When we talk about social medical insurance in China, the first question that foreigners often ask is whether they are required to purchase it.

You may already have medical insurance from your home country, or even international medical insurance, and there are some parts of the medical insurance that will cover your medical needs in China.

当我们提到中国的社会医疗保险时，来华就业的外国人第一个问题大概都是我一定要买嘛？也许你来中国工作前已经拥有了自己国家的医疗保险，可能还是国际的医疗保险，有些医疗保障的部分能够覆盖你在中国的医疗需求。

Q：Do foreigners working in China have to purchase social medical insurance?

A：We will focus mainly on the group of people coming to work in China. The first issue to address is the application for a work permit in China, which has specific requirements regarding medical insurance.

Q：外国人在中国就业一定要办理社会医疗保险吗？

A：我们主要从关注来华就业的人群来讨论。首先要解决的是申请来华就业许可，这里有一个关于医疗保险的明确的申请条件。

Applicants must have the following medical insurance during their time in China.

申请者需要必须具备在华期间如下的医疗保险

In fact, when applying for a work permit, the Foreign Experts Bureau does not necessarily require foreign applicants to purchase social medical insurance. Typically, you have the following three options based on your actual needs:

其实办理就业许可时，外国专家局也并非一定要求外国申请人办理社会医疗保险。通常你可以根据自己的实际需求有以下3种选择：

1

If you have purchased international commercial insurance, please check and ensure that the above types and amounts are covered, and attach the Chinese translation with company stamp or qualification files with company stamp from translation company.

若您已购国际商业保险，请核对并确保已经涵盖了以上险种和保额，提供国际保险的复印件，并附上中文翻译件并盖公章或翻译公司的资质文件及盖章。

2

You are arrange insurance for the period of work in China in advance before submit application of work permit.  If you plan to buy commercial insurance from Chinese insurance company, your company can contact the insurance company in advance. The processing time is about 7 working days. The types of insurance and the amount of insurance cover the above requirements.

在提交工作许可申请之前，您应提前为在华工作期间办理保险。如果你计划购买中国的商业保险，贵公司可与保险公司提前联系办理。办理时间约 7 个工作日。险种和保额需覆盖上述要求。

Insurance company reference 保险公司参考：

• China Life Insurance
• Fee: 2000/2600 Rmb
• English Service: Yes
• Materials required: business license, passport, copy of ID card of 2 Chinese contacts and phone number
• Processing time: 5-6 working days

• 中国人寿
• 收费：2000/2600 Rmb
• 英语服务：是
• 材料要求：营业执照、护照、2个中国联系人身份证复印件及电话
• 办理时间：5-6个工作日

• PICC
• Fee: 1488 Rmb
• English Service: No
• Materials required: applicant's passport and mobile phone number
• Processing time: 1 working day
• 中国人保
• 收费：1488 Rmb
• 英语服务：否
• 材料要求：申请人护照和手机号
• 办理时间：1个工作日

3

According to the requirements of the Human Resources Bureau, all foreigners who receive a salary from a Chinese company should purchase social insurance, with specific details outlined below. Applicants from certain countries may be exempt from this requirement. However, in practice, some foreigners have opted for domestic social insurance. If we only consider the requirements for obtaining a work permit, the Foreign Experts Bureau only mandates the purchase of the following types of medical insurance. If you plan to apply for domestic social insurance, the operator of your company should apply to the Social Security Bureau before the 25th of the month when you obtain the work permit, and pay taxes based on salary. The calculation is as follows:

其实根据人力资源局要求，所有由中国公司发放工资的外国人都应该办理社会保险，具体社会保险的细则如下。部分国家的申请人可以免除。只是实际的适用中，一部分外国人办理了国内的社会保险。如果仅仅从办理就业许可证的要求出发，外国专家局仅仅要求办理以下险种的医疗保险。如果你确认办理如下的社会保险，需贵公司操作人员在您获得工作许可的当月25日前在社会保障局办理 ，缴纳税费按照工资为基数。计算方式如下：

Q：With medical insurance, which medical institutions can be accessed?

