From the United States · 2026
Medical tourism from the US
to China — 50–80% savings.
M-visa application, USD-quoted itemized costs, popular procedures, insurance reimbursement guidance and direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Independently coordinated end-to-end.
M-visa
Required
Apply through Chinese consulate; we provide invitation letter
Chinese MOFA
13–18 hr
Direct flight
JFK / LAX / SFO / ORD / IAD to PEK / PVG / CAN
Airline schedules
50–80%
Typical savings
All-in surgical pricing vs US academic centres
Industry data 2024
USD
Quotes available
Itemized in USD with CNY equivalent
Service standard
FSA / HSA
Eligible expenses
Foreign medical expenses qualify under IRC §213(d)
IRS guidance
Insurance
Limited reimbursement
Cigna Global / GeoBlue / BCBS Worldwide cover most ranges
Carrier policies
Tiers & pricing
Six tiers, transparent pricing.
Cardiac surgery
CABG, valve replacement, TAVR at Fuwai. Major US savings.
60–70% off US
Stem cell + regenerative
MSC therapy access for eligible orthopedic and autoimmune indications.
From $8,000
Dental tourism
Implants, all-on-4, full-mouth restoration at 70–80% off US.
From $800 / implant
Orthopedic surgery
Joint replacement and spine procedures at top centres.
60–70% off US
Oncology second opinion
Written MDT review without travel from $250–950.
Remote first
Health checkup
Comprehensive workup combined with vacation in Beijing or Shanghai.
$1,800–5,800
Top hospitals
Six centres
open to international patients.
PUMC International + Fuwai + Tiantan
Beijing's flagship cluster: diagnostic excellence + cardiac + neurosurgery
Zhongshan + Ruijin + Fudan Cancer + Shanghai United Family
Shanghai's flagship cluster: hepatobiliary + endocrinology + oncology + JCI primary care
Sun Yat-sen Memorial + Sun Yat-sen Cancer
Southern China gateway, useful for travellers via Hong Kong / SE Asia
HKSH + Hong Kong Adventist + Matilda
English-first care · USD-friendly billing · same-day visa-free for US passports
Beijing + Shanghai + Guangzhou + Tianjin
United Family (和睦家) network · JCI-accredited · expat-focused
West China Hospital
China's largest single-site hospital · large international fellowship base
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
- Do I need an M-visa as a US citizen?
- Yes — for any inpatient or surgical care in mainland China, US citizens require an M (medical) visa. Hong Kong is currently visa-free for US passport holders for stays up to 7 days (unilateral arrangement). For mainland procedures we issue a hospital invitation letter and our coordinators support the consular application. Standard processing 4–8 business days at most US Chinese consulates (NYC, Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston). Companion / spouse visa is the same M-visa with explicit family-relationship documentation.
- Can I use my FSA / HSA for treatment in China?
- Yes — qualified medical expenses incurred outside the United States are eligible under IRS Code §213(d), provided they would qualify if performed domestically. Save: itemized bilingual receipts; physician's name and license; diagnosis (ICD-10); procedure (CPT-equivalent or descriptive); proof of payment. Travel costs are not generally reimbursable. Cosmetic procedures are excluded. Confirm with your FSA / HSA administrator before travel.
- Will my US health insurance reimburse?
- Highly carrier-dependent. International coverage that does cover elective treatment abroad: Cigna Global; GeoBlue Xplorer / Trekker; some BCBS Worldwide products; Bupa Global. Most US domestic plans (Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, employer-PPOs) do not cover elective treatment abroad except as out-of-network with poor reimbursement. Medicare and Medicaid generally do not cover treatment abroad. Confirm in writing before travel; we provide bilingual receipts and CPT-mapped procedure codes for whatever claim path you pursue.
- What about flight options from the US?
- Direct flights: JFK ↔ PEK / PVG (United, Air China); LAX ↔ PEK / PVG / CAN (United, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern); SFO ↔ PVG (United, Air China); ORD ↔ PEK / PVG (United, Air China); IAD ↔ PEK (United, Air China); SEA ↔ PEK (Hainan); DFW ↔ PEK (American). Typical 13–14 hour eastbound, 11–13 hour westbound. Compression stockings, hydration and walking every 90 minutes are standard advice; for post-op return travel consult your operating surgeon for safe-to-fly clearance.
- What about credit cards and currency?
- Visa, Mastercard and AmEx are accepted at top international medical departments; UnionPay is universally accepted but rare for US issuers. Hospitals quote in USD or CNY based on patient preference; FX margins vary 2–4% across carriers. WeChat Pay and Alipay are essential for daily life in China — link a Visa / Mastercard via the ‘Tour Pass’ programme, or carry $300–500 emergency CNY cash. ATM withdrawals at China-resident banks (ICBC, Bank of China, China Construction Bank) work with most US debit cards.
- What about FDA-approved drugs and medical devices?
- Most major drug classes used in China at top centres are FDA / EMA approved or are biosimilars / generics of FDA-approved agents. Some NMPA-approved agents (e.g. specific CAR-T products, HER2-low ADCs in development phases) may not yet have FDA approval — these are clearly disclosed before treatment. Implants and devices used at top international hospitals (Edwards, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Stryker, J&J, Smith & Nephew, Arthrex) match those used at Mayo / Cleveland Clinic / Mass General.
Related guides
M-Visa Guide
Step-by-step application for the US Chinese consulates.
Read the guideCost Comparison
China vs US vs UK across 25+ procedures.
Read the guideBest Hospitals
Top 15 ranked centres for international patients.
Read the guideSecond Opinion
Cross-Pacific written second opinion without travel.
Read the guideTravel Checklist
60+ items across 7 stages of pre-departure prep.
Read the guideInsurance Claims
How to file with Cigna / GeoBlue / BCBS for foreign treatment.
Read the guideWant a US-perspective quote
in 5 days?
Tell us your procedure of interest, your home state and travel window. We return USD-itemized written quotes from two partner hospitals — including FSA / HSA receipt format and insurance-claim mapping.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical, tax or visa advice. US tax and insurance rules vary by individual; confirm with your CPA, tax advisor and insurer before relying on any reimbursement assumption.