Top International Health Insurance Plans

Best International Health Insurance in India

As more and more Indians travel abroad each year for work, leisure, and business, the need to invest in the best global health insurance rises. Navigating the international healthcare system can be a challenge, which is why securing your finances with the best global health insurance is important.

The best international health insurance in India provides wide-ranging international health insurance coverage, including hospitalization, evacuation, and critical illness treatments.

Explore the best global health insurance in India mentioned in the article below.

Extraordinary Facts

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) estimated that there were 281 million international migrants. India is the origin of the largest number of international migrants in the world, touching nearly 18 million, according to the UN World Migration Report 2024.

Top 10 International Health Insurance Plans in India 2026

These are the best international travel health insurance options for people living abroad. You can explore them from the list given below:

Best International Health Insurance in India: Key Features

1. Star Travel Protect Insurance Policy

A unique health insurance policy offering sum insured up to USD 500,000 with coverage features for health and travel inconveniences. Any individual who is a permanent resident of India above 6 months of age can avail of this policy.

What We Like?

• Two coverage options are available: USA and Canada along with worldwide coverage.
• A lump sum amount available to the legal nominee in case of the policyholder's death or disability due to an accident.
• Covers individuals between the ages of 70 to 75 years as well.
• Covers loss of passport or baggage.
• Emergency medical evacuation is available.

2. Bajaj Global Personal Guard

It is a specialized international health insurance plan providing coverage against death, disability, hospitalization due to accidents, and more, anywhere across the globe. The plan offers a high sum insured of up to INR 25 crores.

What We Like?

• Air ambulance cover is available in case of emergencies.
• Child education grant for your children in case of permanent disability.
• Covers you during a coma state due to accidental injury.
• Injuries and accidents caused due to engagement in adventure sports are covered.
• Daily hospital cash benefit for up to 60 days of hospitalization.

3. TATA AIG Student Travel Guard

One of the best international health insurance plans for students studying abroad with features like baggage loss cover, semester fee cover due to medical emergencies, and more.

What We Like?

• Reimbursement of the entire semester fee in case of absence due to a medical emergency.
• Pay your premiums in INR and get covered in USD.
• Distress allowance in case of hijacking.
• Compassionate visit of a family member if you cannot travel back to India.
• Maternity benefit.

4. Care Student Explore

A global health insurance designed to support your dreams of studying abroad by covering you for emergency and non-emergency medical expenses. With up to USD 10,00,000, the plan is loaded with attractive features.

What We Like?

• Covers self-inflicted injuries (uncommon in other international health plans).
• HIV/AIDS coverage available.
• Covers life-threatening pre-existing conditions.
• Covers treatment in your home country.
• Covers loss of international driving license.

5. Aditya Birla Global Health Secure

A versatile global plan offering you and your loved ones a financial safety net from medical expenses. The policy is eligible for those with a base health insurance of INR 10 lakhs in India.

What We Like?

• Protection from 16 major illnesses like cancer, heart valve replacement, neurosurgery, and more.
• International cashless hospitalization for hassle-free medical treatments abroad.
• Covers organ donor expenses.
• Guidance for visa documentation for medically necessary treatment abroad.
• E-opinion from a panel of internationally available medical practitioners.

6. HDFC ERGO Optima Secure Global Plus

A comprehensive health insurance plan offering access to a wide network of healthcare facilities across the globe. The global plan offers a sum insured up to INR 2 crores and offers multiple features in India and abroad.

What We Like?

• Lump sum benefits and comprehensive coverage for 51 critical illnesses as an optional add-on.
• Covers overseas travel and accommodation expenses for an accompanying person.
• E-opinion for critical illnesses (globally available).
• Sum insured restoration up to 100% on partial or complete exhaustion.
• Preventive health check-ups.

7. ICICI Lombard International Travel Insurance

A robust international health insurance plan with a sum insured range of USD 50,000 to 5,00,000. Comprehensive plans with extensive coverage and no medical test required up to 85 years of age. Comes in multiple variants: Gold plan, Multi-trip plan, Platinum plan, Asia plan, and Senior Citizen plan.

What We Like?

• Personal accident cover for accidental death or permanent total/partial disability.
• Compensation for death or permanent total/partial disability while traveling.
• Covers cost of treatment for natural teeth in case of injury.
• Value-added services for dependents in India.
• Covers cost of return to Country of Residence if insured needs to evacuate.

8. Niva Bupa Travel Assure

A global health plan offered by Niva Bupa is ideal for students and one-time travelers. A plan that travels with you anywhere in the world, offering three variants: Lite, Basic, and Comprehensive.

What We Like?

• Coverage for overseas hospitalization up to USD 500,000 without any sub-limits.
• Covers pre-existing diseases.
• Covers accidental injury.
• OPD care for accident or illness.
• Covers medical expenses for dental treatment.

9. Care International Travel Insurance

A global health plan designed to cater to single trips, multiple trips, and frequent flyers. The plan is available in 8 different variants: Explore Asia, ANZ, Africa, Europe, Canada+, Explore Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

What We Like?

