Before seeking medical care outside your home province, ask locally first — the need for such care should ideally be assessed by an associate chief physician or higher.

4. Before seeking medical care outside your home province, ask locally first — the need for such care should ideally be assessed by an associate chief physician or higher.

Cost: No cost involved. It simply requires asking a few extra questions beforehand.

In plain terms: Whether a patient needs to travel elsewhere for treatment should, in principle, be evaluated by doctors holding the rank of associate chief physician or above at secondary or tertiary hospitals. Reimbursement rates for temporary out-of-area treatment differ from those offered at local hospitals of comparable level; exact terms depend on local regulations. Asking locally beforehand is far better than discovering later that no reimbursement is possible.

Benefit: The necessity of receiving medical care across different healthcare regions or provinces must, ideally, be assessed by qualified physicians at secondary or tertiary hospitals holding the rank of associate chief physician or higher. “Cross-regional care” refers to treatment sought outside one’s designated medical insurance area. This assessment must be performed by doctors meeting the required qualifications. Reimbursement levels for temporary out-of-province patients also differ reasonably from those at local hospitals of the same level; consequently, patients receive less coverage for identical treatments received elsewhere.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: General Office of the State Council of China (2026). Several measures to accelerate the construction of a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system. <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202604/content_7065031.htm>: "In principle, deputy chief physicians and personnel with professional titles above from second- and third-level hospitals will evaluate patients across coordinating regions. The necessity of cross-province medical treatment. ""Further strengthen the direct settlement management service for cross-province medical treatment, and maintain a reasonable difference between the reimbursement level of those who temporarily go out for medical treatment in the insured area and the same level of medical institutions in the insured area. "

Notes: “Temporary out-of-area treatment” and “long-term residence elsewhere” constitute two distinct registration categories, each with different reimbursement levels. Details regarding registration procedures and which conditions qualify for direct settlement are covered in Section 16. Do not travel to another province first and then worry about reimbursement later.