A practical playbook to caring for your parents in India from abroad

Adequate insurance, medical corpus and trusted care networks for parents can turn anxiety into peace of mind

- Anagh Pal

K-based Maharshi Upadhyaya carefully manages his parents’ healthcare, ensuring their well-being despite the distance.

He ensures they have their own mediclaim policies and undergo regular health checkups to prevent unexpected issues. The family’s joint business also provides a support system, which isa definite plus.

“The best tip is to ensure there isa reserve of cash or card money always available at the family’s disposal. In dire cases, I do it with some mutual funds, which we can take out immediately,” the 37-year-old says.

For NRIs, the bond with their parents back home is maintained through phone calls, video chats, and periodic visits. However, when health issues arise, the distance feels the longest. By putting in place the right protection through strong insurance coverage, cashless access, and trusted care networks, you can turn anxiety into peace of mind.

Choosing the right policy for elderly parents

“The most practical way to prepare for future healthcare needsis to start early with comprehensive health insurance. Early enrollment not only ensures wider coverage but also keeps premiums affordable as parents age,” said Pruthvinath Kancherla, co-founder, Affordplan, a fintech healthcare player.

It is important to prioritise comprehensive protection over mere affordability. One should ideally opt fora health insurance policy with a higher sum insured (%25 lakh and above) to manage large hospital bills, especially in cases of serious illnesses or prolonged treatments.

“One can buy a super-top-up policy, which will help increase the insurance coverage without a corresponding increase in premium,” said Thomas Stephen, director & head, Anand Rathi Preferred, a wealth management firm.