Check the Treatment Agreement and Service Confirmation Item by Item Before Paying

EastMedGo Nov 6, 2026

Before paying, review the hospital’s estimate, treatment documents, and coordination service confirmation together. Identify who receives each payment, what it covers, and when extra charges or refunds may apply. Ask the relevant hospital or service provider to clarify anything unclear in writing. If important questions remain unresolved, do not sign or pay yet.

This guide helps patients and families planning medical care in mainland China check their documents. Actual contracts, hospital arrangements, and applicable laws may differ. If large sums are involved or disputed terms are hard to understand, consider asking a qualified lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction to review them.

Key Points

An estimate, deposit, package price, and price cap mean different things. Ask the provider to state the type of price, what is included, and what is excluded. Do not treat a deposit as the total price.
Check medical charges, coordination fees, and other third-party fees separately. Each item should identify the provider, payment recipient, supporting payment document, and cancellation arrangements.
Agree on how cost changes will be communicated in non-emergency situations and who can approve them. Separately ask about emergency treatment decisions and how charges will be checked afterward.
For refunds, ask how the amount is calculated, whom to apply to, what documents are needed, which account will receive the refund, and the expected timing. Written terms and applicable law both affect the outcome; do not rely only on “refundable” or “non-refundable.”

Identify the Documents You Have

Document	What to check	Whom to ask
Hospital treatment agreement or arrangement document	Medical provider, agreed services, payment, changes, and dispute handling	The hospital department handling the arrangements
Informed consent documents	Proposed medical procedures, risks, and alternatives	Your treating doctor
Quote or estimate and attachments	Type of price, items, quantities, exclusions, and validity period	The hospital’s pricing or finance department; the relevant provider for third-party items
Coordination service confirmation and payment notice	Scope of coordination services, person responsible, fees, account details, cancellation, and refunds	The coordination service provider

Documents may be combined or have different names. Ask each party to identify the relevant terms and provide all attachments. If you have questions about your care, ask your treating doctor. Signing up for coordination services or making a payment does not replace informed consent for medical care. Mainland China’s Civil Code requires risks and alternatives to be explained and explicit consent obtained as prescribed for surgery, special examinations, and special treatments. Separate provisions apply to emergencies, such as life-threatening situations.

Check the Contracting Parties, Payment Recipients, and Promised Services

Mark each item as you check it against the documents:

Who signs the contract, and who carries it out? Write down the full name and campus of the hospital or other medical provider, along with the contracting entity and contact person for coordination services. Ask how to verify the person signing on behalf of the organization and the signing method. Are interpreting, external laboratory services, transport, or accommodation provided by the same party, or do they require separate contracts and payments?
What exactly will be provided? Specify the agreed hospital, services, expected timing, form of delivery, and conditions for completion. For example, does appointment coordination mean submitting an application or obtaining hospital confirmation? Who will hand over reports? Which items require separate appointments or payments?
Which version applies? Obtain all attachments and the final version. If there are versions in multiple languages, ask how differences will be handled and which version takes precedence under the agreement. Ask the other party to complete or correct blank fields, attachments that have not been listed, or content that differs from verbal promises. Keep a copy once both parties have confirmed it.

If you use eastmedgo’s coordination services, its service and fee information states that a written confirmation sets out the service scope, price, and arrangements before paid work begins. Medical decisions are made by the patient and medical professionals. You still need to check the confirmation and applicable terms for your individual case.

Break Down the Quote and Identify Possible Extra Costs

Ask each party charging fees to list every charge in a way you can check: item name, currency, billing unit, estimated quantity, unit price or calculation method, taxes and fees, validity period, and whether it is included in a package. Clarify whether each figure is an estimate, deposit, package price, or agreed cap, and what conditions apply to each.

Check against the proposed plan: which outpatient consultations, tests, pathology services, surgery and anesthesia, medicines and supplies, bed charges, nursing care, medicines to take home at discharge, and follow-up visits are included, and which are charged separately? How would an extended hospital stay, changes in your condition or treatment plan, repeat procedures, intensive care, or services outside the hospital be charged? These items may not all occur, and this list cannot be used to calculate your personal total cost. Ask the hospital to explain the assumptions behind its estimate, such as the number of treatment sessions, ward type, and length of stay.

If the hospital requests a deposit, first ask whether it is an outpatient deposit, an inpatient deposit, or payment for a service already provided, and ask the hospital to explain the basis for the charge. A national notice issued in 2025 requires public medical institutions to stop collecting outpatient deposits from March 31, 2025. Deposits may be retained, on a voluntary basis for the patient and subject to the required filing procedures, for emergency care, emergency observation, outpatient surgery, emergency surgery, and similar situations, as well as for groups such as older adults who have a genuine need to prepay funds. The notice also applies to medical institutions designated under medical insurance schemes and medical and healthcare institutions run by the military. Non-public medical institutions may follow it as a reference. Ask your hospital how the specific requirements apply to it and to your charges.

Inpatient deposit amounts depend on factors such as the diagnosis, treatment method, and payment or settlement category. Ask how the amount is determined, when additional deposits may be required, how deposits are applied to the final bill, how any remaining balance is settled, and which local and hospital rules apply. Do not assume that the relevant rules do not apply simply because a patient comes from outside mainland China or pays out of pocket. Nor does the removal of outpatient deposits mean that actual outpatient or emergency medical care is free of charge.

List non-medical costs, such as coordination, translation and interpreting, accompaniment, transport, and accommodation, separately to avoid counting the same service in both a package and an individual quote. If insurance is involved, ask the insurer and hospital to confirm separately in writing the covered items, limits, whether direct billing is accepted, and how much the patient must pay upfront. Preauthorization or a quote alone does not establish the final reimbursement amount.

