Ask Headmaster Ken

Hello,

I know it can vary a lot, but do you have an approximation on how much the average TEFL teacher spends on medical insurance in China?

I'm trying to decide if it's better to teach in China through a program, in which medical insurance is included, among other things, (but there is a program fee) or...to take a job directly through the employer, but pay for medical insurance separately.

Thanks,

Michael

Hello Michael,

I don't know what the average TEFL teacher spends on medical insurance.

In China, and perhaps widely, TEFL teachers tend to be clustered at either end of the age spectrum.

Younger teachers tend to have little or no health issues (aside from the rare accidents/injuries). Older teachers are more likely to have chronic health issues. Thus, I would think an average number might be misleading.

I think it is more important to focus on your individual health needs. You also need to consider where you will be staying. Outside of the few really big cities, you will not find the same level of care and amenities that you may have been accustomed to in the west.

Also, expect to pay more for western care. An acquaintance in Beijing was quoted between three and five thousand RMB, per month, as policy premiums for care at a western style hospital. He decided to self insure instead. A month later he needed a hernia operation. He went to a Chinese hospital, with private room and wifi. His five day stay was 5,500 RMB, including the surgery.

The two types of insurance that seem appropriate to me are Emergency Air Evacuation, (from a western underwriter)and in-country, catastrophic (above 100,000 RMB) health insurance, (if you can find an underwriter).

Even many chronic health conditions can be treated in China quite affordably, (diabetes, etc.)

I hope this has been of some help in your decision making.

Michael,

I need to add a very important caveat here: The term "health insurance" is used very loosely by Chinese employers to mean anything from minimal accidental injury insurance to nominal medical insurance that covers virtually nothing other than routine illnesses.

Contrary to what you'll read on anonymous forums, while the SAFEA advises schools to provide "health insurance," there are absolutely no minimum criteria specified as to what that policy should look like or what it should cover. What this exchange program (you are considering) refers to as "medical insurance" may in fact be accidental injury insurance or nominal medical insurance that would be useless in the case of a serious illness. You really need to exercise a great deal of due diligence in carefully investigating specifically what type of insurance this program is providing its clients with.

Also, if you haven't already, take a look at our chapter on Travel and Medical Benefits for a list of healthcare insurance companies that specialize in underwriting policies for EFL teachers.

Best of luck.