Health insurance?

Surya

Is it worth to pay an health insurance to go to India? Last time I paid 100$ for 6 months, and I'm wondering if I should pay this again next time.

While in India, I've been seriously sick once. I went to the doctor and bought medicine for a total of 6$ and my insurance would never have paid for that, so it was useless... How many days would I have to stay at the hospital before it costs more than 100$?

mdahl

A friend of mine while visiting Goa was run over by a bus whilst getting off. I'm sure she was grateful for her insurance. The hospitals there are deplorable but for $100 what do you expect.

Rianne

There are very good (private) hospitals in the bigger cities in India. I'm sure it costs a lot more than $100 to stay there for a few days. I wouldn't take the risk of not being able to pay for good healthcare. When you really need this care you are going to be very glad that you paid for an insurance.

Rianne

aversion

it is definitely worth taking health insurance whenever you travel, it's one of those things isn't it? You pay all this money for something that you hope you'll never need and then when you don't need it you feel like you shouldn't have paid it!!

you have to think that you're not buying health insurance but peace of mind.

i have never been sick in india but i've seen one guy get so ill his insurance company laid on a plane and flew him home.. it's really worth it.

i use 'world cover direct' a UK company that sell yearly insurance that cost me less than £100 for health and baggage cover. That's definitely an option worth checking out, then you're covered wherever/whenever you go.

and i would agree that india has some really high quality health care available, though like everythign else in india there is great contrast and contradiction everywhere you go.

KathSF

Although I'd never turn down travel insurance if it were offered for free, I've never bought it. For some reason, I've never had it offered to me by a travel agent, and it's not something that self or American friends generally think of when travelling. In Europe/Australia, travel agents get HUGE commissions selling policies and have ingrained the "if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel" mentality into the travelling public.

That said, I can appreciate its advantages (mainly peace of mind). But I've always assumed that if I got really sick, I'd go to a local doctor/hospital and pay for treatment (which in India wouldn't be very much). And if I felt like I absolutely needed to go home to recuperate, I'd simply pay the penalties and change my ticket. Yes, getting local treatment and paying flight change penalties MIGHT cost SLIGHTLY more than an insurance policy (then again they might not).

But I figure that I've probably taken at least 20 trips (different places) where I didn't buy travel insurance, and have never had to seek treatment or change a plane ticket. At a minimum of $100 per policy (what I saw when I looked once cost MUCH more), I'm ahead at least $2,000. So anything up to $2,000 I have to pay in the future for treatment/repatriation is STILL less than it would have cost to buy a policy on each trip. May be wierd logic, but it's worked for me so far!

__________________
Happy trails!

shanshas

As Rianne has mentioned, the big cities in India offer very good heath facilities. Quite a few hospitals have tie ups with major hospitals in the US and Europe.

I would imagine that 99% of those travellers to India who actually fall sick, a visit to the local doctor would solve the problem at very cheap costs. Most of these problems are related to mild food poisoning, malaria, flu etc. Such doctors are available are available almost everywhere. In such cases, health insurance is of no use.

However, if you are one of the unlucky 1 % who need very good medical facilities, then health insurance would definitely be very handy. The better hospitals in India are quite expensive (though still a fraction of the US costs - I would estimate about 10%).

Its a percentage game, feeling lucky

Just to put things in perspective, a visit to a very good, well known and reputed specialist in Bombay or Delhi would cost about Rs. 1000 per consultation. Basic Tests etc would cost another Rs. 1500 - 2000. Medicenes another Rs. 500.

These are just approx figures. Other cities the costs are a lot lower.

Shan

jsr

You say you have been to India before, right? Close your eyes and relive some of those bus rides. Lots of close calls, right? What if you're not so lucky the next time? I would pay the 100 dollars and be thankful for the peace of mind. In the rare case that you do get extremely sick or seriously injured, you'll be kicking yourself for being chintzy. Safe travels!

Surya

I suppose that I should still pay for the health insurance... I'll probably need it if I don't take it

IndiaDave

If you need travel medical and evacuation insurance, you can get this at http://www.travelinsuranceindia.com

If you need more long term health cover that will cover you both in India and also around the world, including your home country and for more chronic conditions too, then you need an international health insurance plan. You can get this at www.travelinsuranceindia.com OR try
http://www.expatfinancial.com

Good luck!

Baldy

I would like to add to the thread by asking which arethe best value and how people have been treated when making a claim?

In Oz, travel insurance is a monopoly, ie. all travel agents offer the same firm's policy - full comprehensive cover is $600 for six months.

Baldy

guerik

Baldy - don't buy through the travel agents! Way too expensive.
I'm using Columbus Direct for my next trip, it's about $450 for 6 months, with evacuation cover etc, etc.
It's still relatively expensive, but if I'm seriously ill, I'd rather be seriously ill with my family and friends around me

Travelingbhat

We sell Travel Insured through our company and I have had clients who have had no problems getting $$ back for a trip cancellation due to medical emergency.

I dont know what your travel insurance covers but the kind we sell covers trip cancellation due to accidental or medical emergency as well as coverage of emergency medical benefits while on the trip, trip delay, lost baggage etc.

I never really considered travel insurance much but after seeing all things that happen to so many people, I now generously offer it to my clients all the time.

Its definitely worth the peace of mind and reality if things do go wrong. As always I tell my clients to read the fine print cause everything has one. Oh by the way, we sell our insurance through www.travelinsured.com, its very reasonable even though travel agents sell them!

Baldy

Guerik

WorldNomads quotes AUS$294 for 6 months comprehensive.

B

palmo

For those of you who did buy health insurance - can you recommend the ones you bought? I'm wondering whether some unknown insurance plan from Oz or US will even be accepted by a hospital in India.... Will it? (Can't you tell, I'm considering buying health insurance before going...)

Baldy

Palmo

There is no simple answer. These policies are worldwide, that is, anyone can buy and they apply anywhere. Often you will be reimbursed rather than direct payment. In extreme cases, you call the insurer who will make a decision about direct help, or medical evacuation.

You have to do the homework on the Net. Search, search and search again. Find a reputable firm and read the conditions of cover (all of them!!)

Baldy