Amazing India

[Returning_Indian]

Medical Care - I'm a bit more ambiguous about this one.

I continue to be astounded by how cheap medical care is in India. Yes I know that I earn in USD and pay in INR but for 90% of the procedures the price here is a few orders of magnitude less than in the United States. Diagnostics like blood tests/MRIs/CT scans are a pittance to what we pay in the US. The medical industry in the US is quite a racket. The big hospitals in metro cities in India have great facilities and cost a fraction of US medical centers. On the flip side, perhaps due to the abundance of cheap medical care there seems to be a phenomenon I like to call 'overtreatment'. People tend to take antibiotics for even the basic common cold, over prescription of steroids and even doctors tend to order more diagnostics "just to be safe".

Antibiotic usage by doctors has gone down significantly and people are also more aware now. It will only improve with time. More than doctors it's the pharmacists that are troublemakers. They dish out medicine from store acting like doctors. Self care is the problem that I feel needs to reduce. Healthcare for common Indian is not cheap unless you have insurance. Any treatment will cost 5lakhs and can go upto crore for complicated cases. But ofcourse it's nothing compared to US.

US medical industry treats at 3 times the prices with worst outcomes among developed world. So there is that. But it's a best place to be healthcare professional and mint millions.

[SAPPORO]

How does Aam Aadmi afford healthcare in India? My MIL is getting her teeth implants and each teeth costs 40k and they are not even golden! India is cheap for repetitive stuff like bloodwork, X-ray, MRI - even with those, if you shop around, you can get decent prices in the US like getting bloodwork done directly with Labcorp/Quest and Radiology work done outside hospitals using websites like https://radiologyassist.com/locations/
Granted, no one is going to come in a bike and deliver your reports home in the US!

[old-spice2]

How does Aam Aadmi afford healthcare in India? My MIL is getting her teeth implants and each teeth costs 40k and they are not even golden! India is cheap for repetitive stuff like bloodwork, X-ray, MRI - even with those, if you shop around, you can get decent prices in the US like getting bloodwork done directly with Labcorp/Quest and Radiology work done outside hospitals using websites like https://radiologyassist.com/locations/
Granted, no one is going to come in a bike and deliver your reports home in the US!

If you have a job in a decent company (not just MNC) your health insurance is covered and it also covers for parents from both side. If you are govt servant at officer grade (not IAS), you and wife are covered for life with no out of pocket costs. You can even visit private hospitals and pay zero rupees. Otherwise go to govt hospitals or CGHS for small outpatient visits. For ex-servicemen (veterans in American lingo) medical is covered for life and that includes wife.

Few years back one of my coworker had a near death incidence with treatment from American doctors. He would have died had it not been for remote consultation from his relative in India. He had a follow up surgery - he said "nahi baba", took one month off and got that surgery in AIIMS for free (of course due to his contacts). He had to pay for supplies and some incidentals which was less than INR 10K. And this was for a cardiac surgery not some chota mota lab work.

If you know doctors/or have connection, you can get first class and free treatment in India. It is not that difficult to build those connection, just need to know people and not act like NRI jerk.

Now Sapro will come back with "oh I can get free treatment in US too and get $10K as gift voucher". These bloody NRIs cannot accept anything can be better in India.

[SAPPORO]

How does Aam Aadmi afford healthcare in India? My MIL is getting her teeth implants and each teeth costs 40k and they are not even golden! India is cheap for repetitive stuff like bloodwork, X-ray, MRI - even with those, if you shop around, you can get decent prices in the US like getting bloodwork done directly with Labcorp/Quest and Radiology work done outside hospitals using websites like https://radiologyassist.com/locations/
Granted, no one is going to come in a bike and deliver your reports home in the US!

If you have a job in a decent company (not just MNC) your health insurance is covered and it also covers for parents from both side. If you are govt servant at officer grade (not IAS), you and wife are covered for life with no out of pocket costs. You can even visit private hospitals and pay zero rupees. Otherwise go to govt hospitals or CGHS for small outpatient visits. For ex-servicemen (veterans in American lingo) medical is covered for life and that includes wife.

