BeijingFamily Guide

Money

Insurance and who pays the hospital

International plans, local commercial plans, and Beijing 社保 are not interchangeable. The question is whether the policy will pay at the hospital you chose, and whether it bills the hospital directly.

Read this first

  • A positive pregnancy test does not start a waiting period. The policy start date does. Add maternity coverage before you try to conceive.
  • Direct billing is common at United Family and OASIS. Public hospitals almost always want payment first. Keep stamped receipts.
  • Beijing 社保, if your employer enrolls you, may offset a public delivery. It will not pay an international package.
Maternity insurance guide
international

Cigna Global / Cigna

Waiting period
Often 10–24 months for maternity
Direct bill
Usually yes at United Family and OASIS if the policy is live
Public hospital
Pay first, then claim. Keep every stamped receipt.

Read the maternity chapter for C-section, NICU day limits, and the newborn enrollment window (often 14–30 days).

international

Bupa Global

Waiting period
Often 10–24 months
Direct bill
Common at United Family and OASIS
Public hospital
Reimbursement, not direct bill

Confirm Beijing hospital list in writing. A policy that works in Shanghai may not list the same Beijing wards.

international

Allianz Care

Waiting period
Often 10–18 months
Direct bill
Often yes at international hospitals
Public hospital
Reimbursement

Ask whether the maternity benefit is a lump sum or full invoice. Lump sums run out fast on a C-section.

international

AXA

Waiting period
Plan-specific. Ask before you assume.
Direct bill
Some Beijing international hospitals
Public hospital
Reimbursement

Employer group plans and individual expat plans are not the same product. Read the booklet you actually have.

international

MSH China

Waiting period
Group-plan rules. Often shorter than retail global plans.
Direct bill
Wide Beijing network, including some private Chinese hospitals
Public hospital
Sometimes designated hospitals

Common on employer plans in Beijing. Get the current direct-billing card and hospital list from HR.

international

April International

Waiting period
Often 10–12 months
Direct bill
Selected private and international hospitals
Public hospital
Reimbursement

Used by some smaller employers. Confirm maternity is not an optional rider you never bought.

international

Now Health

Waiting period
Plan-specific
Direct bill
Some international hospitals
Public hospital
Reimbursement

Check NICU and newborn automatic enrollment. Missing the window is a common expensive mistake.

local

Ping An / other local commercial

Waiting period
Shorter than global plans; exclusions are stricter
Direct bill
Chinese private hospitals more often than UFH
Public hospital
Sometimes designated public hospitals

Policy wording is usually in Chinese. Have a speaker read the maternity and newborn pages with you.

City insurance

Beijing social insurance (社保 / 生育保险)

Waiting period
You must be enrolled and contributing. Ask HR when maternity coverage starts.
Direct bill
No. Designated public hospitals only, after the fact
Public hospital
A lump sum or partial reimbursement. Typical reported range is a few thousand to about ¥15,000 — not a United Family bill.

Many Beijing employers enroll foreign staff. 社保 will not pay an international-hospital package. It can take the edge off a public delivery. Confirm your enrollment status in writing.

Networks change. Ask HR or the broker for the current Beijing hospital list, in writing, before you open a pregnancy file.