Frequently Asked Questions

Costs vary by procedure, but on average, you can expect to save 60-80% compared to US prices and 50-65% compared to UK/Canada/Australia private care — including flights and accommodation. For example: knee replacement in the US costs ~$45,000; in China, ~$15,000. Full dental implants: US ~$45,000; China ~$12,000. Executive health screening: US ~$12,000; China ~$2,500. All our package pages show transparent hospital fees and service fees separately.

Our service fee (15-25% of hospital costs) covers: professional medical record translation, hospital matching and scheduling, remote consultation coordination, visa support documentation, airport pickup, dedicated interpreter for all hospital visits, 24/7 coordinator support during your stay, and remote follow-up coordination for 180 days after treatment. We itemize this separately from hospital fees so you always know what you're paying for.

We accept international bank transfers, major credit cards, and international payment platforms. Payment is structured in three stages: 30% deposit to lock your price and schedule, 40% upon hospital confirmation, and 30% upon arrival in China. Hospital fees are paid directly to the hospital; Medicsino's service fee is paid to us.

All our partner hospitals are Grade 3A (the highest national accreditation, equivalent to a major teaching hospital) or JCI-accredited. In the 2024 Fudan Global Hospital Ranking, 12 Chinese hospitals placed in the top 100 worldwide. Peking Union Medical College Hospital ranks #24 globally. Chinese surgeons in top hospitals perform 5-10x more procedures annually than their Western counterparts, and complication rates are comparable to or better than international benchmarks.

While complications are rare at our partner hospitals, we have protocols in place. All partner hospitals have full intensive care capabilities. Your coordinator remains with you throughout. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel medical insurance that covers complications. In the unlikely event that a hospital cancels your procedure, we arrange an alternative hospital within 48 hours or provide a full refund. Medicsino is a coordination platform — the treating hospital bears clinical responsibility for medical outcomes.

Yes, extensively. Every hospital must meet our minimum criteria: Grade 3A or JCI accreditation, annual surgical volume above the national 50th percentile for relevant specialties, dedicated international patient department, English-language report capability, and a track record of at least 50 international patient cases. We also collect and publish patient satisfaction scores for each hospital, updated quarterly. You can see our 6-dimension scorecard for every hospital on our Hospitals page.

It depends on your nationality. As of 2026, citizens of 157 countries enjoy mutual visa exemption with China (typically 15-30 days), and over 50 countries have unilateral visa-free access. For longer medical stays, we assist with the S2 medical visa application, which requires an invitation letter from the partner hospital — something we arrange as part of your package. We provide complete visa documentation support as part of our service.

We arrange accommodation based on your needs and budget. Options range from hospital-affiliated apartments (most convenient, basic) to international brand hotels (comfortable, familiar). For surgery patients requiring recovery stays, we recommend serviced apartments with kitchenettes. Airport pickup is included. Your interpreter/coordinator accompanies you to all hospital visits. China's major cities have excellent public transportation, and ride-hailing apps (Didi) make getting around easy. We provide guidance on food options that match any dietary requirements.

Absolutely — and we encourage it for surgery patients. Your companion's travel and accommodation are not included in the package price but we can arrange them at cost. For surgery patients, having a companion significantly improves the recovery experience. Our coordinators can also serve as your primary support person if you travel alone.

That's what we're here for. Every Medicsino package includes a professional medical interpreter who accompanies you to all hospital visits. They are trained in medical terminology in both English and Chinese. All your medical reports are provided in bilingual format. Your hotel and transportation are arranged in English. Many hospital staff in international departments also speak English. You will never be in a situation where you cannot communicate.

From initial inquiry to arriving in China: typically 2-4 weeks for screenings, 3-6 weeks for surgery. The in-country stay depends on your procedure: health screenings take 1-4 days, outpatient procedures (LASIK, dental) take 3-7 days, and inpatient surgeries require 7-21 days including recovery. We provide a detailed day-by-day timeline as part of your package.

Your care doesn't end when you board the plane. We schedule remote video follow-ups with your Chinese physician at 30, 90, and 180 days after your procedure. You receive a complete bilingual medical report and discharge summary to share with your home doctor. If any issues arise during recovery, our coordinators facilitate communication with your treating hospital — typically with a response within 24 hours.

Our policy is clear and fair: if your visa is denied, you receive a full refund minus a $200 administrative fee. If you cancel more than 14 days before departure, you receive an 80% refund. Cancellations 7-14 days before: 50% refund. Less than 7 days: 20% refund. If the hospital cancels your procedure, we either reschedule at an alternative hospital within 48 hours or provide a full refund. All terms are clearly stated in your service agreement before any payment is made.

In many cases, yes. For example, many patients combine a full health screening with a dental procedure or LASIK. Some combine a surgical procedure with Traditional Chinese Medicine recovery therapy. We can customize a multi-procedure itinerary — just let us know what you need during the consultation. The feasibility depends on the specific procedures and your health status, which will be assessed by the treating physicians.

Yes — this is one of our strengths. China's top hospitals see patient volumes that are unmatched globally, giving their specialists exceptional pattern recognition for rare and complex conditions. We can arrange multi-disciplinary team (MDT) consultations where 3-5 specialists review your case together and produce a unified diagnosis and treatment plan. This service is particularly valuable for patients who have received conflicting diagnoses or have conditions that haven't responded to standard treatment.

No — one of the advantages of China's healthcare system is that you can self-refer to any specialist. You do not need a GP referral to see a top surgeon. However, we do recommend informing your primary care physician about your plans, and we provide all documentation needed for continuity of care.