Kolkata Travel Insurance
Everything you need to know before your trip
Healthcare Cost Level
Moderate
Avg. ER Visit
$150
Recommended Coverage
$100,000
Evacuation Risk
Moderate
Healthcare in Kolkata
What to expect if you need medical care
Kolkata's healthcare system presents a two-tiered reality for travelers. While the city offers adequate medical care with good English availability among healthcare providers, you'll find yourself largely reliant on private facilities since public healthcare access is limited for foreigners. Private hospitals in Kolkata provide reasonable quality care at moderate costs—expect to pay around $150 for an emergency room visit and $300 per day for hospitalization. The good news is that language barriers are minimal, as medical staff typically speak English well. However, healthcare quality and availability deteriorate significantly outside major cities. If you're planning to explore remote areas in the Himalayas, northeast states, or rural regions, be aware that medical facilities become sparse and basic evacuation options may be your only recourse in serious emergencies.
What Your Policy Should Cover
Country-specific considerations for Kolkata
Your insurance policy for Kolkata needs to address several destination-specific concerns. First, ensure comprehensive medical coverage that includes treatment for tropical diseases—dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and hepatitis A and E all pose moderate risks, particularly during monsoon season. High-risk travelers' diarrhea is virtually guaranteed year-round, so coverage for gastrointestinal treatment is essential. Air pollution reaches hazardous levels during winter months, potentially triggering respiratory issues requiring medical attention. If you're planning adventure activities, verify that your policy explicitly covers trekking in the Himalayas with high-altitude incidents and helicopter evacuation, white water rafting under adventure sports provisions, and motorcycle touring with proper license verification. Don't assume these activities are automatically included—many standard policies exclude them, leaving you vulnerable during India's most exciting experiences.
Dengue_fever
Moderate Risk
Peak: monsoon
Malaria
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Chikungunya
Moderate Risk
Peak: monsoon
Japanese_encephalitis
Moderate Risk
Peak: monsoon
Hepatitis_a_e
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Travelers_diarrhea
High Risk
Peak: year-round
Air_pollution
High Risk
Peak: winter
Activity-Specific Coverage
Trekking_himalaya: High altitude coverage and helicopter evacuation coverage essential
White_water_rafting: Adventure sports coverage required
Motorcycle_touring: Valid license coverage verification needed
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Our recommendation based on Kolkata's healthcare costs
The recommended $100,000 coverage amount accounts for Kolkata's moderate healthcare costs combined with significant evacuation risks. While daily medical expenses are reasonable at $300 per hospital day, costs multiply rapidly if you require extended treatment or develop serious complications. The real financial exposure comes from potential medical evacuation—if you're trekking in the Himalayas or exploring remote northeast regions and need helicopter rescue followed by hospitalization, expenses can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars. The $100,000 threshold provides adequate buffer for both routine medical care and worst-case evacuation scenarios.
Minimum
$50,000
Basic emergencies only
Recommended
$100,000
Full protection
Making a Claim in Kolkata
Tips for smooth claims processing
Documentation Required: Medical reports, original receipts, police reports for theft/accidents, detailed invoices with treatment codes
- Keep all original receipts and detailed invoices with specific treatment codes—Indian hospitals provide itemized bills, and your insurer will require these originals for reimbursement, not photocopies.
- File a police report immediately for any theft or accident-related claims, as Indian authorities require formal documentation and insurers won't process claims without this official paperwork.
- Request comprehensive medical reports in English from your treating physician, including diagnosis codes, treatment summaries, and prognosis—Indian doctors are accustomed to providing these for insurance purposes.
- Photograph all documentation before submitting claims, as mail from India can be unreliable and having backup copies prevents having to restart the claims process if documents go missing.
- Be prepared for moderate claims difficulty—Indian medical documentation standards differ from Western expectations, so allow extra time for back-and-forth communication with your insurer to clarify treatment details.
Get Covered for Kolkata
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