Living in Beijing for Study: Campus Hospitals, Student Insurance, Referrals, and Reimbursement

International students studying long-term in Beijing should purchase or verify medical insurance as required when enrolling, and record the covered hospitals, deductible, exclusions, claim reporting method, and reimbursement deadlines. Student insurance does not mean that every hospital or outpatient visit is covered. Whether special-needs or international medical services are included depends on your policy and school arrangements.

For non-emergency care, understand the on-campus process first

For general illness, first consult the campus hospital or a school-designated medical provider and confirm whether a referral is required and what form the referral document should take. Beijing Language and Culture University's medical guide for international students allows students to visit secondary or tertiary hospitals within their individual policy coverage and notes that special-needs outpatient services are excluded. One school's partner network and rules cannot simply be applied to another. For an emergency or serious condition, call 120 directly.

Keep reimbursement documents from the first visit

For outpatient care, you will generally need to retain prescription copies, medical records, official invoices, and itemized charges. For inpatient care, also keep the diagnostic certificate, settlement statement, and copies of medical records as required by the insurer. Whether medication, tests, and registration fees are itemized separately can also affect subsequent review.

For the school's internal process, see Beijing Language and Culture University's Medical Guide for International Students. Actual coverage is subject to the current terms from your school and insurer. Before taking leave from school, transferring, or reaching the insurance expiry date, proactively confirm that your coverage will remain continuous.