How Health Insurance Works During International Travel or Relocation
By rajdeep Singh 16-09-2025 118
Travelling abroad or relocating overseas from India is an exciting venture filled with opportunities and new experiences. However, amid this excitement, prioritising your health and financial security is essential. Understanding how health insurance works during international travel or relocation can save you from unexpected medical expenses and offer peace of mind. Whether you’re travelling for a short vacation, business trip, or settling permanently overseas, having the right health insurance coverage is crucial. In this blog, we delve deep into how health insurance functions when you leave India, guiding you through the essentials to ensure your well-being is protected.
Why health insurance is crucial for international travel or relocation
Healthcare systems across the world vary greatly. Countries like the US, UK, Canada, or Australia are known for their advanced but often expensive healthcare systems. If you fall ill or face an emergency abroad without health insurance, you could encounter bills that run into lakhs.
Indian health insurance plans typically cover expenses only within India. Hence, travellers often assume they are insured without confirming if their policy extends overseas. Unfortunately, this can lead to denial of claims when you need help most.
International health insurance or travel insurance policies cover medical emergencies, hospitalisation, doctor visits, medications, and sometimes evacuation costs internationally. Opting for an adequate plan means you can focus on your trip or relocation without worrying about exorbitant medical costs.
Moreover, many foreign countries now require proof of health insurance as a visa criterion. This makes having a valid international health insurance policy non-negotiable.
How Indian health insurance plans behave internationally
Most popular Indian health insurance provides coverage only within India’s geographical boundaries. This means expenses incurred while you are abroad generally will not be reimbursed. Policies rarely cover hospital stays, surgeries, or treatments overseas.
However, some Indian insurers offer add-ons or riders for emergency overseas coverage, often limited to short-term travel or specific illnesses. These riders come at an additional premium but are restricted in benefits and duration.
If your Indian health insurance plan does mention overseas benefits, scrutinise the fine print carefully. Look at coverage limits, exclusions, hospital networks abroad, and claim procedures. Most plans only cover emergency treatment and not elective procedures.
Usually, Indian health insurance policies will ask you to pay upfront in case of treatment abroad, followed by submitting documentation for reimbursement in India, which can be stressful and time-consuming.
Alternatively, many Indians moving overseas surrender their domestic policy and purchase a dedicated international health insurance plan that works globally and offers comprehensive coverage.
Types of international health insurance plans available for indians
There is a variety of health insurance plans designed for Indians travelling or relocating abroad, each catering to different needs and durations. The key types are:
1. Travel health insurance:
Ideal for short trips or vacations abroad, this plan covers medical emergencies, hospitalisation, evacuation, and repatriation for the trip duration. It rarely covers pre-existing illnesses or routine care.
2. Expat health insurance:
Designed for Indians relocating overseas for work or education, this plan offers comprehensive health coverage, including outpatient care, maternity, mental health, and chronic disease management. Usually available as annual renewable plans.
3. International private medical insurance (IPMI):
A premium product offering extensive global coverage, including private hospitals, specialists, and advanced treatments. These plans often have flexible options and worldwide network hospitals.
4. Student health insurance:
For Indian students studying abroad, this covers medical treatment, accidents, and some even include travel delays or lost baggage insurance. It complies with many countries’ visa requirements.
5. Group international insurance plans:
Offered by employers or educational institutions, these provide health coverage to groups of expatriates with benefits tailored to their destination’s medical system.
Choosing the right international health insurance depends on the purpose of your travel, destination country, duration abroad, health status, and budget. It’s advisable to compare policies and select one that fits your specific needs.
Key benefits of international health insurance for indian travellers and expats
Opting for an international health insurance plan when travelling or relocating abroad from India offers significant advantages:
- Comprehensive medical coverage: Treatment costs, hospitalisation, surgeries, medicines, outpatient consultations, maternity benefits, and sometimes dental and optical care.
- Cashless treatment at global hospitals: Many international plans have tie-ups with hospitals worldwide allowing direct billing without upfront payments.
- Coverage across multiple countries: Some plans provide worldwide coverage including India, which is helpful for frequent travellers or those with family in India.
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation: Covers costs if you need to be flown to a medical facility or back to India for treatment.
- Pre-existing condition coverage: Some expat plans cover chronic illnesses after an initial waiting period.
- No claim hassles: Modern insurers offer easy claim processes through apps and dedicated helplines.
- Visa compliance: Many countries mandate proof of international health insurance for visa approval.
- Additional services: Psychological counselling, maternity, vaccinations, and wellness check-ups.
Overall, international health insurance protects against financial shocks caused by unexpected medical emergencies abroad and ensures timely access to the best treatment available.
How to choose the right international health insurance policy for your family
Selecting the ideal international health insurance plans requires careful assessment of various factors:
- Coverage scope – Check if the plan includes inpatient, outpatient, emergency evacuation, maternity, dental, and chronic illnesses.
- Geographical coverage – A "Worldwide excluding USA" plan is cheaper than "Worldwide including USA." Choose based on travel destinations.
- Policy duration – Pick single-trip plans for short visits or annual renewable plans for long stays or relocations.
- Network hospitals – Verify the insurer’s global hospital network in your destination country for cashless treatment.
- Claim procedures – Ensure transparency, easy digital claim filing, and reliable support.
- Exclusions and waiting periods – Know the exclusions and waiting periods to plan treatments accordingly.
- Premium costs – Premiums depend on age, health, coverage amount, and features. Compare to find best value.
- Reputation of insurer – Prefer insurers with strong track records, good reviews, and customer-focused service.
- Add-on benefits – Look for wellness programs, second opinions, or telemedicine options.
How indian travellers can claim health insurance abroad
Claiming health insurance when abroad involves understanding the policy’s claim process and guidelines. Typically, there are two types of claims:
- Cashless claims: If your insurer has a direct billing tie-up with hospitals in your destination country, you can access medical services without upfront payment. The hospital and insurer settle bills directly.
- Reimbursement claims: If no cashless option exists, you pay medical expenses yourself and later file claims for reimbursement by submitting original bills, prescriptions, and medical reports.
- Always inform your insurer before or immediately after hospitalisation to receive assistance and approval. Retain all documents in original, including medical reports, prescriptions, hospital bills, and discharge summaries.
- Many insurers provide 24/7 helpline support to guide you through the process and help find nearby network hospitals. Using digital apps for instant claim filing can expedite reimbursements.
- Before travel, read policy documents carefully for claim procedures abroad, required paperwork, and emergency contact numbers. This preparation avoids confusion during critical times.
- Remember, inadequate documentation or failure to report claims on time can lead to rejection.
Conclusion
As an Indian travelling or relocating abroad, understanding how health insurance works during your international journey is indispensable. Indian domestic health plans usually do not cover overseas medical emergencies, making it essential to secure a dedicated international health insurance policy tailored to your destination and duration of stay.
International health insurance offers comprehensive medical coverage, cashless hospitalisation, emergency evacuation, and peace of mind amid unfamiliar healthcare environments. It also helps fulfil visa requirements and protects you from high out-of-pocket expenses.
Assess your travel plans carefully, compare policies, and leverage useful health tools like the body shape calculator to understand your health risks better.
For seamless protection and support abroad, explore the wide variety of health insurance plans from reputable providers that cater specifically to international travellers and expatriates.
