When 45-year-old Manish Joshi, a software engineer in the US, felt dizzy in 2023 due to low haemoglobin, he rushed to an emergency room in Florida. Blood transfusions stabilized him, but doctors couldn’t find the cause quickly. Months later in Rajkot, India, a quick visit to a gastroenterologist revealed haemorrhoids as the culprit. After tests and surgery, Joshi fully recovered. Surprisingly, he spent only $2,500 in India, half the $5,000 he paid in the US for diagnosis and transfusion. Cost savings is just one reason NRIs come to India. Joshi says, “In India, I found the doctors’ intent and willingness to cure, as well as their quicker decisionmaking, highly valuable.” It was speed, quality, and cost that led him to India—even though his US employer provided health insurance. Take Prakriti Jalan (name changed), a 29-year-old research associate living in Germany. Despite free public healthcare there, her abdominal condition remained undiagnosed for over three weeks. She chose surgery in India, paying Rs.3 lakh. “Treatment would have been free in Germany, but very slow,” she explains. Being near family during recovery was a big comfort. Anas Abdul Wajid from Max Healthcare explains, “Many NRIs value affordability, quality, accessibility, shorter wait times, cultural comfort, and family support.” India also offers affordable home nursing and caregivers, smoothing recovery. KPMG reports NRIs mostly visit India for cardiac surgeries, knee/hip replacements, cancer treatment, fertility care, and cosmetic procedures. Dental treatments, usually not covered by insurance abroad, are also popular. Costs in India can be shockingly low: a coronary artery bypass surgery costing $151,271 in the US can be done for just Rs.1.8-3.6 lakh ($2,098-4,200) in India. Knee replacement in the US may be $15,000-$75,000; in India it’s much lower. Even factoring airfare, hotel, and visa fees, the savings cover travel easily. NRI health insurance plans help manage expenses. Bhaskar Nerurkar of Bajaj General Insurance says, "An Indian health policy protects during planned or emergency treatment in India. It also avoids fresh waiting periods on return." Some plans even offer global coverage and travel perks. Premiums are much cheaper too—around $120-300 annually for India policies versus $8,951 or more in the US. Siddharth Singhal of Policybazaar notes many NRIs keep Indian policies as backups even with coverage abroad, because overseas out-of-pocket costs can be high. Energy consultant Anant Visaria from Denmark bought Indian health cover for emergencies during India visits. He says, “Waiting times for procedures in Denmark can be long. This policy gives me treatment options in India too.” Buying insurance in India requires proof of Indian citizenship and possibly an Indian bank account. Claims and premiums are handled in rupees, following Foreign Exchange Management Act rules. However, NRIs must be careful: hospitals vary in quality, and India lacks a centralized healthcare regulator. Check hospital accreditations like NABH or JCI, doctors’ expertise, and get clear cost estimates before treatment. Dissatisfied patients like Navdeep Singh from Australia recount delays and poor privacy in Indian hospitals. Consultant Rama Venugopal warns of slow grievance redressal and advises NRIs to research well before treatment. To sum up, medical tourism in India is booming, growing from $18.2 billion now to $58.2 billion by 2035. Lower costs, faster care, family support, and smart insurance make India a hot choice for NRIs needing health help—just plan well and pick trusted hospitals!