Perhaps the greatest news since the announcement of schools reopening was announced yesterday afternoon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an announcement that effective as of Monday, Sep 29 at midnight foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters, and reunions will be allowed to enter China again without needing to reapply for a new visa.

This announcement stressed that this currently only applies to foreign nationals in these three categories with valid visas. If your visa expired after Mar 28, then you’d need to reapply for the relevant visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate nearest to you.

It should be noted that although the announcement states the travel restrictions have drastically lifted, the COVID-19 prevention and control measures in China have not changed.

Prior to your return to China, you’ll need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test. Each country’s Chinese consulate official website will have the details on how much in advance to take the test for and how to submit documents. Chinese citizens upload their tests to an app whereas non-Chinese citizens will need a paper health declaration form stamped by the consulate. Scan the QR code below for the most recent list of 157 countries where China-bound passengers are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding. The list may be updated without notice so we recommend double-checking before you book your flight.

Upon return to China you’ll still need to complete your mandatory quarantine and depending on which city you’re returning to, abide by the regulations of that city as well. In Beijing, the rule is still 14 days of quarantine in a designated hotel followed by seven days at home with limited movement depending on the regulations of your residential community here in Beijing. While some compounds are more relaxed about COVID-19 measures, other are still insisting that its residents get their temperature taken twice a day during their first seven days back as well as present a negative COVID-19 test when they check out of their quarantine home and after their seven day home quarantine is complete.

KEEP READING: The New Normal: Life Abroad During COVID-19

Images: Unsplash

I’m sure that like me, over the years your friends and family have regaled you with cautionary tales about lost luggage, being stuck abroad after missing a flight, getting robbed in a foreign city, or worse, maybe even suffering an injury and having to seek treatment at local hospitals.  My automatic reaction to such stories is usually “that would never happen to me!” But the truth is, that, and much more could happen to us all. Contemplating worst-case-scenarios shouldn’t scare us out of a well-deserved annual vacay, but wouldn’t it be better to trade that constant low-level worry for the reassurance of knowing you will be protected should the worst happen? Let’s face facts. Unless you’re traveling within a country that offers universal healthcare, then without insurance you are very vulnerable in case of an emergency.

To help us on our way to a carefree travel experience this summer, we talked to Jean-Charles Herbert of Runxin Insurance to understand the ins and outs of travel insurance coverage.

Let’s face it. Travel insurance isn’t on the top of most people’s to-do list when planning a vacation…

First Things First

A good place to start is understanding what sorts of different travel insurance plans there are and how they actually work. These depend on the frequency, purpose, and destination of your travel. For example, single trip covers might be the most convenient for infrequent travelers and your annual family holiday. For frequent travelers, there are multi-travel covers that provide full coverage no matter the destination, for periods not exceeding 30 days. Companies can also cover their employees’ business trips under a group travel insurance plan.

What’s in It for Me?

A big misconception about travel insurance is it might get you a new suitcase or a new flight if your flight gets canceled last minute. But the main aim of travel insurance is to offer you  comprehensive medical cover. Depending on your policy, this might include medical cover with no overall maximum limit, in and out-patient treatment, evacuation, and repatriation. Some policies even include a crisis psychologist in the case of a traumatic event like a mugging, facilitate a ‘compassionate visit’ from a family member or next of kin, and should the absolute worst happen, funeral arrangements and the repatriation of the deceased.

If medical coverage is the primary function of a travel insurance plan, secondary functions can range from coverage for baggage theft, damage or loss, baggage delay, passport or cash theft, personal
liability against property damage and bodily injury, to travel delays, missed flight connections, daily hospital benefits, and legal assistance in cases where it is needed. The third function of an insurance plan is generally to cover you in the event a trip has to be canceled due to acute illness, injury, or even death.

Yeah… Still Not Convinced!

No matter how prepared you are for your trip, there is always a chance that something could go wrong, so it’s essential to read the fine print and understand exactly what you will and won’t be covered for in the event of a medical emergency. For example, without health insurance or ample cash, Chinese and American healthcare providers are simply not obliged to treat you. Even so, American healthcare services are so exorbitant that most travel insurance policies actually exclude the US from their standard plans, meaning you’ll have to pay extra if you need coverage there. Then while China’s healthcare services are far cheaper than in the US, you could face other issues, such as the language barrier, which could prevent you from getting necessary care.

Extreme sports enthusiasts are also excluded from most travel insurance policies. Activities such as hiking above 3,000 meters or deep-sea diving will land you in the same category as travelers to America, needing special insurance covers. But it’s not all bad news! There are companies and products on offer for this special category of traveler, and all at competitive prices, it’s just a matter of doing your research beforehand.

