Best Travel Insurance for China?

LSketch3 on 10/01/2026 - 17:33

Hi guys!

I'm heading to China in a few months with a friend. We are doing one of those cheap flight center tours for 12 days and are currently in the process of looking for travel insurance. My last trip to the UK I made the mistake of not getting any and ended up having my bag with passport, ipad and earbuds inside stolen. So this time I want a good insurance that can help protect me going forward. Learnt that lesson the hard way!

Anyway if anyone has had experience with claiming or have any recommendations I would love to hear them. Flight center suggest NIB, but the the price was $378 which seems quite exxy to me! Happy to pay for good policy but not sure if they are just trying to take advantage there.

Thanks in advance!!

Financial Asia China Insurance Travel Insurance

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  • Myone888 on 11/01/2026 - 09:44
    +5

    China is very safe with cctvs everywhere. Unlike UK and here full of crimes.

    • BigBirdy on 11/01/2026 - 11:12
      -3

      Not my experience

      • JZ1818 on 14/01/2026 - 11:17
        -1

        clearly your experience doesn't mean squat

  • BigBirdy on 11/01/2026 - 11:11
    +2

    As @bargaino mentioned, medical, incl medical evacuation, should be your main reason for insurance, not for loss of passport and some devices. The loss of that stuff while travelling is hugely stressful and inconvenient, but no insurance will fix that. I’m not saying don’t get insurance just for your stuff, just be clear-headed about what insurance can help you with versus what you pay.

    As for carrying passport, money, phone and (small) valuables, I use a close fitting over shoulder & neck bag, strong strap, keep it on me, on my front, all the time when out and about. In high-risk areas (crowds, near cyclists, etc), keep your hand on your bag. Don’t use external pockets, zipped or otherwise, as pickpockets will cut them open (don’t ask!), and shoulder-only bags can be snatched.

    • Mugsy on 11/01/2026 - 13:00
      +1

      Regarding phones, I'm of the belief that everyone should take a back up phone when traveling overseas. Load banking apps, etc on there, ensure that you're signed in, have VPN installed, have a back up Aussie number set up with roaming in case you need it (Amaysim is super cheap for this purpose), etc, etc.

    • altomic on 11/01/2026 - 11:45

      when I travel, my mantra for packing is "prepare to drop everything and run away" (obviously except passport and phone). so pack what you are comfortable with losing.

    • BigBirdy on 11/01/2026 - 11:49

      I should also mention, pickpockets are common in China. They can be very skilled and equiped with tools to get what they want without drawing any attention. Be very careful in crowded areas, like shopping centres and tourist spots.

  • EightImmortals on 10/01/2026 - 18:26
    +1

    Went there in 2019 and had insurance with TID, had to make a claim for the shitty chest bug we got in Wuhan (I kid you not) and they paid out quickly without any fuss. I did have all the doctors reports and receipts of course.

    • Sketch3 on 10/01/2026 - 18:52
      +1

      Thats a very suspicious sounding bug! Thanks I'll check them out.

    • Wiadro on 10/01/2026 - 18:59
      +1

      Ohh so you’re the reason Vic was locked up?

      • bargaino on 10/01/2026 - 19:11
        +4

        Patient zero identified?

        • EightImmortals on 11/01/2026 - 07:55

          I would confess, but we were no where near Victoria at the time. :)

      • tenpercent on 10/01/2026 - 21:01
        +1

        Ohh so you’re the reason Vic was locked up?

        No. That was Dan.

  • 87percent on 10/01/2026 - 17:50

    Does your credit card have travel insurance?

    • Sketch3 on 10/01/2026 - 18:03
      +1

      I don't have a credit card.

      • Yummy on 10/01/2026 - 18:17

        Last I heard no cash in China.

        • Brick50 on 10/01/2026 - 18:47

          Cash is more useful than a credit card in China I thought?

          • 87percent on 10/01/2026 - 19:03

            @Brick50: We Pay is useful in China

            • Brick50 on 10/01/2026 - 19:04

              @87percent: Yeah, I figured Cash, Alipay and Wepay are basically the only way to pay now and they don't accept CC directly

              • jowu15 on 14/01/2026 - 15:01

                @Brick50: All business has to accept cash by Chinese law, but everyone prefer to use Alipay and Wepay, but one do need some cash in smaller towns.

        • GOCAT9 on 11/01/2026 - 10:36

          I recently spent 2 to 3 weeks in China, from south to Northeast to extreme west into Kazakhstan. China is a cashless Society. We didn’t use or need cash for anything.

          Set up Alipay with a debit or credit card before you go. Worked like a charm everywhere. I think Wepay as an alternative.

  • Wiadro on 10/01/2026 - 17:58

    Have you tried looking at the travel deals page?

    Your first issue going to flight centre.

    • Sketch3 on 10/01/2026 - 18:06

      Yep, had a look, there was a few like World2Go and tick but various comments had people who had claimed saying they either weren't that great, didn't cover as much as they expected or that it would be better to pay a bit more elsewhere. They didn't mention where this 'elsewhere' was though, so I was kind of at a dead end. Also was only 1.6K for 12 nights, return flights, food and tour activities so in true ozbargain spirit I had to snap it up even if it was through flight center.

