If you live in China on a work visa, an annual health checkup is one of the highest-value routines you can establish.
Why Annual Screening Matters for Expats
Expat life involves dietary changes, different environmental exposure, and often higher stress. A yearly baseline lets you and your doctor spot trends rather than single readings. One abnormal result is a data point; three years of results is a picture.
Which Package Should You Book?
For most working-age expats, the executive tier is the right call. It adds low-dose chest CT, coronary calcium scoring, expanded tumor markers, and a specialist consultation. If you are under 35 with no risk factors, the standard tier is a defensible baseline.
How Insurance Fits In
International health plans such as Cigna Global, Allianz Care, and Bupa Global often cover preventive screening at specified panel hospitals. Check your policy for the preventive care limit and the network hospital list before booking.
Local Chinese social insurance for expats covers public hospital care but rarely includes preventive screening as a separate benefit. The practical answer for most people is to pay out of pocket for screening.
When to Book
Book in the morning on a weekday. Fasting is required for blood work, and hospitals are quieter mid-week. Avoid the weeks right after Chinese New Year when screening centers are busiest.
Keep Your History Portable
Keep every annual report in one folder, ideally with the DICOM imaging data. If you change jobs, leave China, or develop a health issue, that history is the single most useful thing you can hand to a new physician.