Quick answers: healthcare in India
- How much does health insurance cost in India for expats?
- Indicative international health insurance for a 32-year-old living in India (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA) typically costs £198 to £277 a month, with a median of £249 and the cheapest at £145, based on 14 plan quotes from the 14 insurers on our panel, taken in 2026-09. Your price depends on your age, medical history, plan and deductible, and is only confirmed by the insurer.
- How much does expat health insurance cost by age in India?
- Indicative median monthly premiums in India (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA): age 25 US$224, age 35 US$291, age 45 US$377, age 55 US$656, age 65 US$1,114. Quotes taken 2026-09; the insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
- Do foreigners need health insurance in India?
- It depends on the visa. Visitors on an e-Visa (tourist, business, medical): The official e-Visa eligibility conditions require a passport valid for at least six months, a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds; they do not include a health insurance requirement. e-Medical visa holders: The e-Medical visa is valid for one year (365 days) from arrival with multiple entries, and the application must include a letter from the treating hospital in India on its letterhead giving the date or tentative date of admission. e-Tourist visa holders: Stays on an e-Tourist visa are capped at 180 days in a calendar year. Long-stay foreigners (over 180 days): Foreigners planning to stay more than 180 days who do not hold an OCI card must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival. Countries that require travel insurance to enter
- Can foreigners use public healthcare in India?
- Government hospitals charge low, officially set fees. At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, for example, an MRI scan costs INR 3,000 and a head CT INR 200 for outpatients and general-ward patients, while private-ward rooms cost INR 3,000 to 6,300 a day plus diet charges. Private-ward patients at AIIMS are charged additionally for investigations, procedures and operations.
- Do hospitals in India ask foreigners to pay upfront?
- Private hospitals usually require an advance deposit on admission. Breach Candy Hospital publishes deposits from INR 55,000 for a four-bed room to INR 3,90,000 for a suite, and Kokilaben Hospital states that an advance must be deposited based on its estimate of the services needed. Kokilaben also notes that if a patient's insurer is not on its list, the patient is financially responsible for the bill.
- What is the emergency number in India?
- Call 112 for an ambulance in India.
What health insurance costs in India (indicative)
These are indicative prices, based on 14 plan quotes from the 14 international insurers on our panel, for one standard profile: a 32-year-old living in India, inpatient and outpatient cover, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA. The typical monthly price is £198 to £277, with a median of £249 and the cheapest at £145. Your actual price depends on your age, medical history, the plan, your deductible and where you want cover, and is only confirmed by the insurer. Snapshot 2026-09-24. See the Health Insurance Cost Index.
Indicative prices: the 5 lowest of 14 plan quotes, monthly in GBP, cheapest mid-level plan in each insurer's range. Quotes taken 2026-09-24.
See the figures
| Age | Cheapest | Median | Higher end | Plans quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | US$109 | US$224 | US$259 | 15 |
| 35 | US$145 | US$291 | US$336 | 15 |
| 45 | US$186 | US$377 | US$453 | 15 |
| 55 | US$291 | US$656 | US$721 | 15 |
| 65 | US$458 | US$1,114 | US$1,314 | 13 |
Indicative. Single adult, inpatient and outpatient, cheapest mid-level plan per insurer, worldwide excluding the USA. Quotes taken 2026-09-29. The insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
How healthcare works for expats
India has both government and private hospitals, and in major cities both government and more expensive private medical care are available. Standards vary widely: facilities differ from those in the UK, especially in remote areas, and specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities. Some private hospitals, such as Breach Candy and P.D. Hinduja in Mumbai, publish room tariffs and check-up package prices, and charges differ sharply between room categories.
Public care and state schemes
Government hospitals charge low, officially set fees. At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, for example, an MRI scan costs INR 3,000 and a head CT INR 200 for outpatients and general-ward patients, while private-ward rooms cost INR 3,000 to 6,300 a day plus diet charges. Private-ward patients at AIIMS are charged additionally for investigations, procedures and operations.
Private hospitals
Private hospitals charge by room category, and the room chosen often drives the cost of the whole stay. At Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, general single rooms range from INR 5,000 to 10,500 a day and suites up to INR 32,000, with 5% GST on rooms above INR 5,000 a day. Apollo's platform lists general physician consultations at around INR 500 to 900.
Paying up front
Private hospitals usually require an advance deposit on admission. Breach Candy Hospital publishes deposits from INR 55,000 for a four-bed room to INR 3,90,000 for a suite, and Kokilaben Hospital states that an advance must be deposited based on its estimate of the services needed. Kokilaben also notes that if a patient's insurer is not on its list, the patient is financially responsible for the bill.
