What is portable health insurance in China?

21st century is the era of globalization. Moving around the world becomes easier for most of us. Relocation from one country to another due to work, kid’s education or other personal reasons become more and more common. So is your China health insurance portability. Are you able to carry on your health insurance plan once you leave China? Or it will forever be linked to your residence within the country? Here you will find everything you need to know  when it comes to taking your insurance abroad.

Key takeaways

Not all insurance companies offer portability. In fact, only less than 5% of insurance providers in China can let you continue with your plan once you leave the country. Such is always considered as change of insurance terms, and thus can only be applied on renewal date.

• sometimes proof of leaving China is required
• portability is not allowed throughout the whole world
• just because your plan now covers you globally, doesn’t mean it is portable. It means you are ok to use it within the area of cover. But should you leave China – policy might be terminated as well
• if simple carrying your insurance overseas is not an option, your insurance provider may be able to switch you on a similar plan they have for overseas markets. Keep in mind it shall always be similar level of cover, as upgrades (increase in cover) will not be allowed, unless special circumstances apply

Understanding portability within health insurance

Portability in the context of health insurance refers to the ability of an insured person to retain and transfer their health insurance coverage from one plan to another. This can apply to both domestic transfers or overseas, should one leave China. While domestic transfers are always pretty easy since you are dealing with the same insurance entity, overseas might be more tricky.

Relocation internationally always brings extra burden, paperwork and in general is time consuming. Which is when health insurance portability becomes essential for an insured person in order to maintain adequate level of cover at all time.

Which insurance plans are portable outside of China for expats?

If portability is essential, you can only consider truly global insurance providers. Keep in mind, in order to switch you from a China plan to overseas one, insurance company should already have an entity and local plan in your new location. Otherwise switching is not possible. One thing all of the companies have in common – you can’t carry on your insurance with you if you move to USA. There is Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and none of the plans outside of US meet such a requirement. Thus, once in US you will have to buy in US.

Another similarity among all companies – none can’t be transferred to UAE. Each emirate has their own health regulator, for example in Dubai it is DHA (Dubai Health Authority). Each has required specifications for insurance plans in order for those to meet them. Same as US, once in UAE – you will need to buy in UAE.

Allianz

Allianz is a major insurance power house for over a century. It is easier to say what countries they are not present at. As such, you can carry their plans to anywhere you go as long as you transfer to a similar level of cover on their overseas plan.

Now Health

Now Health runs same level insurance programs outside of China so switching to them will be troublesome. You can also expect almost identical level of cover once you are overseas. They also have separate fully licensed entity in UAE, but transfer to those plans is not possible. You will need to terminate your insurance in China upon renewal and then sign up with their UAE entity.

Bupa

Similar as Now Health, Bupa runs same level insurance plans in most of the countries worldwide. Ever since they left China market at the end of 2023, most of the clients transferred to other insurance providers within the country.

AXA

AXA members have a portability option not in all countries such as above companies, but rather a specific list only. Below for further review if you plan to relocate from China. Keep in mind with AXA, final decision will always be on a local underwriting team. Because of this AXA cannot guarantee portability from their end, although most of the clients switch without issues.

What happens if my insurance doesn’t offer portability but I need to relocate anyway?

Most of the health insurance contracts in China are 1 year long. That means if you relocate outside of China, then your health policy is valid until renewal date without issues. If it is a plan that offers cover worldwide then you can actually use it overseas too. However, if there is no portability available, upon renewal insurance company will not offer you renewal terms. Your insurance policy will be terminated and you will need to find new insurance plan locally.

Key benefits of portable health insurance plan in China

• Continuation of cover

Finding new insurance upon relocation might leave gaps in cover between once new policy is set up, and when previous one is expired. With portable insurance plans your renewal date is set by default, and new policy kicks in automatically from the same day without leaving you uncovered even for one day.

• Continuation of cover for existing medical conditions

Once you switch to an overseas insurance, it basically viewed as renewal in the eyes of your insurance provider. Meaning your contract terms remain same. Everything you have used your insurance in the past for will not be viewed as pre-existing conditions and you can keep getting continuous coverage for those.

• No waiting periods

Setting up new insurance always require application form for enrollment. These days most insurance companies have waiting period for items like dental care, mental health as well as maternity. In certain case short waiting periods for regular outpatient care too. With portable health insurance plans you secure yourself  a renewal in the future upon relocation. Waiting periods do not apply at renewal dates.