Source: OT-Team(G)，椰城纠风
Recently, Haikou Radio and Television Station in Hainan aired a short segment titled "Difficulties in Medical Reimbursement for Foreign Nationals."
In the video, a long-term foreign resident who has lived in Hainan for 30 years shared her concerns about the lack of awareness regarding medical insurance policies for expatriates. She cited the case of a foreign friend who had to pay high hospital bills last year due to not being enrolled in any medical insurance program. Now, as she brings her child to the hospital for a check-up, she finds herself having to cover all expenses out of pocket because she remains unclear about how to purchase insurance or what options are available. She urged relevant authorities to strengthen outreach efforts, ensuring that foreigners living and working in Hainan have better access to information and healthcare protections.
In response to these concerns, Wang Huiqing from Haikou People's Hospital explained the measures already in place.
"With the growing number of foreigners coming to Hainan for tourism, employment, and permanent residence, we started adapting early," Wang said. "In fact, we established an International Medical Clinic back in 2010. We have foreign doctors on staff, and each year, around 1,000 foreigners from over 70 countries seek medical services here."
Wang acknowledged two major issues facing foreign patients: language barriers and insurance reimbursement.
"On the language front, our team—including foreign experts—can communicate fluently in English, ensuring smooth consultations," she said. "As for insurance, according to policies from the medical insurance bureau, foreigners who are formally employed with a valid work permit are eligible to enroll in employee medical insurance. Those with permanent residence status, even if unemployed, can enroll in the resident medical insurance program. In both cases, the reimbursement rates are the same as those for Chinese citizens."
In addition to public insurance, Wang highlighted that foreign residents can also purchase commercial health insurance, which the hospital can directly process for reimbursement, thanks to partnerships with major insurance companies.
"For those who prefer to claim expenses back in their home countries," she added, "our International Medical Department can provide bilingual (Chinese-English) medical records and receipts to assist with overseas claims."
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