that sending and intermediary banks deduct charges, so the credited amount can be lower than the amount sent. |
| Alipay / WeChat Pay | Widely accepted on site. A foreign card can often be linked, but limits and verification requirements change; a Chinese family member’s account is usually simpler. |
| Payment on site | The default for outpatient and most inpatient billing. Deposits are common on admission, with settlement at discharge. |
Foreign exchange rates move daily. Where a figure is quoted in one currency and paid in another, agree the reference rate and date in writing before paying.
Using international insurance
Insurance, in five steps
- Ask about direct billing early. Contact your insurer before treatment and ask whether it has an agreement with the specific hospital, and whether direct settlement is possible.
- Get pre-authorisation. Most plans require it for planned treatment. Without it, a claim can be reduced or refused regardless of clinical necessity.
- Confirm the document list. Ask what the insurer needs: itemised invoice, medical report, diagnosis code, payment receipt — and in which language.
- Expect to pay first. Outside major international hospitals, direct billing is uncommon in China. Plan to fund the treatment yourself and claim afterwards.
- Keep every receipt. Cards statements and transfer confirmations are part of the claim file, not just hospital paperwork.
What coordination fees are and are not
What your coordination fee covers
- Records review, translation and case file preparation.
- Placing the department inquiry and following it up.
- Clarifying documents, appointment options and cost questions.
- On-site interpretation and coordination, if purchased.
Often not reimbursable
- Case-management and concierge-style services are not usually a covered benefit.
- Travel, accommodation and meals connected to the trip.
- Visa fees and travel insurance premiums.
- Any treatment the insurer classifies as elective or not medically necessary in its own assessment.
Payment questions
Can I pay the whole trip in one payment?
No. Coordination fees and hospital fees are invoiced separately by different organisations. Combining them would mean we held your clinical money, which we deliberately avoid.
Which currency should I use?
Coordination fees are quoted in USD. Hospital fees are in CNY. Where you pay in a third currency, the bank or card network sets the rate, and we have no control over it.
Will I get a receipt for the hospital payment?
Yes — the hospital issues it. Ask for an itemised invoice rather than a single total, because most insurers will not accept the latter.
Is a deposit required on admission?
Usually, yes. Chinese hospitals commonly take a deposit at admission and settle the account at discharge. The amount comes from the hospital.
What if I need to claim after I get home?
You will need the itemised invoice, the medical report, the discharge summary, the diagnosis and your payment confirmations. Collect all of these before you leave China — chasing them from overseas is slow.
