Medical Emergency Outside Home Country
Immediate Actions — First 1–2 Hours
1
Call 112 (the international emergency number, works in most countries) or the local equivalent for immediate medical assistance. In the USA: 911. In the UK: 999. In most of Europe: 112.
2
Call your travel insurer’s international assistance helpline immediately — this is the most important financial call. The assistance company can authorise cashless treatment at the hospital, preventing you from having to pay upfront costs you cannot afford.
3
If you are incapacitated: a travelling companion must make both calls — medical services and insurance assistance. If alone: ask hospital staff to help you contact your insurer.
4
Provide the hospital with your travel insurance policy number and the insurer’s assistance company’s contact details — ask them to coordinate directly with the insurer for cashless treatment authorisation.
5
Do not refuse treatment on cost grounds — treatment must come first. The financial resolution comes after stabilisation.
Short-Term Steps — First 24–72 Hours
1
Notify the Indian Embassy of your hospitalisation — for serious cases, they can monitor your situation and assist with family notification.
2
Have a family member in India informed immediately — they may need to travel to assist you or to handle financial arrangements.
3
Collect all medical documentation from the first moment: diagnosis, treatment records, bills, discharge summary. Even if the insurer is providing cashless treatment, collect originals — you will need them for the final claim reconciliation.
4
If the insurer’s assistance company recommends medical evacuation (air ambulance to India or to a better-equipped facility): follow their advice — medical evacuation is extremely expensive without insurance cover (USD 50,000–150,000) and is covered under most comprehensive travel policies.
5
Keep receipts for all associated expenses: accommodation for a travelling companion, meals, local transport, communication costs — these are often covered under the ‘compassionate visit’ or ‘attendant expenses’ clause.
Resolution Steps — On Return to India
1
On discharge: obtain a comprehensive discharge summary in English (or with a certified translation) — this is the foundation of your insurance claim.
2
File the complete insurance claim on return to India within the policy’s claim deadline (typically 30–90 days of return).
3
For cashless treatment: the insurer settles directly with the hospital. You are responsible for any amounts not covered — co-pays, non-medical items, amounts above policy limits.
4
For reimbursement: submit all original bills, medical reports, and treatment records to the insurer’s Indian claims team.
5
If the insurer denied cashless treatment or is disputing the claim: escalate to IRDAI Bima Bharosa on return (bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in).
Prevention — Prepare Before You Leave India
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Buy travel insurance with a minimum of USD 100,000 medical coverage for international trips — this is not optional for travel to USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, or Japan.
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Disclose pre-existing conditions honestly when buying travel insurance — undisclosed conditions are the most common basis for overseas claim rejection.
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Save the international assistance helpline number in your phone as a contact before every trip — not in an email or document you cannot access without internet.
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Carry a brief ‘medical summary’ card in your wallet listing your blood group, known conditions, current medications, and allergies — this helps treating physicians in an emergency.
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For senior travellers or those with pre-existing conditions: buy a policy that explicitly covers those conditions, even at a higher premium. The differential is trivial compared to the financial risk.
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Your Rights
Travel insurance policies with medical coverage must provide emergency medical assistance — the insurer’s assistance company is their agent and their authorisation creates an obligation to cover the costs. Denial of cashless treatment abroad when you have a valid policy and called the assistance helpline is a service failure by the insurer. You are entitled to file a complaint with IRDAI on return.
Key Contacts & Portals
| Who / What | Contact / Action |
|---|---|
| Emergency (Universal) | 112 (works in most countries) | 911 (USA) | 999 (UK) |
| Your travel insurer assistance | On your policy card — most important number to have saved |
| MEA Emergency Helpline | (+91)-11-2301-2113 |
| Who / What | Contact / Action |
|---|---|
| Indian Embassy abroad | mea.gov.in — locate nearest Indian mission |
| Madad Portal | madad.gov.in — register situation with MEA | Madad app on App Store and Google Play |
| IRDAI Bima Bharosa | bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in | 155255 — on return for disputes |