Typical medical costs in India
Published prices, mostly from private hospitals. Pound figures are approximate conversions.
| Treatment | Price | About |
|---|---|---|
| General physician consultation fee, doctors listed on Apollo 24|7 (Apollo Hospitals group)9 Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, per consultation | ₹500 to ₹899 | £4 to £7 |
| Private room per day, single room (categories D to A), Breach Candy Hospital6 Mumbai, per night | ₹5,000 to ₹10,500 | £39 to £83 |
| Maternity room per day, twin sharing to executive, Breach Candy Hospital6 Mumbai, per night | ₹7,500 to ₹16,000 | £59 to £126 |
| ICU bed per day, Breach Candy Hospital6 Mumbai, per night | ₹14,000 | £110 |
| Private ward room per day, semi-deluxe (B class) to deluxe (A class), excluding INR 300 diet charge, AIIMS New Delhi4 New Delhi, per night | ₹3,000 to ₹6,300 | £24 to £50 |
| MRI scan (adult contrast charged extra at INR 2,000), AIIMS New Delhi5 New Delhi, per scan | ₹3,000 | £24 |
| CT scan, head, OPD/general ward to private ward rate, AIIMS New Delhi5 New Delhi, per scan | ₹200 to ₹750 | £2 to £6 |
| CT scan, body (one part), OPD/general ward to private ward rate, AIIMS New Delhi5 New Delhi, per scan | ₹750 to ₹1,000 | £6 to £8 |
| Complete blood count (CBC), discounted to list price, Apollo 24|7 diagnostics10 Nationwide, per test | ₹449 to ₹1,122 | £4 to £9 |
| Lipid profile, city prices, Apollo 24|7 diagnostics11 Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, per test | ₹900 to ₹1,000 | £7 to £8 |
| Normal delivery, operative procedure charge (room and other charges extra), AIIMS New Delhi5 New Delhi, per procedure | ₹2,000 | £16 |
| Health check-up packages, pre-employment to deluxe comprehensive, Breach Candy Hospital7 Mumbai, per package | ₹3,200 to ₹37,800 | £25 to £298 |
| Health check-up packages, Youth Activ to Health Perfect Plus, P.D. Hinduja Hospital8 Mumbai, per package | ₹2,700 to ₹36,300 | £21 to £286 |
Health insurance rules for foreigners
Visitors on an e-Visa (tourist, business, medical)
The official e-Visa eligibility conditions require a passport valid for at least six months, a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds; they do not include a health insurance requirement. The FCDO advises having travel insurance that covers local treatment and medical evacuation.3,1
e-Medical visa holders
The e-Medical visa is valid for one year (365 days) from arrival with multiple entries, and the application must include a letter from the treating hospital in India on its letterhead giving the date or tentative date of admission.3
e-Tourist visa holders
Stays on an e-Tourist visa are capped at 180 days in a calendar year.3
Long-stay foreigners (over 180 days)
Foreigners planning to stay more than 180 days who do not hold an OCI card must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival. There is no health insurance condition attached to this registration in the official guidance reviewed.2
Tips before you buy cover
- Ask for the hospital's room tariff before admission, as room category affects the whole bill and rooms above INR 5,000 a day attract 5% GST.
- Carry a means of paying a sizeable advance deposit for planned admissions: published deposits at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai start at INR 55,000.
- Check whether a hospital is on your insurer's direct billing list before admission; if it is not, you will usually pay the bill yourself and claim afterwards.
- Government teaching hospitals such as AIIMS New Delhi publish official rates that are far lower than private hospital prices, for example INR 3,000 for an MRI scan.
- Outside major cities, specialised treatment may not be available, so know where the nearest large private or teaching hospital is.
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Sources
- 1.India travel advice: Health, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (July 2026)
- 2.India travel advice: Entry requirements, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (accessed September 2026)
- 3.e-Visa eligibility and conditions, Government of India, Bureau of Immigration (accessed September 2026)
- 4.Indoor services (private ward charges), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (accessed September 2026)
- 5.Revised rates for investigations and operative procedures, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (accessed September 2026)
- 6.Hospital stay (room tariffs w.e.f. 1 September 2025), Breach Candy Hospital Trust (September 2025)
- 7.Health checkup, Breach Candy Hospital Trust (accessed September 2026)
- 8.Health checkup packages, P.D. Hinduja Hospital (accessed September 2026)
- 9.General physician / internal medicine doctors, Apollo 24|7 (Apollo Hospitals) (accessed September 2026)
- 10.Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, Apollo 24|7 (Apollo Hospitals) (accessed September 2026)
- 11.Lipid profile test, Apollo 24|7 (Apollo Hospitals) (accessed September 2026)
- 12.Billing FAQ, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (accessed September 2026)
- 13.Euro foreign exchange reference rates (25 September 2026), European Central Bank (September 2026)
Costs and rules change. Always check with the hospital, the insurer or the relevant authority before relying on a figure.