‘Moving to India not out of love’: NRI couple returns after 17 years in the US, citing expensive medical system, poor support

In India, the US-based couple found quicker access to doctors, simpler appointments, and a support system that felt close at hand.

The couple said appointments took weeks and rising medical bills only increased their anxiety.

A video of a US-based couple has taken Instagram by storm after the woman opened up about why they chose to move back to India after 17 years in America. She says everything changed once she became a mother.

After having twins, she was given just six weeks of maternity leave, barely enough time to heal, understand life with two newborns, and find her footing. “I was expected to go back to normal life while still healing, still learning, and still exhausted,” she recalls.

She then explains how the rising cost of healthcare pushed them further. Their insurance required them to hit a $14,000 yearly deductible (amount to be paid for medical expenses before insurance coverage kicks in). Despite that, their monthly premiums kept climbing, the lowest plan they could find for just the two of them was $1,600 a month, with a $15,000 deductible. “That did not even include our twins,” she says. Even the simplest medical concern turned into a long chain of “calls, co-pays, approvals.”

Getting appointments for their children took weeks, the visits felt rushed, and the mounting bills added to their anxiety. As parents, she says, healthcare became the last thing they wanted to constantly battle.

Eventually, the couple decided to move to India. It was not about chasing perfection, she explains, but about finding a life where “healthcare doesn’t feel like a luxury.” In India, they found quicker access to doctors, simpler appointments, and a support system that felt close at hand.

“This move wasn’t about running away. It was about running towards a life where healthcare wasn’t a financial burden and motherhood wasn’t a solo battle,” she says. India, she adds, gave them something they did not realise they were missing: balance and peace of mind.

Watch the video:

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The video has gone viral with over 2 million views and received many comments from netizens. A user wrote, “Welcome to India. We lived for 17 years in the US and returned to India, three months ago. It’s been an adjustment, just like any relocation, but we get to be closer to our family and enjoy our time with them. Have an easy settling in. Good luck.”

Another user commented, “Both countries have their advantages and disadvantages. India offers an excellent support system, particularly for families with young children. However, navigating everyday challenges is quite a task.”

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A third person shared, “Welcome! We moved to India in 2022 and not for a sec I missed Dubai..Me and my husband both were working there and getting good salary but nothing can match our roots, culture.”

A fourth individual commented, “You are moving to India not out of love for your country.”