Guides
These guides explain how international patients plan treatment in China: visas, costs, choosing a hospital, and what happens before, during and after the trip. Horcare is a coordination service, not a medical provider; clinical decisions belong to the treating hospital.
Last reviewed October 20, 2026 · Not sure where to begin? Request a free case review.
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The order matters: medical records and the hospital's review come before visa and travel bookings. Most families who follow these four guides in sequence arrive at the hospital with fewer surprises.
8 guides · reviewed and dated
Planning & Visas
Which medical records a Chinese hospital needs to review your case, how to get imaging in the right format, how translation works, and how to carry records safely…
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Hospitals & Treatments
A specialty-first method for choosing a hospital in China: start from the diagnosis, check department strength, credentials, language support and logistics, and get the hospital's review first.
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Costs & Payment
How deposits, settlement and itemized bills work at Chinese hospitals, which payment methods to prepare, how insurance claims work, and why you should pay the hospital directly.
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Hospitals & Treatments
How international patients can access CAR-T therapy in China through approved products or registered clinical trials, who decides eligibility, how long the stay is, and what drives the…
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Costs & Payment
Why treatment in China often costs less than private care in the US or UK, what actually drives the bill, why honest comparisons are hard, and how to…
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Hospitals & Treatments
Grade 3A is the highest tier in China's national hospital grading system. Here is what it means, what it does not tell you, and how to use it…
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Planning & Visas
Which visa routes international patients use for treatment in China, what a hospital invitation letter is, how visa-free entry fits in, and why you should always confirm with…
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Planning & Visas
A step-by-step guide for international patients and families: how China's hospitals work, how to choose one, what to prepare, how visas and payment work, and where a coordinator…
3 min read · Last reviewed October 20, 2026
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and length of stay. Many patients need a visa, though some nationalities qualify for visa-free entry or 240-hour visa-free transit. These shorter options may not suit a treatment stay that runs long or needs extending.
Once a hospital accepts the case, it can usually provide supporting documents for the application. Rules change, so confirm with the Chinese embassy or visa center.
Costs in China are often lower than in many Western systems, but the actual price depends on diagnosis, hospital and length of stay, and is confirmed only by the hospital's quote.
| Cost component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Initial case review | Free |
| Hospital charges | Paid directly to the hospital, no markup |
| Coordination fee | Quoted in writing before any paid work |
| Travel and accommodation | Booked by you, or with help |
Price slots on this site read “Quoted after your free case review”. See how payment works.
Most international patients are treated at large public hospitals, often Grade 3A, the highest tier in China's hospital grading system. Horcare matches from the condition, not the hospital's fame, and publishes no rankings.
| Label | What it means for a patient |
|---|---|
| Grade 3A | A large tertiary hospital with broad specialties, teaching and research |
| National medical center | Designated by the national health authority as a lead center in one field |
| University-affiliated | A teaching hospital linked to a medical university |
| International department | A dedicated service for foreign patients, often with English support |
Patients ask most about CAR-T therapy and proton therapy. For CAR-T, only approved products or registered clinical trials are considered, and eligibility is decided by the hospital. All treatments.
Personal reply within 24 hours; initial case assessment within 72 hours.
By condition and department, not by fame.
One dedicated coordinator throughout.
Translated records and contact with the treating team.
It depends on your nationality and how long you will stay. Some nationalities can enter visa-free or use 240-hour visa-free transit, but treatment stays often run longer, and a hospital can usually provide supporting documents once it accepts the case. Rules change, so confirm with the Chinese embassy or visa center.
Costs in China are often lower than in many Western systems, but they vary by diagnosis, hospital and length of stay, and only the hospital's own quote confirms them. On this site, prices read "Quoted after your free case review".
International patients usually pay the hospital directly, often as a deposit before admission. With Horcare, hospital bills are paid to the hospital with no markup, and Horcare's service fee is quoted separately in writing before any paid work. Ask your insurer in advance whether it covers care abroad.
Yes. Many large Grade 3A public hospitals have international departments or services for foreign patients, and interpreters and coordinators help with the language barrier. Clinical decisions belong to the hospital.
Send your diagnosis and we'll tell you honestly whether treatment in China makes sense, free of charge. Hospital bills are paid directly to the hospital, with no markup.
No passport or full records needed to start · Hospital bills paid directly to the hospital, no markup
