Growing Interest in Medical Care in India Among NRIs

In New Delhi, a report from PolicyBazaar reveals a significant trend: low medical insurance premiums, affordable healthcare costs, and top-notch facilities in private hospitals are attracting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) back to India for medical treatment.

Insurance aggregator PolicyBazaar noted that the number of NRIs purchasing health insurance in India rose by an impressive 150% over one year, between 2024 and 2025. One notable advantage of seeking treatment in India is the stark difference in healthcare costs. Patients can expect to save between 60-90% compared to prices in the US and several other developed nations.

To give a clearer picture, consider the following example of costs for various surgical procedures:

• Heart Bypass Surgery: In the US, it can cost between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 1.3 crore, whereas in India, it ranges from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.
• Knee Replacement: US expenses range from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 45 lakh, while Indian costs are about Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
• Liver Transplantation: This can set patients back Rs 2.5 to 4 crores in the US, but in India, it’s Rs 21 lakh to Rs 30 lakh.
• Kidney Transplantation: US prices reach Rs 1.7 to 2.6 crores, contrasting sharply with India’s Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

When looking at health insurance premiums, a typical annual premium in India sits between $120 and $300 (approximately Rs 10,000 to 26,000). This is a far cry from the US average of $8,000 (around Rs 69,000) or even the $4,000 to $5,000 (or Rs 3.4 to 4.3 lakh) found in GCC countries. As you might imagine, this has led many NRIs to consider Indian insurers for their health coverage.

Interestingly, PolicyBazaar has also observed an increase in online inquiries from NRIs interested in buying health insurance in India. For instance, search trends show that questions like “Best Health Insurance Plans for Indian Parents” frequently rank among the top topics for NRIs in markets such as the UAE, UK, and US.

Moreover, medications in India are notably cheaper. For instance, insulin vials cost between 85 and 400 rupees, compared to a staggering 8,600 to 25,000 rupees in the US. Given that medication expenses can be quite high, having insurance coverage can significantly alleviate those costs.