Average Hospitalisation Cost in Popular Tourist Destinations

Hospitalisation Costs in Top 10 Popular Destinations for Indian Travellers

Every country offers a new travel experience, culture and cuisine. Sadly, it also offers a newer and often unexpected medical cost.

Medical Expenses for Indians Travelling Abroad

Here is a quick overview of hospitalisation costs across some of the most popular destinations abroad:

1. France

   France may be famous for croissants and charming cafés, but a hospital bill can be a less pleasant surprise when the following costs appear in your hospital bill:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Ambulance	Free (Some co-pays may apply)
   Emergency room (ER)	€23 for an emergency visit without hospitalisation
   General Physician (GP) consultation	€30 for a standard consultation
   Diagnostics	€10 – €650 (Varies by test)
   Hospitalisation per day	€600 - €1,000
   Surgery	€5,000 to €12,000 (Varies depending on the procedure and hospital)

2. Germany

   Germany has a well-developed healthcare system, but medical treatment can still be expensive for visitors paying out of pocket. Take a look at the estimated costs of common services:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Ambulance	€300–€600
   Emergency room (ER)	€300+
   GP consultation	€25–€45 for a private consultation
   Diagnostics	€150–€2,800, depending on the test
   Hospitalisation per day	€1,000–€1,700+ for self-paying patients

   Note: Germany's statutory health system uses fixed treatment rates for insured patients. For example, if you do not have public health insurance, you have to pay an additional per km charge for an ambulance. Since travel insurance is mandatory for Indians travelling to Germany, these estimates mainly show the potential medical costs your travel insurance may need to cover.

3. United Kingdom

   The UK has more to offer than just royal sights. The NHS here provides some emergency and primary care services, so you can get medical help when you need it. But major hospital treatment can still leave you with out-of-pocket costs, including:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Emergency ambulance	£0 for emergency ambulance services
   Emergency room (A&E)	£0 for emergency treatment at A&E
   GP consultation	£40 - £400
   Diagnostics	Chargeable (£160 - £2,000), unless the condition is an immediate emergency.
   Hospitalisation per day	Around £1,000
   Surgery	£3,000–£16,000+, depending on the procedure

   A little NHS help can go a long way on a UK trip. Generally, Accident & Emergency (A&E) services are usually free for visitors. But if you are hospitalised, you will have to pay 150% of the standard NHS rate for medical emergency treatments.

4. Singapore

   Be it hawker centres or its famous airport, Singapore has it all. And having one of the best healthcare systems is one of them. Some of the cost you might incur if you get hospitalised include:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Ambulance	S$0 for emergency SCDF ambulance transfers to the hospital S$274 for a non-emergency SCDF transfer
   Emergency room (ER)	S$150–S$500
   GP consultation	S$30–S$130
   Diagnostics	S$50–S$2,500+, depending on the test
   Hospitalisation per day	S$47 - S$800
   Surgery	S$1,000–S$20,000+, depending on the procedure and hospital

   While Singapore is one of the favourite destinations for travellers, the hospitalisation costs are high. If you are planning a trip to Singapore, these costs give you an idea of what you could pay for medical treatment and what to consider when choosing travel insurance in Singapore.

5. Vietnam

   Vietnam generally offers more affordable healthcare than many Western destinations. However, costs can differ significantly between public and private hospitals. Here is what common medical services may cost:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Ambulance	VND300,000 - VND800,000
   Emergency room (ER)	VND 500,000 – VND 2 million
   GP consultation	VND 260,000 – VND 780,000
   Diagnostics	VND 200,000 – VND 50 million+, depending on the test
   Hospitalisation per day	VND 2,000,000 - VND 5,200,000

   Note: If you are travelling to Vietnam from India, private hospitals are your only options. Having a travel insurance for Vietnam will help cover the costs. They often serve foreign patients and offer English-speaking staff.

6. Australia

   If you are travelling to Australia, you may have to pay for medical treatment if you do not qualify for Medicare. Here is what you could pay:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Ambulance	A$900–A$1,000 (+per km charge)
   GP consultation	A$39 – A$80
   Diagnostics	A$35–A$500, depending on the test
   Hospitalisation per day	A$1,600 - A$4,000

   For visitors who are not eligible for Medicare, medical treatment can be expensive and may need to be paid in full unless covered by private travel or visitor health insurance for Australia.

7. Canada

   If you are travelling to Canada, you will need to pay for medical treatment out-of-pocket unless you have travel insurance for Canada. Here is what you could pay:

   Medical Service	Estimated Cost
   Ambulance	C$300 – C$800+ (+per km charge)
   Emergency room (ER)	C$500–C$1,500
   GP consultation	C$70 - C$270
   Diagnostics	C$200–C$2,500, depending on the test
   Hospitalisation per day	C$1,000–C$4,000+

What Makes Hospitalisation Expensive Abroad?

A hospital bill abroad is rarely limited to the cost of a hospital bed. The final amount can depend on several factors, from how long you stay and the treatment you receive to the tests to specialist care involved. Here are a few factors that impact your hospitalisation and make it expensive:

1. Length of Hospital Stay

   The longer someone remains admitted, the more they pay for hospital accommodation, nursing, medicines, monitoring and other daily services.

2. Type and Complexity of Treatment

   A simple observation stay can cost far less than treatment involving surgery, specialist care or intensive monitoring. The final hospital bill largely depends on the type and complexity of treatment required.

3. ICU Care

   An ICU admission can make an otherwise short hospital stay considerably more expensive. Travel health insurance can help cover eligible costs for specialised care, monitoring and longer stays.

4. The Destination

   Healthcare prices differ substantially from one country to another due to massive gaps in infrastructure and administrative expenses. For example, cancer treatment in India can cost 60-90% less than treatment in the USA.

How to Manage Medical Expenses Abroad?

In a medical emergency abroad, knowing whom to contact can help you get assistance faster. You should save these local emergency numbers and the contact details of the Indian Embassy or High Commission before travelling:

In an emergency, you can contact Policybazaar or your insurer to get immediate assistance.

Disclaimer: The costs shown here are estimates. The real costs might vary based on medical urgency, type of treatment and the patient's condition.