An NRI couple sparked an online conversation after sharing why they decided to return to India almost two decades after living in the United States. The family, now based in India with their twins, said skyrocketing health care costs in the US have left them financially strained and emotionally overwhelmed.
In a video posted on Instagram, they explained that even with insurance, access to doctors and basic medical services is “slow, expensive and stressful.”
“For anyone who has never dealt with the US healthcare system, here’s a little context,” they wrote. “You have to meet your annual deductible before insurance will even help. Every visit, every test — you pay out of pocket first.”
According to the couple, they were spending $14,000 a year before the insurance coverage kicked in. The “cheapest” health insurance plan available to them—just for two adults—was $1,600 a month with a $15,000 deductible, excluding their children.
“Even simple worries have become a financial burden,” they said, adding that without family support in the U.S., parenthood feels increasingly isolated.
They eventually decided to move back to India, where health care was more affordable and support was easier to find.
“India isn’t perfect,” they acknowledged, “but health care doesn’t feel like a luxury here. We have access to good doctors, faster care, and a support system that’s truly accessible. This move wasn’t about running away, it was about running toward a life where health care wasn’t a financial stress and motherhood wasn’t a single battle.”
The couple added that returning home has given them something they didn’t realize they were missing — “balance and peace.”
The video surpassed 1.6 million views and attracted hundreds of comments. Many users agreed with the couple’s view of medical costs in the US, while others noted that adjusting to life in India comes with its own challenges.
A user wrote: “Welcome to India. We lived in the US for 17 years and came back to India three months ago. It’s been an adjustment like any relocation, but we’re getting closer to our family and enjoying time with them. We’re settling in easily. Good luck.”
Another user wrote: “Why I can’t decide I love to go back to India, I’ve been in the US for almost 2 decades and we are GC holders. Every second I think I wanted to go back and buy I couldn’t dare with the kids, kudos to you guys, you have a happy chapter.”
“Congratulations on making the right move. My daughter got married and moved to Florida, but after she got pregnant and realized she was only getting 6 weeks maternity leave, my son-in-law decided to move here to the UK. It was a blessing for me as I had to help take care of my grandson and daughter after the birth. She was 7 months pregnant when she packed up and moved the best for you and your family moved back to the UK. it’s nowhere safe today,” wrote a third user.
