Find answers to the most common questions about our services and processes.
The common tactic of informal institutions is to attract customers with low prices, add various additional fees during the medical examination process, and ultimately spend far more money than expected. All packages and services offered by DOVECURE are priced clearly, with the total price confirmed in advance. There will be no hidden expenses or mandatory add ons during the process; If it is indeed necessary to add projects, we will first obtain your consent before arranging, and the cost will be clearly stated.
Most traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and institutions offer treatment packages at a discount.
For example, a 10-session acupuncture and moxibustion package is 15%-30% cheaper than purchasing individual sessions. The longer the package, the more cost-effective it is. As for the time it takes to see results, it depends on the specific condition. For pain-related conditions, significant improvement is usually seen after 3-5 sessions, while for sub-health conditions, 1-2 treatment packages are usually effective.
DOVECURE can help you apply for exclusive treatment package discounts from partner institutions, which are more cost-effective than purchasing on your own. Additionally, they can customize the length of the treatment package based on your stay.
The prices for aesthetic medical procedures at accredited institutions are very transparent: basic hydrodermabrasion is about 1000-3000 yuan per session, and wrinkle removal injections are about 2000-5000 yuan per session, which are much cheaper than in European and American countries. However, it is important to choose accredited medical institutions to avoid unlicensed clinics.
DOVECURE only recommends accredited and qualified aesthetic medical institutions, helping you select experienced doctors and confirm prices in advance, so there will be no hidden costs.
The cost for a full-fledged femtosecond laser myopia surgery for both eyes is approximately 15,000 to 20,000 yuan, while an ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) implantation costs around 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. Cataract surgery for one eye costs about 10,000 to 20,000 yuan. The overall price is roughly half of what it costs in European and American countries. With mature equipment and doctor expertise, many customers and businessmen specifically fly over for these procedures. DOVECURE can assist you in making an appointment with a reputable ophthalmology hospital, arranging preoperative examinations and assessments in advance, and completing the examination and surgery in as fast as 3 days, saving you time.
Dental treatment in China offers excellent value for money:
a common filling costs a few hundred yuan,a dental implant costs around 5,000 to 15,000 yuan,and orthodontics costs about 10,000 to 30,000 yuan.
The prices are roughly 1/4 to 1/2 of those in European and American countries, and the technology is not inferior at all.
DOVECURE recommends formal tertiary hospitals' dental departments and high-end dental clinics, which can help you make appointments with reliable dental experts, estimate the total treatment cost in advance, and eliminate concerns about arbitrary charges.
The registration and examination fees for pediatric services are basically the same as those for adults, with some pediatric-specific medications being slightly more expensive. However, the overall price is still much lower than the pediatric diagnosis and treatment fees in European and American countries. Many customers who bring their children here are impressed by the high cost-effectiveness.
If you bring your child to see a doctor, DOVECURE can arrange for a companion with pediatric service experience to help you communicate with the pediatrician, soothe your child's emotions, and handle the entire process of diagnosis, medication pickup, and payment, making it much more convenient.
The registration and examination fees for emergency services in Chinese public hospitals are basically the same as those for daytime outpatient services, and there are no additional charges for nighttime or holiday services. For ordinary emergencies, a few hundred to one or two thousand yuan is generally sufficient. However, fees for resuscitation and hospitalization are separate. Overall, the prices are very affordable.
If you suddenly feel unwell and need medical attention late at night, feel free to contact DOVECURE. We will arrange for a companion specialist to rush to the hospital at the first time to assist in communication and handling procedures, so you don't have to rush through the process yourself.
In the hospital system, each person's account is independent, and invoices must be issued separately, so the hospital requires individual settlement for each person.
However, you don't need to go to the cashier's office repeatedly: simply give all the fees for your group to your DOVECURE medical escort specialist. We will handle the payments and collect receipts for each person individually, then reconcile everything with you in one final settlement. This saves you from waiting in line and managing payments multiple times. The more people traveling together, the more hassle-free it becomes.
The price difference mainly comes from several factors:
If you're undecided, send us the treatment plans and quotes from several hospitals. DOVECURE's medical consultants can help you analyze and compare them, and recommend the most suitable plan based on your condition and budget — so you don't spend money unnecessarily.
