Go to the community clinic first for common illnesses and be referred up level by level; the hospital-stay deductible then carries over
- Moderate value
- Evidence A
- Saves money
- Free
- Takes minutes
- Some willpower
In plain words
If you go to the community clinic first and are then referred to a large hospital for admission, the part you pay out of pocket first (the deductible, 起付线) is counted only once. If you go straight to a tertiary hospital (三级医院) for admission and are later transferred back to the community for rehabilitation, you may have to pay that part twice. When you are moved from a large hospital back to a community facility to continue the same stay, the deductible is not counted again for the same illness during that period.
Mentioned in
Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 24, tip 1. This section is about health and medicines. It is general information, not a substitute for a doctor’s diagnosis or prescription. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer