When Manish Joshi, a 45-year-old software engineer working in the United States, started to feel dizzy due to low haemoglobin levels in 2023, he rushed to an ER (emergency room) facility in Florida, US. Blood transfusions stabilised him, but doctors couldn’t diagnose the cause, and subsequent appointments took time.
The following year in Rajkot, India, he secured a quick appointment with a gastroenterologist, who promptly identified haemorrhoids as the underlying cause and connected him with a surgeon. After the requisite tests and procedures, Joshi recovered completely. While he spent $2,500 for his procedure in India, he had paid $5,000 out of pocket for the diagnosis and transfusion at the ER in the US.
Cost arbitrage is one of the key advantages Indian healthcare offers, but it is not always the primary driver. “Quicker access to qualified doctors and the eventual treatment, prompt diagnosis as well as decisions, and finally the cost were the key drivers of my decision to seek treatment in India,” explains Joshi, who is covered under his employer-sponsored health insurance in the US.
Take 29-year-old Prakriti Jalan (name changed), a research associate currently stationed in Germany. She is covered under the country’s public health insurance scheme, but came to India for an abdominal surgery that cost Rs.3 lakh. Like Joshi, she too was sick for over three weeks without a diagnosis. “My treatment would have been free in Germany, where everyone has access to medical services, but the process would have been very slow,” Jalan says. Further, being with her family here while undergoing treatment was a source of comfort.
“For many non-resident Indians (NRIs), the mix of affordability, quality, accessibility, shorter wait times, cultural comfort, and family support justifies travel to India. India also offers home nursing and caregiver services, which are more easily accessible and affordable compared to that in many Western countries, making recovery smoother,” says Anas Abdul Wajid, Senior Director and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Max Healthcare.
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According to KPMG, NRIs and foreign nationals seeking affordable care most commonly visit India for cardiac procedures, knee and hip replacements, cancer surgeries and procedures, fertility treatment, and cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Dental treatment, typically not covered by insurance policies, is another key reason.
MANISH JOSHI
Profession: Software engineer
Country of residence: United States
Reason for coming to India for treatment: Quicker access, diagnosis and treatment, as well as lower costs.
Paid $5,000 for diagnostic tests and transfusion in the US; procedure in Rajkot, India cost $2,500.
Note: “In India, I found the doctors’ intent and willingness to cure, as well as their quicker decisionmaking, highly valuable.”
Medical tourism is seeing a sharp uptick, driven by NRIs and Indian-origin patients seeking critical procedures, such as cancer surgeries and organ transplants. According to Sivaprasad PV, CEO, MCS Medical Tourism, which facilitates treatment in India for NRIs and foreign citizens, they prefer to visit India due to their confidence in the diagnosis and treatment expertise of Indian doctors, thanks to the volume and complexity of cases they deal with every day, among other reasons. The market is projected to grow from $18.2 billion in 2025 to $58.2 billion by 2035. As per Policybazaar data, NRI health insurance adoption grew 150% in 2024-25 over the previous year.
Cost factor While Joshi and Jalan emphasise lesser time taken for doctor appointments, diagnosis and treatment, cost also remains a crucial factor for many NRIs. Even for those covered under public, private or employer-sponsored insurance, out-of-pocket expenses could be higher abroad, especially if they are covered under higher deductible insurance plans.
The WTW Global Medical Trends Survey 2024 reported an average global healthcare inflation of 10.1%, with the US and United Kingdom at the top. “Treatment costs in India are often 60-90% lower than in developed nations. The cost differential is substantial enough to offset travel-related expenses,” says Aalap Bansal, Partner, Government and Public Services (G&PS) at KPMG in India. For example, the average cost of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), one of the most frequently performed major surgeries in the US, costs $151,271, with prices reaching $448,038 in some cases. “The same in India can cost Rs.1.8-3.6 lakh ($2,098-4,200),” he adds.Similarly, knee replacement surgery costs in the US can range from $15,000 to $75,000. “Even after accounting for round-trip airfare ($700-1,200), visa fees (e-medical visa is $100-150, if needed) and accommodation for 10-14 days (with mid-range hotels costing $42-81 per night), it is cheaper,” says Bansal. However, one must enquire about additional fees, which can go to up to 30% of the final medical bill, that you may have to pay as an NRI at some Indian hospitals.
