Among ancient cities and amazing landscapes, learn how travel insurance can protect Americans traveling to China.
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Whether you’re braving the crowds of Beijing or retracing the footsteps of nomads before you on the Silk Road, China is as diverse as you’d expect a country of 1.4 billion people to be - and offers many exciting experiences for American visitors.
Foodies may want to taste their way through China on a search for the best xiaolongbao (also known as Chinese soup dumplings.) Partygoers can dance the night away in Shanghai, while history buffs may prefer to trade the skyscrapers for some of the ancient Chinese villages like Chengyang and Xitang. Many Americans also include the Great Wall of China as a part of their itinerary or decide to visit during the festive activities that happen during Chinese New Year.
Such uniqueness brings surprises – some are amazing, but others not so much.
For the not so awesome surprises like travel accidents and lost bags, you may want to consider travel insurance* for China. We also encourage you to check out our team’s tips for the things you need to know before visiting China.
You booked the flights to Shanghai and even pre-purchased tickets for Yu Garden. You’ve taken the steps to plan an awesome vacation, but there are some things you just can’t plan for.
If you get hurt hiking through the bamboo forests at Monganshan National Park you may need to see a doctor. Or if a typhoon hits Shenzhen before your trip, it could make it impossible for you to travel there.
American travelers may want to consider travel insurance for China that could help with things like trip cancelation, overseas medical coverage, and repatriation. There are four plans to select from, and when you get a quote you can compare the options to determine the best international travel insurance for your needs.
World Nomads covers more than 250 activities for Americans traveling to China- including things like surfing in Houhai Bay, rock climbing in Yangshuo, and paragliding in Hangzhou.
When you get a quote for your travel insurance for China, it’s advantageous to have a rough idea of your activities. Knowing your itinerary in advance will help you choose the best plan for your needs to ensure you’re covered throughout your journey.
Each plan offers differing coverage. For example, kite flying in a traditional Chinese festival is covered under all plans, including the Standard Plan. Learning the ancient art of Kung Fu is also covered with every World Nomads travel insurance plan. However, if you choose to engage in a more intensive style of martial arts, including Mixed Martial Arts, you’ll want to invest in an Explorer or Epic Plan.
If you’re scuba diving the Great Wall of China (yes, that’s a thing!) and get decompression sickness, emergency medical coverage could reimburse you for your medical expenses. If your injury is serious, the 24/7 emergency assistance team may also recommend that you return home to the United States for treatment. In that instance, repatriation coverage that is included in your travel insurance for China may get you there.
Keep in mind that your health insurance likely won’t cover your medical expenses in China, so investing in travel insurance for China may help cover unexpected emergencies. If you have a medical emergency when traveling to China, you can call the 24/7 emergency assistance team and they can help refer you to a place that offers the level of care that you need. If your medical team only speaks Mandarin, our team can also help communicate with your doctors.
To streamline your experience seeking medical treatment in China, we recommend signing up for FootprintID before your trip. This non-insurance service is a portable personal health record where your documents, prescriptions, test results, and emergency contacts are accessible in one place anywhere in the world. Whether you need to refill a prescription or deal with a more serious injury, FootprintID expedites the process.
It’s not something anyone wants to think about, but sometimes you’re left sitting at the carousel waiting for the bag that never comes.
What happens if your checked bag ends up in Hunan instead of Hainan? If you’re lucky, your bag just took a detour and will eventually make its way to you. Even a delayed bag can be stressful though. If your bag is delayed for at least 12 hours, you could still be reimbursed for a change of clothes and toiletries until you and your bag are reunited.
If your bag never arrives, your first call should be to the airline. If the airline isn’t able to track down your bag, your second step is to contact Blue Ribbon Bags, a non-insurance service that will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline. Make sure to have the file reference or record locator number and Property Irregularity Report on hand when you call Blue Ribbon Bags so you can file a lost luggage claim.
With such a large population, it can be hard dealing with the crowds while traveling in China. Unfortunately, where there are crowds, there can also be pickpockets.
We’ve heard claims of theft happening at transportation stations and on trains. It’s also not uncommon to hear reports of pickpocketing around major attractions located in some of the larger cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, and Guiyang.
Before you leave the United States, make sure to review our tips for protecting yourself from petty crime in China. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid putting anything valuable in your back pockets.
If you’re robbed, make sure you file a police report. You’ll need that if you make a claim.
What happens if you get sick a few days before leaving for China? If your doctor tells you not to leave the US at that time, you could be forced to cancel your trip. Your travel insurance for China plan includes cancellation coverage and could reimburse you for those non-refundable flights, hotels, and activities you paid for in advance.
Sometimes situations happen that can disrupt your plans once you’re already in China. If there’s an unexpected landslide, it could prevent you from continuing on with your planned activities.
If you have travel insurance for China, and something unexpected happens that causes you to cancel, delay, or interrupt your trip, you may be able to recover your unused, prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.
If you want an additional safety net for your trip, consider purchasing CFAR (cancel for any reason) as an add-on benefit to your Explorer or Epic Plan. You must purchase this during the time sensitive period. Whether you simply change your mind or need to cancel your vacation for any reason not covered by the insurance plan, CFAR allows you to cancel and get back a portion of your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses, whether that be a cruise or a cultural excursion.
Before you leave the US, we encourage you to check out the US government’s safety warnings for China. Weather, safety, and political situations can change at any time, and this is where they list their up-to-date warnings.
Watch out for some of the scams in China like counterfeit Chinese money. Try to carry smaller denominations or only pay with exact change to avoid getting fake money in return.
If you purchase travel insurance for China, it’s always a good idea to save the 24/7 Emergency Assistance phone number and your plan number in your cell phone so you don’t have to search for that if an emergency happens.
Before you head off on your trip, try to learn how to speak a few Mandarin phrases. In certain areas of China, you won’t find people that know how to speak English. You may also want to download our China Travel Safety Guide.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
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Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
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Contact Generali Global Assistance:
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+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.