Health insurance in India
India is a large and diverse country. As such, health issues can present a challenge for first-time visitors or newly relocated expats. In order to help you better find your way around this rich and varied nation, this guide will go over the key healthcare facts you need to know before moving or traveling to India, covering issues such as health insurance plans in India, the healthcare system, and recommended vaccinations.
Best health insurance in India
The variety of health insurance options available in India reflects the diversity of the country’s population. With a large and long-standing expat community, the health insurance options have also catered to the medical needs of the expatriate community.
Best health insurance companies in India
The level of competition in India’s insurance market has been growing at a fast pace in recent years, leading many to wonder which provider offers the best health insurance solution in India, in 2019. These are some of the top global insurers that Pacific Prime partners with, which offer international health coverage in India:
To find out more about the plans available, you can visit our website for a free quote or contact our global team of experts today.
Healthcare in India
For expats living in larger cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangal, there are plenty of private hospitals that have English-speaking staff and shorter queues. However, high-quality healthcare facilities may be more limited in rural areas.
- Private healthcare: Private hospitals are the go-to for expats living in India. Their treatments are more in line with the quality of healthcare available with Western countries, offering shorter queues and more English-speaking staff. Although they charge higher fees, their quality of services, languages available, and medical equipment are superior to their state-run counterparts.
- Public healthcare: Public hospitals face extremely long queues in big cities thanks to India’s massive urban population. Although many of them also offer English-speaking staff, there is often a lack of equipment, staff, and funding. This leads to poorer quality services than private hospitals, making it less preferable for expats.
The Indian government has recently implemented a national health insurance scheme called the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or the National Health Protection Scheme. The scheme is aimed at improving the public healthcare quality in India and providing healthcare coverage to more than one hundred million poor and vulnerable families.
Best hospitals in India
As mentioned, there is no shortage of quality healthcare in India. These are some of the best hospitals the country has to offer:
- All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi: Established in 1956, the AIIMS hospital has up to 11 branches across the country and is one of the world’s top medical education institutions. It has been ranked highly in the country, offering quality treatment and excellent infrastructure. However, it is a public hospital, so expats can expect large crowds and long queues when visiting.
- Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai: Founded by Tata Group in 1941, the Tata Memorial Hospital is one of the oldest private hospitals in India. It is well known for offering the best cancer treatment in India, as well as having English-speaking staff and top quality service.
- Medanta (The Medicity), Gurgaon: Established only in 2009, the Medanta is one of the newer hospitals, known for having the latest medical equipment and technology, as well as its expertise in Cardiac Surgeries. Being the first hospital in Indian history to perform robotic surgery, it is well known for its technological advancement. The hospital also has up to 20 special departments.
Expatriates’ guide to India
Hyderabad, one of the largest cities in Southern India, is well known as a popular expat destination. However, there are common diseases to look out for when moving to big cities in India like Hyderabad. Thankfully, we have sorted out a list of common diseases, as well as providing a list of vaccinations you should get before moving or traveling to this great country.
What are the common diseases in India?
India faces various social and environmental challenges, leading to the prevalence fo various diseases related to smoking, air pollution, unsafe sexual intercourse, and lack of hygiene. Before going to India, it is worth noting what the most common diseases are so that you can take better precaution while living or traveling there:
- Lung Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)
- HIV/AIDS
- Diarrheal diseases
What vaccinations do I need for India?
There are also less common infectious diseases that expats need to be prepared for. To best prepare for infectious diseases, here are the recommended vaccinations expats should get before moving or traveling to India:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Oral Polio
- Typhoid
- Varicella
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Rabies
- Yellow Fever
Given the wide array of vaccination recommendations, you should also check whether your health insurance plan covers vaccinations in advance before you travel.
How to find the best private health insurance in India
Pacific Prime offers a wide range of policies to meet your individual needs, be it international health insurance policies for you or your entire family. Contact our advisors today for impartial advice, or click the button below to revive an instant quote.