Agree on How Changes, Cancellations, and Refunds Will Be Handled

Before costs increase. For changes that can be discussed in advance, ask the hospital or service provider to state in writing: when a new quote is required, who will notify the patient, how they will make contact, how the patient or authorized person should respond, and what happens if they cannot be reached. Patients can name a backup contact and confirm the scope of that person’s financial authority with the provider. Accompanying a patient does not automatically give someone authority to make decisions for them. If medical procedures change, also ask the doctor to explain the medical reasons and relevant options.

In an emergency, treatment may not be able to wait for the usual communication process. Ask the hospital in advance how it will notify family members or an authorized person in an emergency, when cost records will be provided, and whom to contact afterward to check the charges. Do not mistake financial authorization for advance consent to all medical procedures.

When services are canceled or stopped. Ask separately about situations in which the patient cancels, visa or travel problems prevent attendance, the doctor advises against proceeding, the hospital cancels, or treatment stops after it has begun. Which completed items will be charged, and on what basis? How will unused services, remaining deposits, and authorized third-party charges be handled? Request an itemized list of deductions and supporting documents. Do not judge the outcome solely from statements such as “advance payments are non-refundable” or “everything is refundable.” If you have questions, ask the other party to explain the terms and seek legal advice if needed.

When requesting a refund. Identify the party that actually received the payment and the department handling refund requests. Confirm the documents required, how the refund is calculated, currency, bank fees, receiving account, target processing time, and contact person for progress updates. If the original account is closed, ask about alternative procedures first. Keep the refund request, responses, and records of money received together with the original payment records.

For example, eastmedgo’s cancellation and refund information distinguishes between settlement before coordination work begins and settlement after some work has been completed. It also explains that payments made directly to hospitals or other independent providers are handled under their respective contracts and applicable law. That page does not replace the hospital’s refund rules. Obtain each provider’s relevant rules before paying.

Verify the Account Before Paying and Keep Payment Records

Independently confirm the receiving entity, account, currency, amount, payment deadline, and how your payment will be identified using verified official contact details for the hospital or provider. If you receive notice of a last-minute account change, confirm it through the previously verified channel before proceeding. eastmedgo’s current service page states that medical fees are paid directly through the hospital’s official payment channels. The recipient of coordination fees is the one identified in the service confirmation.

After paying, request the appropriate payment documentation from each recipient. For hospital charges, also request an itemized list of charges and settlement records. A bank transfer screenshot only provides a record of the relevant payment; it does not replace a breakdown of charges or an official receipt or invoice. Ask the hospital in advance what receipts or invoices it can provide and ask your insurer what documents it requires. The national Provisions on the Management of Internal Pricing Practices in Medical Institutions apply to public medical institutions of all levels and types. Non-public medical institutions may follow them as a reference. The provisions require an itemized charge statement system, with exceptions for disease-based and diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment, and printed copies when patients need them. Ask the hospital which itemized statements and receipts or invoices you can obtain. Also check with non-public institutions about their specific practices and any other applicable rules.

Keep the final signed version, attachments, written additions, quotes, payment and refund records, itemized charges, settlement records, and insurance correspondence together. If there is a billing error, give the hospital’s pricing or finance department the specific item, date, and amount. Record its response and who will handle the matter next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay if the hospital only provides an estimate, without a fixed total price?

First ask what the estimate is based on, what kind of payment is being requested, which items may change, and how you will be notified. Confirm what you can afford. Medical costs may change with the care actually provided. Whether to pay is your decision based on the written terms.

Can a family member accompanying me approve extra charges on my behalf?

Do not assume they can. Confirm the form and scope of authorization, backup contacts, and arrangements if you cannot be reached with the hospital in advance. For medical consent, separately ask the hospital to explain the applicable procedures.

Can I continue treatment if I do not pay for an interpreter or an upgraded room?

First ask the hospital and relevant providers whether the service is optional and what arrangements or charges would change if you cancel it. Ask for written confirmation. Do not assume every institution has the same arrangements.

Can a coordination fee be charged before the hospital confirms it will accept me?

First check the work the coordinator has promised at each stage and the payment conditions. Ask for a clear distinction between “submitted” and “accepted by the hospital.” eastmedgo’s current terms state that an inquiry or payment alone does not guarantee hospital acceptance. You still need to check your specific contract and applicable law.

Do I still need to have money ready after my insurer approves coverage?

You may. Ask the insurer to confirm the approved items, limits, and exclusions. Then ask the hospital whether it accepts direct billing, whether it has received the required documents, and who pays for items that are not covered or for which payment is denied.

What should I do if the other party says third-party fees have already been deducted?

Ask the payment recipient to explain whether you authorized the charge, whether the service has already been provided, and whether the money can be recovered. Request the basis for the charge and the refund calculation. Also check your agreement with the third party. If the dispute remains unresolved, keep the correspondence and pursue resolution under the contract and applicable law.

What if I find terms I do not understand or billing discrepancies after signing?

Promptly identify the specific terms or charges and ask the contracting party or hospital finance department to explain and check them in writing. If standard-form terms are involved, mainland China’s Civil Code contains requirements to draw attention to and explain terms that materially affect your interests. Their legal effect depends on the facts and applicable law. If discussions do not resolve the issue, check the contract’s complaint, dispute resolution, and notification procedures, and consult a qualified lawyer if needed.

Sources

Sources checked: November 6, 2026. Check current versions and your individual case documents for actual services and the laws that apply.