Health and Protection in Mumbai

The public healthcare and social service sector in Mumbai are still far from a high standard, but private healthcare facilities and private insurance is growing and is slowly becoming a favourite in the field of medical tourism. For several issues in India, it is highly advisable for expats to be fully covered in Mumbai. Most expats in the city prefer international insurance coverage for its wider range of coverage and better services compared to the limited services of local insurance. Since there are a lot of options available for expats in Mumbai, make sure you get the best plans that work for you and your lifestyle abroad, so you can make the most out of the benefits and services you can get with your insurance. 

Getting Insurance 

Insurance in Mumbai is still growing, and there are a number of options available. General healthcare, employment, and social services are not automatically provided by employers in this country, which is why the most advisable thing for expats is to negotiate with their employers to have international insurance included with their expat contract. This way, you could also include insurance for your family and even some moving or property insurance, depending on your needs. 

Most expats in the country and even locals prefer to have private insurance as the public insurance sector is not very efficient, and the service and facilities for public services are also not of the best quality. The only way for you to get premium care on general and emergency services will be if you have private insurance. There are several international insurance companies that offer services in Mumbai, and most of them are regional head offices for South Asia such as Bajaj Allianz, Bharti AXA, and Chola MS Insurance Group. It’s important for you to be clear with the type of coverage you have when you sign up for insurance with international companies. Make sure you specify whether you would like a local, regional, or international coverage to make sure you can use all the benefits and services that you need. 

Importance of Insurance

There are quite a few reasons for expats to get insurance in Mumbai, mainly because it’s not the safest city in the world, and therefore the risks are greater when you live here, but also because the best facilities and services in the city can be very expensive and only attainable if you have proper insurance coverage. Aside from getting a safety blanket for emergencies, you are also signing up for additional benefits and services that are made specifically for expats such as repatriation and medical evacuation when you sign up for an international insurance plan. You can also save money on some services such as dental care and regular check-ups that can be included in your plan when you have the proper fully comprehensive insurance plans. 

Local Insurance in Mumbai

The insurance industry in Mumbai is growing and is still developing since India had allowed private insurance back in 2000. The formation and reformation of the private and public insurance sector in the country is a bit complicated, and international insurance companies are resolved to nationalising the company by merging their international brands with local companies, hence the unique regional branding of international companies in the country. Insurance companies and policies are governed and regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).