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NRI-focused health insurance To tap the NRIs who fly to India for medica ment, Indian health and general insurers offer health covers and premium discounts. “Having an Indian health policy ensures protection during visits for emergencies or planned procedures. Besides, NRIs who plan to return to India benefit from continuous coverage, avoiding fresh waiting periods and possible exclusions (expenses the policy will not pay for) later,” says Bhaskar Nerurkar, Head, Health Administration Team, Bajaj General Insurance.
For NRIs, a domestic policy can ensure predictability in expenses and access to a vast private hospital network. “Certain NRI plans also offer optional international/US/UK covers or travel benefits, which standard domestic plans (for Indian residents) usually do not,” says Dr Bhabhtosh Mishra, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Niva Bupa Health Insurance.
Insurance players say NRI health insurance is cheaper compared to other countries. “The premiums cost $120-300 annually, which is substantially lower than global averages. Even NRIs who already have local coverage abroad choose India because the out-of-pocket expenses overseas can be significantly higher (in developed nations),” says Siddharth Singhal, Head—Health Insurance, Policybazaar. Many choose to club their planned treatment with their annual visits. Insurance companies also offer discounts specifically for the NRI segment.
According to KPMG, for NRIs or highsum insured plans (Rs.50 lakh and above), annual premiums typically cost $300-500, depending on add-ons and global coverage. “In contrast, US health insurance premiums average $8,951 annually for individuals and $25,572 for family coverage,” says Bansal.
Depending on the plans you choose, you can pause the policy for 30 days during the policy term. “Some plans offer a certain number of days’ coverage for hospitalisation and OPD claims outside India, for emergencies. They can also avail of concierge services—tele-consultations, ambulance service, wellness programs—for their families residing in India,” says Singhal.
Energy consultant Anant Visaria, 32, is one such NRI who bought a health policy in India despite being covered under the public healthcare framework in Denmark, where he currently lives. An NRI health cover in India can cover medical emergencies during visits to India. “Moreover, in Denmark, the waiting period for certain procedures can be long. An Indian health plan provides the option to seek treatment in India instead,” he explains.
ANANT VISARIA
Profession : Energy consultant
Country of residence: Denmark
Reason for buying Indian health policy: Coverage for any medical emergency that might arise while visiting India.
Support from family during recovery phases a key non-medical benefit.
Note: “In Denmark, waiting time for treatment under the public healthcare framework can be long. Health insurance in India gives me the option of getting treated here instead.”
Policybazaar data shows that 30% of its NRI customers buy health plans as a backup for their own treatment needs during their visits to India, while 70% seek to cover loved ones, like parents, spouses, and children, living in India. This is true of Riyadhbased Dilshad Ahmad, who visits India frequently. “I have bought health insurance policies in India for my family members as well as myself to ensure everyone is protected in case of any medical need,” he says. When his brother recently underwent treatment for jaundice, the expenses were reimbursed by his health insurance cover.
According to chartered accountant and Mumbai-based insurance consultant Mayank Gosar, buying a health insurance policy in India makes sense, particularly if NRIs plan to return to India later. “If you wait to purchase a policy at that stage, you will have to serve the waiting periods. If you develop lifestyle conditions, premiums may be significantly higher, or insurers may even decline the policy,” he says.
NRI checklist Know what to verify before seeking treatment in India.
Hospital accreditation
Ensure the hospital is accredited by NABH, QAI, or JCI, indicating adherence to quality and safety standards.
Doctor’s credentials
Enquire about the treating doctor¡¦s qualifications, experience and track record.
Transparent cost estimate
Ask for a written estimate covering consultations, diagnostics, room rent and procedure costs, besides the length of ICU/hospital stay.
Flow of information
Clarify with doctors who they can share your family¡¦s medical updates with, especially if you are overseas.
Post-treatment plan
Ascertain recuperation support, including physiotherapy, nursing at home, and video follow-ups after you return abroad.
An Indian health insurance policy helps bridge the gap when they travel to India, as most employer-provided or national health schemes abroad do not cover medical expenses incurred here. “For example, the UK’s NHS offers free treatment within the country, but provides no coverage for procedures in India. Similarly, US-based insurance plans typically exclude international hospitalisation unless global coverage riders are purchased, which are expensive,” says Bansal of KPMG.
NRIs also come to India for dental and cosme
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