Does Your Health Insurance Policy Remain Valid If You Move Abroad

Health Insurance Plans in India and Their Geographical Limit – Know Everything

The importance of health insurance plans is known to all. But can you still have your insurance active/valid if you have to move abroad due to any reason? Let us learn about it in this blog.

Health insurance has become a vital part of our lives today. Since health emergencies come without any notice, it is essential to stay prepared with a good health coverage. Thus, investment on health insurance policy can be stated as the best one in today’s time. Moreover, with online purchase it is very easy for anyone in India to buy health insurance. However, do you know what happens to your insurance if you had to move abroad due to any reason. Let’s discuss it here.

Do health insurance plans have any geographical limit?

Yes, most health plans bought in India are so designed to cover the insured of their health expenses within the country itself. So, if your policy of health insurance is valid only in India, you cannot have coverage on the same if you travel/move abroad.  As long as you claim the health care expenses within the physical boundary of the country, you can have coverage on everything including:

hospitalization expenses
day care procedures
OPD treatment
even charges on road and air ambulance (in some policies)
However, off-late insurers are trying to address this issue with plans offering global coverage. So,  in case you opt for the best health insurance plans with coverage worldwide, you can avail medical expenses incurred during your travel/stay abroad.  But, it is important to note here that most insurance companies allow health insurance in India with international coverage as add-on protection and you need to pay a certain amount of extra premium to avail such add-ons. However, there are a few policies covering personal accident insurance that come with integral international health coverage and allow protection across boundaries. Further, these policies allow compensation against death or disability that occur during an accident in a foreign land.

Does Indian Health Insurance coverage stay valid if you shift abroad?

As discussed above, it depends upon the insurance coverage that the insured has opted for to see whether it allows protection abroad or not. If the policyholder is covered under a policy that doesn’t allow worldwide coverage,  he/she can’t expect protection internationally. However, if the insured has opted health insurance for abroad that allows protection globally, you can expect your insurer to compensate for the medical costs incurred in a foreign land.  Thus having global coverage as an add-on feature or as part of a personal accident plan is important for your health plan to stay valid while you are abroad.

On the other hand, in case of a critical illness plan the insured might keep getting coverage despite moving to another country. This is because in case of critical illness, the policy allows the insured to receive a lump sum amount if he/she is diagnosed with a critical ailment. So, whether you are in India or anywhere else, a claim against a critical illness health plan can be made. However, it is advised to confirm with the insurer of your international medical insurance, India allows protection while you are staying abroad.

Shall I get my health insurance policy canceled if I move to a foreign country?

Yes, if you have shifted abroad permanently or for a long duration, it is better to cancel your health plan if it allows protection within the country only. That is because the  will not allow you to raise a claim and so paying premium uselessly is of no use. So, it is better to cancel your plan in India and buy a new plan in the land where you have moved so that you can claim against medical costs in the country you reside.

Also, it is important to note that the country you are moving to might also have their laws in terms of international health insurance. Many countries like Germany have made it compulsory for its people, including foreign nationals, to have health insurance.

Health insurance plans that NRIs visiting India frequently should buy

NRI or Non Resident Indians are Indian citizens living in a foreign country. So, if you are an NRI coming to India on and off, you must purchase a health plan to stay protected while you are in the country. You might go for a top-up plan that allows the insured to avail health coverage minus the deductible.  So, under such best health insurance policy in India, your health insurer will compensate for the huge bills that you might incur on health, while you are likely to pay for the minor charges from your pocket. Such a plan will help you in the future when you return to India for good.

Further, these plans allow you to save enough money on paying the premiums as they are easily affordable as compared to regular health plan premiums.