In Short…

Whether you are traveling within China or exploring the world, having travel insurance should be as second nature as food and shelter, as having it can literally turn into a matter of life and death. It’s easy to know which plan works for you by directly contacting an insurance agent and getting a quote so that you and your family can have peace of mind to enjoy your holiday to the max, no matter what happens!

Tips for Finding the Right Coverage Plan

1. When traveling in China, it’s best to go for a local insurance company plan. Bilingual customer service agents are pretty much guaranteed for foreigners, and will be able to help translate for local services in a way that overseas insurers may not.

2. Before settling on a plan, talk to several insurance adjusters to compare plans and pricing. Be sure to match your cover to your planned activities e.g. get a package insurance plan if you’re planning a non-refundable trip such as a cruise.

3. Confirm whether your destination country requires travel insurance to allow you entry into the country. For example, the European Union requires all non-EU travelers to have valid travel insurance for the entire duration of their stay.

4. Cheaper is not always better. Make sure you check for loopholes in the coverage being offered before signing on the dotted like. It might be that the policy has a much lower coverage limit, or doesn’t cover certain crucial aspects of your trip at all.

KEEP READING: Medical insurance – Why You Need It, and How to Get It

Information for this article was provided by Jean-Charles Herbet,
Business Development Manager|Runxin Insurance Broker Beijing Branch.

Photos: Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue

Is it just me or do all horrible travel stories happen at airports? A few years back on a spur the moment trip to India, I spent most of my time trying to reunite with my luggage, which had been held back in New Delhi due to a misunderstanding about a power bank. Despite endless phone calls and emails, I never got it back until the day I was due to fly out. After much standing around on the airline staff’s part and a lot of yelling and lobbing threats on my part, I finally got my precious suitcase, then had to streak through the airport to catch my 3am flight. I learned a valuable lesson. When doing a multi-city trip, never travel with check-in luggage.

A Midnight Dream…

From an almost missed flight to a lost day, Anna Pellegrin Hartley, our deputy manager recounts when she made a very expensive miscalculation. “In 2013 I was flying back to Paris after a holiday in Australia. I extended my stopover so I could spend a week exploring Bangkok and Thailand, and caught up with some old friends who were passing through at the same time,” explains Hartley. After a day of exploring the city, she returned to her hostel where the hostel reception inquired whether she wished to purchase an extra night’s stay. Hartley continues, “I was confused as I thought I’d already booked through till the next day, as I was flying out the following evening at midnight. As they were checking I suddenly had a terrible thought, and looked up my emails to check my ticket. My flight wasn’t leaving the next midnight, but this one, in just over two hours.” In a panic, Hartley considered her options. Would she make a mad dash for the airport which was over an hour away via a cab, or would she just bite the bullet and change her ticket for the next day?  “I would have to collect and re-check in a big suitcase I’d left in storage, not to mention do check-in and pass security so I was sure I wouldn’t make it in time. I was so embarrassed that I’d screwed up that I didn’t even think to call the airline and assess my options,” Hartley further explains. Ultimately, she bought a ticket from a different airline for the next day, a costly decision that put her – at the time a skint ESL teacher who was just scraping by – into debt for over a year.

All’s Well That Ends Well

Just as the COVID-19 pandemic was gathering momentum in China, Lisa Albrecht and her family planned to return to Beijing from Manila, where they had been vacationing via Hong Kong. But with only days to go, flight after flight was canceled, leaving the family stranded and with diminishing options for getting back to Beijing. Luckily they managed to snag tickets from Manila to Hong Kong with a massive 20-hour long layover. While under normal circumstances nobody relishes such a long layover, in this instance they realized how lucky they were to be able to get home and made the most of it. “With the 20-hour transit, we decided to go to the city and explore it. It was the best decision ever! We booked a very beautiful hotel near Victoria Harbor, we explored the area, and observed the city from the highest skyscraper Sky100.” A sweet note to end their harrowing struggle to fly back to China.

Word To The Wise

Looking back at his travel history, Beijing dad and owner of Pepples Courtyard Ray Yue Heng has a few tips for the novice traveler within China.  “In China, I would say the only essential thing you need is to make sure you download all the necessary apps on your smartphone because, in this digital, China is almost entirely cashless.” muses Heng. These Apps include Ctrip or Qunar to manage your flight, train, hotel, and car rental bookings and confirmations,  Dianping to find the best restaurants, movie theaters and general travel destinations with the best reviews and the best deals,  and finally Gao de (멕돠) or Baidu maps (겟똑).

Whether it’s losing your luggage, missing a flight, or just trying to figure out Apps in languages we don’t understand, even the worst travel experiences can be chalked up as part of the adventure of travel. And when it goes from the ridiculous to the insane, breathe in and repeat to yourself, “This too shall pass!”

Are We There Yet? How to Make Traveling Fun and Stress-Free for the Whole Family

Photos: Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue