Transparency in Cancer Treatment Costs in China: A Comprehensive Cost Breakdown from Diagnosis to Surgery

As a foreigner living in China for five years, I gained deep insight into the Chinese healthcare system after a family member was diagnosed with cancer. My journey—from initial confusion over cost breakdowns to gradually understanding medical insurance reimbursement, commercial insurance coverage, and out-of-pocket expenses—has shown me the progress made in transparency for cancer treatment costs in China. Below is a comprehensive cost guide compiled from my personal experience and publicly available data, intended as a reference for foreign patients.

I、Diagnostic Phase: The “First Hurdle” to Accurate Diagnosis

Cancer screening costs vary significantly by cancer type, testing method, and geographic location. Using a top-tier Beijing hospital as an example:.

Basic Screening: Blood tumor marker tests (e.g., CEA, CA125) cost approximately 500-800 RMB, providing preliminary screening for lung cancer, breast cancer, etc..

Imaging Tests:

- Plain lung CT scan: ¥200–300; contrast-enhanced CT: approximately ¥1,000

- Cranial MRI: ¥500

- Whole-body PET-CT scan: ¥7,000–15,000 (enables precise localization of metastases but carries high out-of-pocket costs).

Pathological Biopsy:

- Percutaneous lung biopsy + pathology for lung cancer: ¥1,500

Lymph node biopsy for lymphoma + immunohistochemistry: ¥5,000–6,000 (multiple tests required to confirm subtype).

Case Study: When my family member was diagnosed with lung cancer, initial tests (contrast-enhanced CT + biopsy) cost approximately ¥3,000. With 60% medical insurance coverage, the out-of-pocket expense was only ¥1,200. However, choosing PET-CT would have resulted in over ¥10,000 in out-of-pocket costs.

II、Surgical Stage: Technical Choices Determine Cost Ceilings

Surgical fees are significantly influenced by cancer type, stage, and technique. Below are reference prices for common cancer surgeries (including preoperative tests, anesthesia, and postoperative monitoring):.

Lung Cancer:

Early-stage minimally invasive surgery (thoracoscopy): ¥40,000–60,000;

Advanced open thoracotomy: Over ¥100,000 (if involving vascular reconstruction)..

Breast Cancer:

Early-stage breast-conserving surgery: ¥5,000–¥20,000;

Mid-to-advanced stage mastectomy + reconstruction: ¥30,000–¥50,000..

Colorectal Cancer:

Laparoscopic surgery: ¥30,000–¥80,000;

Da Vinci robotic surgery: ¥150,000–¥200,000 (precision resection but high equipment costs).

Key Variations:

Hospital Tier: Tertiary hospitals charge 30%-50% more than secondary hospitals but offer superior complication management.

Regional Differences: Shanghai surgeries typically cost 20% more than those in Chengdu, though insurance reimbursement rates are comparable.

Insurance Coverage: For lung cancer surgery, out-of-pocket expenses after insurance reimbursement range from ¥20,000 to ¥40,000; commercial insurance may cover the full amount.

III、Treatment Phase: The Long-Term Battle Between Drugs and Technology

Postoperative treatment costs typically account for over 60% of total expenses, primarily categorized into four types:

1. Chemotherapy:

Domestic drugs cost ¥2,000–5,000 per course, while imported drugs range from ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 (e.g., pemetrexed).

Case Study: Family opted for imported chemotherapy drugs, incurring approximately ¥80,000 out-of-pocket for 6 cycles.

2. Targeted Therapy:

Lung cancer EGFR inhibitor (Gefitinib): Monthly cost ¥5,000–8,000 (after insurance reimbursement);

Breast cancer CDK4/6 inhibitor (Palbociclib): Monthly cost ¥20,000–30,000 (fully out-of-pocket).

3. Immunotherapy:

Domestic PD-1 inhibitor (Sintilimab): Annual cost ¥30,000–50,000;

Imported Keytruda (Pembrolizumab): Annual cost ¥150,000–200,000 (pre-insurance coverage).

4. Radiation Therapy:

Conventional radiotherapy: ¥200–300 per session;

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): ¥800–1,500 per session.

Avoid Pitfalls Guide:

Beware of “pseudo-innovative therapies”: e.g., DC-CIK cell therapy (not internationally recognized), which may cost tens of thousands per course with no proven efficacy.

Exercise caution when purchasing “miracle drugs”: One patient spent ¥50,000 on “anti-cancer Chinese medicine” that turned out to be ordinary health supplements.

IV、Cost Transparency Tools: How Can Foreign Patients Help Themselves?

1. Medical Insurance Inquiry:

Log in to the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau website to download the “Medical Insurance Drug Catalog” and “Diagnosis and Treatment Project Catalog” to confirm reimbursement coverage.

Example: Guangzhou medical insurance covers 80% of targeted therapy costs, but requires prior approval.

2. Commercial Insurance Options:

Premium medical insurance (e.g., MSH, Bupa): Annual premium ¥20,000–50,000, covering full reimbursement for private hospitals and imported drugs.

Specialized Cancer Insurance: Annual premiums of ¥5,000–10,000 provide high payouts for prevalent cancer types.

3. Cost Negotiation Techniques:

Request a “Detailed Cost Breakdown” from the hospital and verify reimbursement rates for each item.

Apply for bulk-purchased drug discounts: e.g., a lung cancer targeted therapy saw a 70% price reduction after bulk procurement.

V、Data Insights: A Comprehensive View of Cancer Treatment Costs in China.

Average Total Cost: According to a 2025 survey, 70% of patients spent over ¥100,000, with 30% exceeding ¥500,000 (highest for liver and lung cancer)..

Cost Structure:

Diagnostic Tests: 10%-20%;

Surgery: 30%-40%;

Medications & Radiation/Chemotherapy: 50%-60%.

Medical Insurance Coverage: Urban employee medical insurance reimburses 50%-70%, while the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme covers approximately 40%-60%.

Conclusion: Hope Behind Transparency

China is advancing cost transparency through medical insurance negotiations, drug bulk procurement, and DRG payment reforms. For instance, the 2025 medical insurance catalog added 17 new anticancer drugs with an average price reduction of 64%. For international patients, it is advisable to plan with a combination of medical insurance and commercial insurance, and utilize hospital international departments or third-party cost management platforms (such as Ping An Health) to obtain real-time quotes. While cancer treatment remains costly, transparent information and diversified payment options are giving more people hope for survival.

Document dated 2025-09-16 09:56 Modify