• Covers pre-existing conditions in case of life-threatening diseases.
• Covers treatments in the home country as part of in-patient hospitalization.
• Covers trip delay, cancellation, or interruption.
• Covers loss of passport.
• Covers upgradation to business class.

10. SBI Travel Insurance (Business and Holiday)

A comprehensive health plan for you and your family members when you are globetrotting.

What We Like?

• Covers emergency evacuation expenses.
• Covers healthcare expenses if injured or ill during travel.
• Covers loss of passport, baggage, and more.
• Hijack cover of USD 200 per 24 hours.
• 24/7 emergency assistance.

Read more about the best health insurance company in India.

How Does Global Health Insurance in India Work?

The best international health insurance plans in India offer you coverage regardless of your geographical location. Offering a wide array of services like in-patient hospitalization, ambulance services, health check-ups, accidental death/disability cover, loss of baggage and/or passport cover, compassionate travel expenses, and more. All features vary as per your international health insurance plan.

Invest wisely in global health insurance and avail the best treatments in India and abroad.

Do You Need The Best Global Health Insurance To Travel To Some Countries?

Around 43 countries across the globe require you to have international health insurance. Regardless of your travel purpose, many countries have mandated tourists and students to invest in a health insurance plan.

The agenda is simple: while many countries offer free medical care to their citizens, it is not the same for foreign nationals. Availing medical treatment in a foreign land can be an expensive affair. To prevent serious damage to the health of tourists due to the unavailability of quality medical care, many countries mandate individuals to invest in global health insurance.

Exclusions of Global Health Insurance

Like domestic health plans, international health insurance plans also have certain exclusions:

• Cosmetic procedures.
• Obesity/Bariatric surgery.
• Intentional self-harm.
• Injuries or hospitalization due to illegal activities.
• Drug or alcohol abuse.

How to Choose International Health Insurance Plans with PolicyX?

What Are The Locations Covered?

Before selecting a global health cover, check the listed countries providing medical coverage. Not all international health insurance plans provide global coverage. Many exclude the USA and Canada.

Consider the countries where you might seek medical treatment, and then find the appropriate health insurance plan.

Is The Sum Insured Enough?

Imagine an international medical emergency during your vacation and not having enough funds to access medical care in a foreign land. It would be a nightmare!

Select an international health insurance with a sufficient sum insured.

Are Cashless Treatments Available?

Understand if your health insurance provider has Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) in hospitals and medical care facilities in the country for cashless hospitalization and treatments.

Ensuring cashless hospitalization and treatments will ensure your international health plan provides hassle-free claim settlement.

What Are The Inclusions?

If your international health plan only covers inpatient hospitalization and you require a daycare procedure, it will be of no use.

Make sure to check the list of coverage features before investing in global health insurance.

Will My International Health Plan Restore My Sum Insured?

Regardless of a planned or emergency hospitalization, ask yourself if your global health plan offers restoration of the sum insured on partial or complete exhaustion.

Benefits of International Health Insurance

• Take Your Healthcare Everywhere You Go

  Let your international health insurance manage your healthcare needs like cashless hospitalization, doctor consultations, daycare procedures, ambulance services, etc., while you focus on your recovery.

• Seek Treatments Abroad For Life-threatening Ailments

  Life-threatening ailments like cancer, strokes, etc., can be treated abroad with advanced medical technology. Many health insurance plans do not cover medical treatments available outside India, preventing many families from traveling abroad.

  Investing in an international health plan will cover you financially, allowing you to get the best possible treatments abroad.

• Cover Planned Treatments

  Many health insurance plans offer worldwide coverage, including emergency hospitalization, but often exclude planned medical expenses.

  Investing in a global health plan ensures you are funded for planned medical treatments abroad in addition to emergency hospitalizations.

• You Are One Call Away From Your Nearest Hospital

  You do not have to worry about getting to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency in a foreign land. Ambulance services are covered by your international health plans, even in an unknown city where there may be language barriers.

• Additional Services

  How great would it be if your international health plan could cover you for lost baggage or a passport?

  Many international health insurance plans cover loss of baggage, passport, and even delayed or canceled flights.

Who Should Invest in International Health Insurance?

Now the real question is, 'Do I Need To Buy An International Health Insurance Plan?'. The simple answer is, not everyone needs a global health plan. However, you must invest in one if:

• You have an interest in traveling and often fly abroad.
• You are in a profession that requires you to stay abroad for longer periods, such as pilots, cabin crew, etc.
• You are a business traveler and have to travel abroad to meet clients.
• You are a student planning to pursue higher education abroad.

What Documents Are Required to File a Claim for an International Health Plan?

The documents required to file international health insurance claims are:

• Claim form.
• Travel tickets.
• Identification documents.
• Hospital bills.
• Discharge document.

Still confused about how to file claims? Talk to our IRDAI-certified insurance experts now!