Few years back one of my coworker had a near death incidence with treatment from American doctors. He would have died had it not been for remote consultation from his relative in India. He had a follow up surgery - he said "nahi baba", took one month off and got that surgery in AIIMS for free (of course due to his contacts). He had to pay for supplies and some incidentals which was less than INR 10K. And this was for a cardiac surgery not some chota mota lab work.

If you know doctors/or have connection, you can get first class and free treatment in India. It is not that difficult to build those connection, just need to know people and not act like NRI jerk.

Now Sapro will come back with "oh I can get free treatment in US too and get $10K as gift voucher". These bloody NRIs cannot accept anything can be better in India.

I was not born yesterday to be under the illusion that the healthcare and insurance industries are charitable anywhere in the world let alone India. Rich people spend crores just to get a medical seat and I am sure they plan on reaping the rewards of their investments. Pre-existing conditions are never covered for seniors by any insurance. Most people blame illegals storming the ER for the exorbitant fees charged for others in the US, maybe we should blame those with 'connections' for the same in the Indian context How quickly we forget that the same people with connections were in a hurry to get out of India during the peak of the covid pandemic.

[desi4ever]

2)Familiarity/culture: No matter what I was broughtup as an Indian, I married into arrange marriage and my wife is of same caste. She cooks the same food my mom used to cook. She is stay at home mom and takes care of our house and my daughter and ours is the perfect template Indian family. So we have kind of carried on what our ancestors taught us and so far we have brought up our daughter in the same mould. Our wish would be to give our daughter the chance to follow the same path. Ofcourse she could choose to marry someone out of our caste, but atleast we if go back to India and her teenage years are spent in India, the chances are she marries an Indian. So it is easy for us and not a total shocker having to deal with inter racial marriage etc.

All the problems of India like pollution, population and corruption are manageable for me. I have reached the level of maslow's hierarchy now, where belongingness and social identity is more important than money and materialistic pursuits.

Dude, this! Thank your stars ( Jathaka ( astro chart ) ) and your effort ( or lack thereof !) in being able to manage important aspects of life like wealth and family . You can be happy in India with the right kind of mindset like you have.

[r2somewhere]

If you have a job in a decent company (not just MNC) your health insurance is covered and it also covers for parents from both side. If you are govt servant at officer grade (not IAS), you and wife are covered for life with no out of pocket costs. You can even visit private hospitals and pay zero rupees. Otherwise go to govt hospitals or CGHS for small outpatient visits. For ex-servicemen (veterans in American lingo) medical is covered for life and that includes wife.

Few years back one of my coworker had a near death incidence with treatment from American doctors. He would have died had it not been for remote consultation from his relative in India. He had a follow up surgery - he said "nahi baba", took one month off and got that surgery in AIIMS for free (of course due to his contacts). He had to pay for supplies and some incidentals which was less than INR 10K. And this was for a cardiac surgery not some chota mota lab work.

If you know doctors/or have connection, you can get first class and free treatment in India. It is not that difficult to build those connection, just need to know people and not act like NRI jerk.

Now Sapro will come back with "oh I can get free treatment in US too and get $10K as gift voucher". These bloody NRIs cannot accept anything can be better in India.

Your coworker and most NRIs are not rich enough by US standards to get good healthcare in US. In India you get good healthcare with connections and if you are in top 0.1% of India.

In US too, you can get great healthcare if you are worth over 100 million dollars. Things are (sometimes) better in India only because India is dirt poor compared to average NRI IT coolie.

[old-spice2]

I was not born yesterday to be under the illusion that the healthcare and insurance industries are charitable anywhere in the world let alone India. Rich people spend crores just to get a medical seat and I am sure they plan on reaping the rewards of their investments. Pre-existing conditions are never covered for seniors by any insurance. Most people blame illegals storming the ER for the exorbitant fees charged for others in the US, maybe we should blame those with 'connections' for the same in the Indian context How quickly we forget that the same people with connections were in a hurry to get out of India during the peak of the covid pandemic.

