Health insurance for elderly parents in India: a guide for NRIs

Senior-citizen policies, waiting periods, co-pay, cashless hospitals and Ayushman Bharat for over-70s: what NRIs should check before buying cover for parents.

By the Athnova Care team · Updated 2026-09-29

Your own cover does not travel

Employer health plans in the US, the NHS, Medicare in Australia, provincial plans in Canada and employer insurance in the Gulf all stop at the border. Parents who live in India need cover in India, in their own names.

What changed in 2024

The insurance regulator removed the old upper age limit of 65 for buying a new health policy. Insurers may offer policies to people of any age.
The maximum waiting period for pre-existing diseases was reduced from four years to three.
The period after which an insurer cannot contest a claim for non-disclosure was reduced from eight years of continuous cover to five.

Together these make it more worthwhile than before to buy a policy for a parent in their late sixties or seventies — though premiums for older ages are high, and rise at each age band.

The words that decide what you get

Term	What it means	What to look for
Sum insured	The most the policy pays in a year	Enough for a major surgery in your parent’s city
Pre-existing disease waiting period	Time before known conditions are covered	Up to 3 years; some plans offer less for a higher premium
Specific-illness waiting period	Time before listed procedures — cataract, joint replacement, hernia — are covered	Commonly 1 to 2 years
Co-payment	The share of each claim you pay	Common in senior plans; lower is better
Room-rent limit	A cap on the room category	A cap can reduce the whole claim, not just the room charge
Sub-limits	Caps on particular treatments	Check cataract, joint replacement and cardiac procedures
Cashless network	Hospitals where the insurer pays directly	Must include the hospitals near your parent

Ayushman Bharat for parents aged 70 and over

Since late 2024 the government’s Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme has been open to all citizens aged 70 or over, regardless of income, with cover of ₹5 lakh a year per family for hospital treatment at empanelled hospitals. Enrolment is through the Ayushman app or the scheme’s website, using Aadhaar. Not every state takes part in the same way, and not every hospital is empanelled, so check what applies in your parent’s state.

It can sit alongside a private policy. People covered by certain government employee schemes have to choose between them.

Disclose everything

Declare every condition, medicine and past surgery on the proposal form, even if the agent says it does not matter. Claims are most often refused for non-disclosure. Keep a copy of the completed form.

Before you buy: a checklist

Is the nearest good hospital on the cashless list?
What is the co-payment, and does it apply to every claim?
What are the waiting periods for your parent’s own conditions?
Is there a room-rent cap?
Does the premium rise sharply at the next age band?
Can you pay the premium from abroad, and who receives the renewal notice?

If your parent already has a policy

Do not let it lapse. A break in cover restarts waiting periods.
Put the renewal date in your own calendar.
Consider a top-up policy to raise the cover rather than switching.
Ask about porting to another insurer if service is poor; waiting-period credit can usually be carried over.

Tax

People who pay income tax in India can usually claim a deduction for health insurance premiums paid for parents under section 80D, with a higher limit when the parents are senior citizens. Whether it helps you depends on your Indian income and the tax regime you have chosen.

General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules and limits change — confirm with the insurer, your bank or a qualified adviser before you act.

Questions families ask

Can I buy health insurance for my 70-year-old parent in India?

Yes. Since April 2024 there is no upper age limit set by the regulator for buying a new policy, though premiums are higher and a medical check may be required.

Will pre-existing diabetes or BP be covered?

After the waiting period stated in the policy, which can be up to three years. Declare the condition when you buy.

Is Ayushman Bharat available to all senior citizens?

It is open to citizens aged 70 and over regardless of income, in states that implement the scheme. Check your parent’s state and the list of empanelled hospitals.

Can an NRI pay the premium for parents?

Yes. Insurers accept payment online, including from NRE/NRO accounts and many international cards.

Sources

Athnova Care tracks and coordinates care. It does not diagnose, prescribe or replace a doctor. In a medical emergency in India call 112.