Caregiver fees vary by city and level of care required. In Guangzhou's Grade-A tertiary hospitals, 24-hour caregivers cost approximately 200–400 RMB per day.
There are two payment models: fees can be paid collectively through the hospital's partnered nursing agencies, or if you hire a caregiver independently, payment is usually made in cash.
DOVECURE can recommend qualified caregivers and nursing agencies, help verify service details, negotiate prices, and prevent overcharging.
Airport exchange counters usually have unfavorable exchange rates and high service fees, so large amounts of currency exchange are not recommended there.
More cost-effective options: exchange at a downtown bank branch with your passport, or withdraw cash directly from an ATM using your overseas bank card, which will be charged at the real-time exchange rate.
If you need a small amount of cash urgently right after landing, you can inform DOVECURE in advance. We can help prepare some emergency cash upon airport pickup, and will also guide you to authorized exchange locations to avoid common scams.
There is a significant price difference. Public hospitals offer affordable fees and professional physicians, but appointment slots are hard to get and waiting times are long. Private institutions offer a better experience with no waiting, but prices vary greatly and there is a risk of excessive sales pitches and upselling.
When booking through DOVECURE, we only recommend formally qualified, reputable partner institutions at preferential prices. We also help review your treatment plan to steer you away from unnecessary high-cost procedures.
Not necessarily. The most important thing is to choose a package that suits your individual situation.
If you're not sure which to choose, simply tell us your age, gender, medical history and budget. DOVECURE will match you with a suitable package, removing unnecessary items while ensuring no critical screenings are missed.
Reference prices at Grade-A Tertiary Public Hospitals are approximately:
Purchasing a treatment package is generally 10%–20% cheaper than paying per session. The TCM wellness packages recommended by DOVECURE are not only more cost-effective but also include full-process bilingual medical escort — you don't need to navigate the hospital or communicate with doctors on your own, delivering even greater value.
For life-threatening critical conditions, hospitals will provide emergency treatment first and charge later — they will never refuse treatment due to lack of payment. However, for general emergency cases, payment is still required before treatment.
If you truly encounter an emergency where you don't have enough money and are having payment issues, contact DOVECURE immediately.
We provide 7×24-hour emergency assistance: we can deliver cash to your nearest location or remotely advance payment for your medical expenses. Your treatment comes first — don't let payment issues delay your care.
Both services can be arranged on your behalf.
You don’t have to interrupt your treatment after returning home — we ensure seamless continuity for both medication refills and follow-up care.
Yes, you can. Public hospitals provide a daily itemized hospital bill for inpatient stays, which lists all expenses in detail — including medication fees, diagnostic test fees, treatment fees, bed fees and more. You can print the bill at the nurse station.
Many foreign patients cannot understand Chinese bills and have no one to consult when they have questions. DOVECURE’s inpatient medical escort service includes daily expense verification. Our specialists will check your daily bill details for you, and directly assist you in contacting medical staff or the billing office if you have any questions, ensuring fully transparent and clear charges.
Some special medications, imported drugs, and processed Chinese herbal pieces are not kept in stock at hospitals, so doctors may recommend purchasing them from designated external pharmacies. This is very common and there is no need to worry. However, it cannot be ruled out that a small number of pharmacies may charge higher prices or recommend expensive alternative medications. If you encounter this situation, you can contact DOVECURE's patient accompaniment coordinator: we are familiar with all regular pharmacies around major hospitals, and can help you compare prices and verify authenticity, ensuring you get genuine, properly-priced medications and avoid being overcharged.
Currently, China does not have a nationwide "departure tax refund for medical expenses" policy, and medical costs are not included in the scope of departure tax refunds for shopping purchases. A small number of designated medical institutions in certain free trade zones and special regions may have pilot policies, but these are very rare.
If this is an important consideration for you, you can inform DOVECURE of your situation before departure. We will check the latest local policies for you to see if there are any eligible benefits you can enjoy.
What if I lose my medical invoice/expense list? Can I get a reissued copy? A: The original official invoice (payment receipt) from public hospitals generally cannot be reissued. But you can apply for a "payment certificate" or get a photocopy of the invoice stub with the official hospital seal, which has almost the same legal validity as the original document and is accepted by most insurance companies.
To get the reissued certificate, you need to bring your ID documents and submit an application at the hospital's payment/finance window. The process is quite complicated and requires visiting multiple departments.