A：Foreigners who have completed the insurance registration process can use their medical insurance code (an electronic medical insurance certificate, like a dedicated payment QR code. Currently, only foreigners holding a permanent residence permit can apply for this code through the app)or their social security card to seek medical treatment, undergo surgery, be hospitalized, or purchase medications directly at designated pharmacies. Medical institutions are not limited to public hospitals; private hospitals, dental clinics, and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals are also included. However, these hospitals must have applied to become designated medical insurance facilities. It is advisable to consult the reception desk in advance to confirm whether they accept medical insurance card payments. Generally, private hospitals may have certain restrictions on reimbursement rates.

Q：有了医疗保险，哪些医疗机构可以使用？

A：已办理参保登记手续的外国人，在医保待遇启用后，可以持申领的医保码（电子的医保凭证，一个如专属医保的支付二维码。目前仅仅支持持有永居证的外国人在APP上可以申领）或社保卡在医保定点的医院看病，手术，住院等或普通药店直接购药直接结算。医院不只是公立大医院，也可以是私人医院，口腔医院或是中医院均可。但是都需要这些医院已经申请成为了医保的定点医院，你都可以直接结算柜台提前咨询是否可以接受医保卡结算。通常私人医院对报销比例有一定限制。

Q：What medical benefits can foreigners enjoy  with social medical insurance?

A：Foreign nationals who legally enroll in Ningbo's medical insurance for employees or residents, and concurrently in the supplementary commercial medical insurance "Tianyi Yongning Insurance," are entitled to four types of protection: basic medical insurance, critical illness insurance, long-term care insurance and "Tianyi Yong ning Insurance".

Medical insurance benefits are categorized into several types general outpatient fits, outpatient chronic disease benefits, outpatient special disease benefits, and inpatient benefits.

Q：有了社会医疗保险，外国人可享受哪些医疗保障待遇?

A：一般来说，外国人依法参加宁波市职工或居民基本医疗保险，并同时参加惠民型商业补充医疗保险天一甬宁保，按规定享有基本医保、大病保险、长期护理保险及天一甬宁保等四重制度保障权益。另外，医保待遇总体上分为普通门诊待遇、门诊慢性病待遇、门诊特殊病待遇、住院待遇等几种类型。

Q：If the social medical insurance card was not used when seeking medical treatment, can the medical expenses paid be reimbursed?

A：Yes, they can. lf a foreign national is eligible for medical insurance benefits but did not utilize the medical insurance OR code or social security card during their medical visit (due to reasons such as forgetting they have insurance, not carrying their social security card, or not yet having applied for asocial security card), they may still apply for reimbursement afterward. To initiate the reimbursement process, they must present their valid identification, all relevant medical records, itemized bills, and invoices to the nearest medical insurance agency.

Q：看病的时候未使用社会医疗保险卡，已支付的医疗费用可以报销嘛？

A：可以的。如果医保待遇正常享受，但是就医的时候因为各种原因(比如忘了自己有医保、忘了携带社保卡、还没有申领社保卡等等)未通过扫码(刷卡)直接结算，由个人全额自费付款了,可在就医结束后，携带本人有效证件、全部病历和发票等就诊单据，就近去医保经办机构申请医保费用报销。

Q：Can foreigners continue to enjoy medical  insurance benefits after departing the  country?  How is the paid medical insurance  fee handled?

A：Ningbo's medical insurance does not provide reimbursement for medical treatments abroad. Foreigners can terminate their medical insurance enrollment when leaving China. lf there is a remaining balance in their Ningbo medical insurance account, it can be collected in a lump sum.

Q：外国人离境了还可以继续享受医保待遇嘛？已缴纳的医保钱怎么处理？

A：宁波市参保人员离境了不能在境外享受医保待遇。外国人离境前经本人申请可以终止医保参保关系，其中参加职工医保且个人账户有余额的，可以一次性清算支付给本人。