OCI citizenship: Continue health cover or take new?

Kapil Mehta, a co-founder at SecureNow Insurance Broker, advises that if your son is content with his current health insurance policy, he should keep it even after becoming an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). This approach will help him finish any necessary waiting periods and maintain uninterrupted benefits. After five consecutive years of coverage, insurance claims are typically not contested due to misrepresentation or missing information, except in cases of fraud.

However, most Indian health insurance policies only cover medical expenses incurred within India. If your son plans to reside primarily overseas, he should consider obtaining a policy that offers international coverage. While there's no strict requirement for policyholders to report changes in citizenship, he should notify the insurer to update his Know Your Customer (KYC) details and prevent any complications during the claim settlement process.

Your son can generally continue renewing his Indian health insurance policy while living abroad, provided the insurer permits it. It's crucial to confirm whether his change in residency impacts policy eligibility or coverage.