When your elderly parents need hospital care in Delhi NCR, paying for the visit from abroad can feel like a maze. Between UPI OTP barriers, Indian bank account requirements, and currency conversion, many NRIs in the USA, UK, and UAE struggle to settle bills quickly. Here is a practical breakdown of your options.
1. International Credit & Debit Cards
Most private hospitals in Delhi NCR — Apollo, Fortis, Max, Medanta — accept Visa, Mastercard, and Amex issued abroad. The bill is settled in INR and your bank converts it to USD, GBP, or AED at the prevailing rate. Watch out for foreign transaction fees (typically 1–3%) and dynamic currency conversion traps at the POS terminal — always choose to pay in INR, not your home currency.
2. Wire Transfers (SWIFT)
For large bills (surgery, overnight admissions), a SWIFT wire transfer from your US, UK, or UAE bank to the hospital's Indian account is reliable but takes 2–5 business days. Request the hospital's SWIFT/BIC code and IFSC code from their billing desk. Our NRI hospital admission guide walks through this in detail.
3. UPI via NRE/NRO Account or Remittance Apps
If you maintain an NRE or NRO account with a UPI handle, you can pay hospital bills and companion fees directly. Apps like Wise, Remitly, Xoom, and UAE Exchange let you send money from abroad to an Indian bank account within hours, which your parents can then use via UPI or debit card.
4. Paying for Corelatin Companion Services
Corelatin accepts international credit/debit cards, Stripe, and standard Indian payment methods — so you can book a verified hospital companion for your parents without needing an Indian bank account. Pricing is transparent and all-inclusive, starting from ₹249/hr. You receive a GST invoice by email, and digital invoices are accessible from your dashboard.
Quick Tip
Keep a scanned copy of your parents' Aadhaar, health insurance card, and any existing prescriptions in a shared Google Drive folder. When a companion visits the hospital, these documents can be presented digitally — saving your parents from carrying physical paperwork.