An Indian-American woman, Dhara, has shared why she chose to leave the United States and move back to India after spending 17 years there. Dhara moved to the US at the age of 15, later married an Indian-origin man, and had twins abroad. Over the past few years, however, she and her husband began seriously discussing a return to their homeland — carefully planning every step before finally making the move.
In two Instagram videos posted recently, Dhara broke down the reasons behind their decision to choose India over the US. The first was deeply personal: she wanted her children to grow up with a strong sense of community and cultural belonging.
“In India, my twins are growing up with our prayers, our stories and what culture really feels like, not just what it sounds like on a holiday,” she said in her video, emphasising that she wanted them to experience culture as a way of life, not just as an occasional celebration.
Healthcare in the US
Dhara also spoke at length about the US healthcare system, which became a major turning point for her once she became a mother.
“I had twins and just six weeks of maternity leave to recover and figure out motherhood,” she recalled. “And after the six weeks, like every mom, I was expected to go back to normal life while still healing, still exhausted.”
In comparison, she pointed out that Indian women are legally entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave, giving them more time to recover and bond with their newborns.
HT.com has reached out to Dhara for a statement and this article will be updated if and when she responds.
Maternity leave, however, was only part of the picture. Dhara also highlighted the rising cost of health insurance in the US, describing it as financially draining.
“For the privilege of having health insurance, we had to hit a $14,000 deductible every single year,” she said.
She went on to explain how the system works in practice: “Before insurance even helps, you first have to hit your yearly deductible. Meaning every doctor visit, test, whatever it is, you pay until hitting the out of pocket deductible. For us, that was $14,000 out of pocket on top of monthly premiums.”
Over time, their premiums kept increasing. Eventually, the lowest quote they received was $1,600 per month with a $15,000 deductible — and that figure did not even include coverage for their twins.
Healthcare in India
In contrast, Dhara described healthcare in India as far more approachable and less daunting.
“In India, healthcare doesn’t feel like a luxury. We have access to good doctors, quicker care and a support system that actually feels accessible,” she said.
She contrasted this with her experience in the US, where even minor health concerns felt like a drawn-out ordeal. Every small issue could become complicated, expensive and time-consuming. “Even simple concerns became expensive, slow, and stressful,” Dhara added.
Dhara’s candid account has struck a chord online. Her video has gone viral, garnering over 2.2 million views on Instagram and many more on X, where it has been widely reshared and discussed.