Sorry to burst your myth. There are tonnes of charitable hospitals in India run by many philanthropists and religious organizations. They are wealthy and do this as public service. I know several of them and they don't even have a billing department. Service is top class and people without money are not turned away. Many years ago before moving to US, I have used one such hospital for a surgery. That time I was in bottom 10% in India. LoL.

In US if you are John or Bill Gates you pay the same amount of money for medical services. The lobby does not allow charitable/govt run medical system. Once in OR state govt wanted to start a govt hospital for uninsured but medical lobby bribed the politicians to kill the bill. That will never happen in India.

Modi's Ayush system for low cost generic medicine is a big hit. I know some of my wealthy RI are using it and save 60% in medicines compared to regular pharmacy. Now Modiji has started Ayushman Bharat, free medical cover up to 5L for seniors over 70.

[old-spice2]

US medical industry treats at 3 times the prices with worst outcomes among developed world. So there is that. But it's a best place to be healthcare professional and mint millions.

I feel much safer in terms of medical services and support industry in India especially as I am moving into age where more medical and human support will be required. In States I do not have enough money to get equivalent service that I can get here for may be 10-20% of the price. For example nursing care or someone to come and cook when I am unable to get up from bed is unthinkable in US with my savings. It will drain out fast like a leaky bucket. We always had the fear of running out of money especially in high cost BA. For folks with $50M and above it may not be an issue but even with that kind of money I will retire in India. May be get some Russian models to come and dance for entertainment!

Having spent 30 years in each country, I can tell India is a better place to retire. US is for young and healthy people or for souls who have hatred towards India in their DNA. For example in my BA county, there is a 3-4 weeks wait period to get a specialist like cardiologist or ortho. That is not acceptable as here I can walk in to many hospitals and see a specialist same day. That gives me comfort.

Indian doctors are pretty good in diagnosing and treating ailments. Since they dont have to worry about malpractice they do what is right. Of course you need to go to doctors who is known to you or get recommendations from F&F. Doing search in Google or reading reviews is not the right way.

The millions I would save in spending on medical, LT and nursing care insurance, I plan to spend on trips to Fiji/Tahiti and mock Sapro from there. LoL

[Returning_Indian]

I feel much safer in terms of medical services and support industry in India especially as I am moving into age where more medical and human support will be required. In States I do not have enough money to get equivalent service that I can get here for may be 10-20% of the price. For example nursing care or someone to come and cook when I am unable to get up from bed is unthinkable in US with my savings. It will drain out fast like a leaky bucket. We always had the fear of running out of money especially in high cost BA. For folks with $50M and above it may not be an issue but even with that kind of money I will retire in India. May be get some Russian models to come and dance for entertainment!

Having spent 30 years in each country, I can tell India is a better place to retire. US is for young and healthy people or for souls who have hatred towards India in their DNA. For example in my BA county, there is a 3-4 weeks wait period to get a specialist like cardiologist or ortho. That is not acceptable as here I can walk in to many hospitals and see a specialist same day. That gives me comfort.

Indian doctors are pretty good in diagnosing and treating ailments. Since they dont have to worry about malpractice they do what is right. Of course you need to go to doctors who is known to you or get recommendations from F&F. Doing search in Google or reading reviews is not the right way.

The millions I would save in spending on medical, LT and nursing care insurance, I plan to spend on trips to Fiji/Tahiti and mock Sapro from there. LoL

aam aadmi suffers everywhere. It's better to be in a place where you are in top 1-5%. I agree that healthcare/convenience for seniors is better priced and affordable in India. There is also support system which suits Indian psyche. Social life is better. It's good life has given you this blessing to enjoy best of both worlds. So enjoy while it lasts. Many Americans try this by going to south America but obviously it's not the same as it's not their country/culture. Here you just have to worry about carrying charmin roll for next 6 months.

[r2somewhere]

For example in my BA county, there is a 3-4 weeks wait period to get a specialist like cardiologist or ortho. That is not acceptable as here I can walk in to many hospitals and see a specialist same day. That gives me comfort.

Pretty sure there is no wait time for Zuckerburg. You are just too poor by BA standards.