Shanghai Health Insurance

Moving to a massive, fast-moving city like Shanghai can be overwhelming no matter where you are from. Feeling confident about your medical coverage is imperative so that you can get settled into a new place. The experienced professionals at Pacific Prime can help you find the right coverage for individuals, families, and groups.

Expatriate Health Insurance Shanghai

Whether you are a national relocating for your job or an expatriate moving to or traveling in Shanghai, your time abroad will be much more enjoyable with the security of reliable medical insurance. With all of the varied concerns that come with any big move, choosing your coverage doesn't have to be stressful.

To discuss the options for your expatriate health insurance in Shanghai, contact our expert consultants.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Shanghai hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates we maintain a list of Embassies in Shanghai.

Shanghai Insurance News

Health insurance is becoming a very important issue for people living in Shanghai. In 2006, more than 130 million Chinese had health insurance. While this is quite a large number, it still leaves nearly 90% of citizens without any coverage whatsoever. Only 16% of American citizens lacked health coverage in 2006. While the 10% of China's population who have health care reap the benefits of financial coverage, most health care is still vastly inferior to what is available in the West. That, accompanied with a different standard of medical treatment, makes China a daunting destination for some foreigners, and as such, medical insurance China has become a serious issue.

Locals and expatriates alike are concerned with the substandard options for medical treatment in China. Most of the care that is available at a reasonable cost is provided in clinics with cleanliness and training standards that most foreigners would find disconcerting. As a result, China—mainly Shanghai—has become a new market for international medical insurance companies. Many international residents and the expanding wealthy Chinese population have begun to opt for plans that can promise more and therefore look outside the country for insurance providers.

Some regional plans for Chinese nationals are available for under US$4, but plans that cover the quality of health care expected in the West would be quite a bit higher. The changing lifestyle in China has created an increase in the frequency of diseases like cancer and emphysema, where treatment is extensive and pricey. China's middle-class families are concerned about the potential price of long-term care and prefer the security of a foreign plan that can cover the burden of medical costs.

For foreigners living in Shanghai, the prospect of receiving care at a local hospital can be daunting. While there are hospitals designed for international clientele, the services available can cost much more than eqivalent care would cost in your county of origin. This is why it is so important to be sure that you have high-quality expatriate medical insurance while you are in Shanghai; you can feel safe about the health care available while not having to worry about the cost of treatment getting too steep. With the current economic prosperity that the country is experiencing, health insurance China options are becoming more readily available.

Another cause of sky-high health costs is the shift in China's healthcare system, which has been gradually losing government subsidies since the early 1980s. Even small health issues are too costly for most Chinese citizens to treat. One patient in Hangzhou, a mid-size city (more than 6 million people) near Shanghai, had to make a hard choice at a public hospital. To treat an infection on his leg, the construction worker had to choose between a one day treatment (at the price of nearly US$120—more than 10% of his income for an entire year) or have his leg amputated (which would make him unable to work). This leaves people like this worker (the vast majority of China's population) avoiding medical care because they simply cannot afford it.

Whether you are living or traveling in Shanghai, be sure to take measures to prevent a similar situation from happening to you. As an expatriate, it is important that you feel secure in your health care options. If you encounter some bad luck, having international insurance will mean that you can receive top-quality care without the burden of astonomical costs.

In 2003, patients across China paid more than 56% of their own medical costs. This number is starkly higher than the 1980 figure, a mere 21%. In addition, the price of medical care has risen 67% in the last three decades, contrasted to disposable income, which has gone up only 45%.

All these figures attract more and more companies to China, who see the vacancy in the market as an opportunity. American International Group, AIG, is one of these companies. AIG is currently expanding its marketing and sales force in China to increase a customer base that had already exceeded 1.5 million in 2006. Economists predict that China's private health insurance market may grow to $56 billion by 2020.

AIG also offers coverage to foreign nationals living in China. To learn more about AIG plans and other expatriate insurance options, contact our team of expert insurance advisors.