Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Michelle Megna
Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Ashlee is an insurance editor, journalist and business professional with an MBA and more than 17 years of hands-on experience in both business and personal finance. She is passionate about empowering others to protect life's most important assets. When Ashlee isn't spreading insurance knowledge or solving television murder mysteries, she enjoys spending time with her family (including the furry and feathery ones) on their farm in Kentucky.
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Ashlee Valentine
Ashlee is an insurance editor, journalist and business professional with an MBA and more than 17 years of hands-on experience in both business and personal finance. She is passionate about empowering others to protect life's most important assets. When Ashlee isn't spreading insurance knowledge or solving television murder mysteries, she enjoys spending time with her family (including the furry and feathery ones) on their farm in Kentucky.
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If you’re going to have family or friends from another country visit you, they should plan to buy travel medical insurance. Health insurance from other countries isn’t usually accepted in the U.S. and the cost for medical treatment in the states can add up quickly.
Travel medical insurance, also called visitors insurance, can provide financial compensation for a visitor’s medical expenses if they get sick or injured during their trip to the U.S. We evaluated visitors insurance policies to find the best travel medical insurance.
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Show Summary
- The Best Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors to the U.S.
- Summary: Best Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors Coming to the U.S.
- What Is Travel Medical Insurance?
- What Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover?
- What Isn’t Covered by Travel Medical Insurance?
- Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
- How Much Does Travel Medical Insurance Cost for Visitors to the U.S.?
- Methodology
- Best Travel Medical Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Compare Travel Medical Insurance Quotes
The Best Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors to the U.S.
- Atlas America – Best Overall
- Patriot America Lite – Best for Cost
- Patriot America Plus – Great for Trip Interruption Insurance
- Safe Travels USA Comprehensive – Best for Deductible Choices
- Seven Corners Travel Medical Basic USA – Best for Urgent/Emergency Care Reimbursement
Summary: Best Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors Coming to the U.S.
What Is Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical insurance for visitors to the U.S. provides short-term medical coverage It compensates you up to the policy limits for medical expenses if you get sick or injured during your trip.
Sometimes called visitors insurance, these policies are designed for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. for trips lasting a few weeks or a few months, up to a year. For example, travel medical insurance is a common type of travel insurance for parents visiting the U.S. whose adult children live here.
Americans traveling abroad can also buy travel medical insurance for themselves, often as part of comprehensive travel insurance policies that cover trip cancellation, travel delays and much more.
What Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover?
A comprehensive travel medical insurance policy for visitors to the U.S. generally covers inpatient and outpatient services, urgent and emergency medical services and other health care, as well as a range of other types of care. This can include:
- Emergency dental coverage
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Emergency medical treatment for pregnancy complications
- Mental disorders
- Prescriptions/medication
What Isn’t Covered by Travel Medical Insurance?
The list of exclusions varies by insurance policy but can include:
- Cosmetic and elective surgeries
- Injuries due to extreme sports
- Intentional self-inflicted injuries
- Suicide or attempted suicide
- Injury or illness while over the legal limits for alcohol
Be sure to review your policy for details on what conditions and activities are not covered.
Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
Some travel medical insurance policies cover pre-existing medical conditions—and it’s usually with coverage caps—but not all do.
Many travel medical insurance plans for visitors to the U.S. cover the acute onset of pre-existing medical conditions. This coverage generally provides necessary emergency care for a medical emergency that is life threatening or requires immediate medical treatment if you experience a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition. There are coverage limits, so be sure to read the details of the policy.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance
How Much Does Travel Medical Insurance Cost for Visitors to the U.S.?
Travel medical insurance is relatively affordable considering that you can buy high coverage amounts for long trips to the U.S. Costs will depend mainly on the visitor’s age, trip length and the medical coverage amount and deductible chosen.
Methodology
To identify the best travel medical insurance for visitors coming to the U.S., we scored only comprehensive travel medical plans on the following criteria:
Cost (50% of score): Plans with lower costs were awarded the most points.We analyzed average rates for:
- A 70-year-old traveler from India coming to the U.S. for 90 days, with coverage of $100,000 with a $250 deductible (or closest deductible).
- Two travelers ages 60 and 65 coming from India to the U.S. for 30 days, with coverage of $50,000 with a $100 deductible (or closest deductible).
Trip interruption benefits (10% of score): Points were awarded if policies included $10,000 or more in trip interruption benefits. If a visitor has to cut their trip to the U.S. short and return home, this coverage can pay the costs. The reason for the trip interruption must be listed in the policy in order to make a claim.
Choices of policy maximum coverage amounts (10% of score): Points were awarded if the policy had maximum medical coverage amounts of $500,000 and up.
Urgent care out-of-network reimbursement (10% of score): Policies that cover out-of-network urgent care at 100% (after copay) earned points.
Emergency room out-of-network reimbursement (10% of score): Policies that cover out-of-network emergency room care at 100% (after copay) earned points.
Emergency dental care (10% of score): Points were awarded if emergency dental care coverage was $300 or more.
Best Travel Medical Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need travel medical insurance if I have health insurance?
Visitors to the U.S. need travel medical insurance if they want to be reimbursed for medical expenses if they get sick or injured here. Health plans from other countries aren’t usually accepted in the U.S.
You also need travel medical insurance if you are a U.S. citizen taking a trip to another country. U.S.-based health plans will have limited or no coverage in foreign countries, so it’s prudent to consider medical insurance for trips abroad.
Does travel medical insurance cover Covid?
Many travel medical plans cover Covid-related medical expenses, but not all do. For example, the Travel Medical Basic – USA plan by Seven Corners does not cover Covid. Be sure to check the details of your policy to see if Covid is covered like any other illness.
How far in advance should I purchase travel medical insurance if I’m coming to the U.S.?
It’s prudent to purchase travel medical insurance before you get to the U.S., so that you have medical coverage in place. Occasionally a policy will require purchase at least 30 days in advance if you want certain features, such as a rider to cover pre-existing conditions.
Is travel health insurance ever required?
Travel health insurance isn’t required to enter the U.S. Still, it can be a smart purchase so that you don’t end up with thousands of dollars in medical bills after an injury or unexpected illness while you’re visiting the U.S.
What types of travel insurance are available for visitors to the U.S.?
Visitors travel insurance most commonly refers to international travel medical insurance plans designed for non-U.S. citizens who are visiting the U.S. for a period of time—typically less than one year.
There are two main types of visitors travel insurance:
• A limited policy, also called a fixed benefits policy. Fixed benefit plans are more affordable but have limited coverage. These plans have a maximum fixed coverage amount for each medical service or condition.
• A comprehensive policy. Comprehensive plans are more expensive but provide more robust coverage than limited plans.