If you are a DOVECURE client, just share the basic information with us, and we can handle the whole process for you, no extra hassle on your part.
Yes.
Hospitals in China do not require the patient to make the payment in person. Anyone can settle the bill, as long as you provide the correct patient's full name and inpatient/outpatient number.
If you cannot be present in person, you can also authorize DOVECURE to make the payment on your behalf: you transfer the funds to DOVECURE, our patient coordinator will go to the hospital to complete the payment, and send you photos of the payment receipt. The whole process is fully transparent and traceable, which is very suitable for overseas children who need to pay medical bills for their parents staying in China or receiving medical treatment in China.
You are welcome to bring this up. Chinese doctors normally recommend the most effective and reliable treatment by default. If you have a limited budget, inform your doctor. They can adjust to more cost‑effective options while maintaining treatment outcomes, such as switching to domestic‑produced medicines or cutting non‑essential tests.
If you feel uncomfortable raising the topic or worry about miscommunication, our concierge staff can relay your budget requirements. DOVECURE will work with your doctor to design an effective plan fitting your budget and avoid unnecessary high‑cost expenses.
Discharge settlement follows the principle of “refund surpluses and collect shortfalls”.
With a DOVECURE Medical Concierge attendant, we can pre‑schedule settlement and handle all formalities on your behalf. You only need to pack and wait in your ward instead of queuing.
For stays in Chinese public hospitals, you will be notified to top‑up your deposit once it runs low. Failure to replenish it may affect your medication and treatment. Unlike many other countries, treatment is generally not provided before billing.
DOVECURE Medical Concierge clients may apply for emergency support when facing temporary deposit shortages. At some partner hospitals, we can negotiate deferred‑payment arrangements under our service agreement. We also offer small‑sum emergency advances to keep your treatment ongoing. Repayment can be made later so your medical condition will not be compromised due to funding issues.
If you book package services through DOVECURE Medical, we can handle unified settlement for you. You do not need to go through separate payment procedures at the hospital. We can also secure preferential package rates from our partner hospitals, which offer better value than booking on your own. All costs are fully transparent with a total price confirmed in advance, and no extra charges will be added during the service.
It depends on your specific insurance plan and the hospital.
Some high‑end private hospitals and international departments of public hospitals have direct‑billing partnerships with international insurance companies. Under these arrangements, the insurer settles fees directly with the hospital, so you do not need to pay out‑of‑pocket first and then file for reimbursement.
Most regular public hospitals require you to cover all costs upfront, then submit invoices and medical records to your insurance company back home to claim reimbursement.
If you are unsure whether your insurance is accepted, you may contact **DOVECURE Medical Concierge**. We can help you check the direct‑billing policies of partner hospitals, and prepare English‑language medical records and translated invoice documents required for reimbursement.
In Chinese public hospitals, you generally need to pay a deposit in advance, and any over‑payment will be refunded and under‑payment settled upon discharge.
For outpatient services, payment is completed on‑the‑spot before you receive examinations and collect medicines.
For inpatient treatment, a deposit is required upon admission.Medical costs will be deducted from the deposit during your stay, and final settlement will be made at discharge with refunds for surplus funds or supplementary payment for shortfalls.
Private hospitals and international departments offer more flexible settlement terms, and some support post‑payment.
For overseas users with linked international credit cards, the per‑transaction limit is approximately 2,000 RMB, and the monthly cumulative limit is around 50,000 RMB. This is fully sufficient for daily expenses such as dining, taxi rides and minor medical bills. For substantial medical costs including surgery and hospitalization, you may pay directly with your international credit card (Visa / Mastercard). Payment terminals at most Grade‑A tertiary hospital billing windows support international credit card swiping.
Alipay and WeChat Pay are the most convenient options. Scanned‑code payment is accepted by nearly all hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants and supermarkets across China, while cash is rarely used. Overseas users may link their international credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and JCB to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Once linked, you can complete payments by scanning QR codes with the same experience as local Chinese users.
Senior Medical Advisory Team — With an average of over five years of clinical experience, the team has supported over 1,000 families in accessing coordinated, high-quality medical care in China.
Senior Medical Advisory Team — With an average of over five years of clinical experience, the team has supported over 1,000 families in accessing coordinated, high-quality medical care in China.
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