      • Wiadro on 10/01/2026 - 18:23
        +2

        I have always used cover more

        • Sketch3 on 10/01/2026 - 18:53

          Thanks, I'll check them out, ever had to claim through them?

          • Wiadro on 11/01/2026 - 00:17
            +1

            @Sketch3: I’ve been on 10 overseas holidays as an adult and never needed to claim.
            If you don’t be an idiot, you’re fine.

          • sam-1966 on 11/01/2026 - 16:58

            @Sketch3:

            I have always used cover more

            I have used them without needing to claim, but a friend's mother broke her hip in Switzerland (at the start of a holiday, alas) and they were amazing. If the family wanted to speak to her, they even had a toll-free number to call in Australia and were then put through to her.

            She had a hip replacement done over there and they flew a family member over to accompany her home.

  • sumyungguy on 10/01/2026 - 23:25

    When I last looked (2025) InsureandGo and 1Cover were pretty good value; don't know how you get $378 unless you're older than I think

  • pgcs on 11/01/2026 - 07:16

    Used Freely for the last few, no problems with them.
    I Usually check a few before picking: Columbus, 1 Cover, etc

  • Mugsy on 11/01/2026 - 12:55

    OP, I suggest looking at the usual reliable travel insurance options such as Covermore, Cover1 and Travel Insurance Direct. Compare the product disclosure statements for coverage and pick what you need to feel comfortable with the trip if you were to end up in hospital or need medical aid.

    For future trips, I suggest getting a Bendigo Ready credit card which comes with complimentary travel insurance if you meet their coverage criteria (pretty standard stuff… again, you need to read the PDS to understand how to enable coverage).

  • sam-1966 on 11/01/2026 - 17:02

    We used RACQ travel insurance for China - only needed it when we got back and Jetstar cancelled our flight home from Sydney.

    RACQ were excellent, paid for alternative flights, one night hotel, food and transport to and from the hotel. And got refunds on the Jetstar flights, too.

  • pandadude on 11/01/2026 - 23:49

    SCTI but they are very expensive. Regardless who you pick you need to ensure there product disclosure covers your requirements.
    95% of complain are due a lack of understanding of the product and assuming things are covered. It's only 5% are genuine complaints.
    If people do not include any claims history don't even bother trusting their reviews.

    I received several pay out by SCTI on my yearly policy.

    Also ensure you get copies of the appropriate invoices and or receipts when making a claim. They will also want prove of any reimbursement from the airline.

    For the record in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and even Xi'an these cities are safer then most Australian cities. Camera are literally everywhere.
    Pick pocking still happens but this will happen anywhere in the world. A lot safer than Armadale in WA.

    Ensure you install wechat and alipay. Both allow foreign cards but will surcharge over 300 rmb. If your paying more than 300 rmb some stores will accept foreign cards but generally will apply an additional foreign exchange fee.

    I recommend getting a local sim along with a data only roaming sim.
    A lot of stuff in China requires a local number. This includes order food, booking tickets, free wifi on the train and etc. I managed to get the food ordering apps installed on my phone but it requires a local number to order. If you do order food it will go to front desk who will send a robot to your room. The robot will call your room phone and your just pop outside of your room and press the robot to open.

    The roaming sim which is normally from hk allows you to access overseas content. VPN are hit and miss in China. Nord VPN didn't work in China when I was there.

    Note you will be required to show your passport if you intend to go to any major attractions in Beijing. A lot of the time these attractions are in major government areas so security is also high.

    I found in smaller cities it is a lot more relaxed. But you will need your passport if you are taking the train. Your need to do to the manual checks for security along with boarding. This is normally also the wheel chair, military and fire fighter entrance.

  • bargaino on 10/01/2026 - 19:10
    -3

    UK I made the mistake of not getting any

    The main reason for travel insurance is for medical. We're you relying on reciprocal medicare?
    Far less chance of theft in China than UK, but still you have lessons to learn.
    What was the passport doing in your bag???
    Travel safety 101 - keep it on your person at all times travelling. Money belt or zipped pocket.
    Don't be the reason insurance costs so much.

    • Sketch3 on 10/01/2026 - 19:40
      +2

      I'm a female, so unfortunately like most female clothes there were no pockets in my outfit secure enough for a passport, they are either tiny or non-existant. And the bag was with me, on my person. There is also as you mentioned the Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement which would cover anything urgent for free. Either way I'm just looking for insurance recommendations here, would appreciate staying on topic thanks.

        • Jolakot on 10/01/2026 - 20:59
          +7

          Welcome to the internet. You are free to start thread, but you don't own it.

          Are you normally this insufferable?

          • ihbh on 11/01/2026 - 08:47

            @Jolakot: Did you just time travel from Jane Austen's era?

        • tenpercent on 10/01/2026 - 21:03

          90s and 00s style cargo pants are back in fashion too. Pockets galore!

    • SlickMick on 11/01/2026 - 18:57

      IMO there are safer places for my passport than in my pocket. My wife would never allow me to carry my passport.

      That 's NOT Travel safety 101, in my case it would be a big fail.

  • Lancerx on 28/03/2026 - 18:57

    Going to China soon too. Just wondering any favourite Ozb Travel insurers?

    • sam-1966 on 30/03/2026 - 18:07

      We were very happy with the cover we got the RACQ - as above.

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