Kerala’s insurance scheme for NRIs
Kerala, often celebrated for its lush landscapes and high literacy rates, is also known for something less visible but deeply impactful, its expatriate population. The state has long been a top contributor of international migrant workers in India, especially to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
According to government data, over 2.1 million Keralites live and work abroad, mostly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar. In fact, nearly 20% of all Indian expatriates in the Gulf are from Kerala, a staggering figure for a state with just 2.7% of India’s population.
These Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) have not only powered Gulf economies but have also sustained Kerala’s own through regular remittances. In 2022 alone, remittances contributed ₹1.27 lakh crore, or nearly 20% of Kerala’s GDP.
And yet, despite their enormous contribution, NRKs have long lacked structured health protection. Until now.
Norka Care – A first for NRIs of Kerala
On November 1, 2025 (Kerala Piravi Day) Norka Care, India’s first health and accident insurance scheme tailored exclusively for expatriates will come into force.
Developed by Norka Roots (the state agency for NRK welfare), in partnership with New India Assurance, this pioneering plan offers:
- ₹5 lakh health insurance coverage
- ₹10 lakh accident insurance (with global validity for death benefits)
- Cashless treatment at 500+ hospitals in Kerala and 16,000+ across India
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
- No medical tests required
- Eligibility up to 70 years of age
- Ultra-low premiums compared to market rates
What’s more, the scheme is open to all NRKs holding a Pravasi ID, as well as students from Kerala studying abroad. It is designed as a group policy, ensuring affordability without sacrificing benefits.
With this initiative, Kerala becomes the first Indian state to offer a structured health safety net to its overseas population.
Why this matters:
For years, Keralites abroad have grappled with:
- Limited access to affordable healthcare when visiting home
- Lack of financial support in case of accidents abroad
- Rising medical costs for families left behind in Kerala
- Burdens of returning home for treatment due to insurance limitations overseas
Norka Care addresses all of this head-on. Not only does it remove the typical entry barriers like waiting periods and medical tests, it also provides peace of mind to both the expatriate and their family back home.
And while the health coverage is India-only for now, the accident cover has global applicability, making it truly diaspora-focused.
The scheme is also a response to growing concerns over:
- Visa uncertainties (such as the H-1B squeeze in the US)
- Political unrest in parts of Europe
- Rising healthcare costs across Gulf countries
Why other states follow
India has over 18 million international migrants, making it the largest source of expatriates globally. States like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat also have large NRI populations, particularly in Canada, USA, UK, Australia, and the Middle East.
These expatriates face similar challenges: healthcare access, accident risk, repatriation issues, and financial strain on families back home.
Other state-level insurance schemes modelled on Norka Care could:
- Offer financial protection to lakhs of families
- Boost trust and goodwill towards governments
- Deepen the relationship between NRIs and their home states
- Encourage formal registration of expatriates, improving policymaking
As Girija Subramanian, CMD of New India Assurance, rightly said: “Kerala’s initiative is the first of its kind in the country. This could easily be adapted by other states for their NRI diaspora.”
What this means for insurers
The success of Norka Care is not just a policy win, it’s a wake-up call for the insurance industry.
This move shows that:
- Public-private partnerships work
- Group insurance models can reduce costs while expanding reach
- There’s a growing demand for India-based coverage from overseas citizens
For insurers, the question is no longer if this model will scale, but how fast.
Norka Care is more than a health policy. It’s recognition, respect, and reassurance for those who left home to build a better future, not just for themselves, but for their families, their villages, and their state.
insurancepe believes that other states should replicate this.Because every Indian abroad deserves the same promise: “You may be far from home, but you’re never far from care.”
This blog post is brought to you by the minds at insurancepe!
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