Health insurance is one of the smartest investments you can make. Everyone in India can buy them on the payment of a premium. But if you move abroad, what will happen? Will your policy be valid and cover you against ailments you suffer while there? We will discuss the same here.
While most health insurance plans offered in India will cover the medical costs incurred within the country, some plans do offer global coverage. It is essential to check the range of geographical coverage for your health plan before you move abroad. Health insurance plans have different geographical limits. So, it is helpful to check their validity and decide whether to continue or discontinue them.
Geographical Limits of Health Insurance Plans in India
Some health insurance plans in India cover the medical charges of people staying within the country. They provide coverage for hospitalisation charges, day care procedures, OPD treatment, etc., incurred at a hospital or health clinic in India. Even road and air ambulance charges can be claimed under your policy as long as you have availed of the services within the geographical boundaries of India. If you use healthcare facilities while travelling abroad, your health insurance policy won't cover it.
However, some health insurance plans offer worldwide coverage to their customers to address some issues. The only catch right now is that most health insurance plans offer global coverage as an add-on cover, which can be availed of only on the payment of an additional premium. However, your insurance company will pay for your medical bills incurred while travelling to a foreign country if your base health policy comes with global coverage.
Still, India's accident insurance plans come up with in-built global coverage, so they will cover you against any accidental injuries and any other minor medical issue irrespective of whether the accident occurred in India or abroad. They also offer compensation if you get an exceptional case or die during an accident in an international location.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing an International Health Insurance Plan
There are a few essential points to keep in mind if you're planning to buy international medical insurance in India:
- Medical charges in a foreign country can be more than you can expect. Hence, you must choose a coverage amount considering the medical costs prevailing there.
- Before buying a health plan, check if the country you're moving to is covered under the policy. Almost all health insurance companies eliminate treatment in the United States of America and Canada, while some cover these countries at an advanced premium.
- Most international health plans cover certain conditions only. You may need to choose a high sum assured and pay an additional premium for more benefits.
- For abroad health plans, most health insurance claims are settled by reimbursement only. This is because some insurance companies cannot maintain a global network of hospitals for cashless claim settlements.
- The medical cover offered under travel insurance is different from a global health insurance policy. While travel insurance covers only emergency medical charges, an international health plan covers emergencies and planned medical treatment.
To Sum Up
Depending on your chosen health plan, a plan's physical limit might vary. In some cases, a health plan bought in India will cover costs for treatment incurred within the country.
But specific plans do offer worldwide coverage. Therefore, having a good look at the coverage in terms of the geographical boundaries of the plan is essential. After calculating its clauses, you might decide to continue or cancel the plan.
It would be best to compare plans to ensure that you get intelligent health insurance regarding the insurer's international protection in India. If you have plans to move foreign country for further education or a job that might require you to move abroad, you should choose to buy a health plan with a global coverage option.
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