Travel insurance for the United States is a necessity for all travelers, as U.S. healthcare costs are the highest in the world.
You may be wondering: "Do I need travel insurance to enter the USA?"
Legally, you do not as a tourist. However, from a practical perspective, it makes sense to purchase the best travel insurance for the USA that fits your budget and needs.
The United States is a vast country, with a varied geography and weather. The majority of its population lives on the two coasts. On the west coast, the major cities are Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. On the east coast, the major cities are Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Miami.
Millions of people travel to the United States every year for various reasons. Some people like to go to Disney World, New York City or other human-made wonders. Others want to explore nature and visit Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon or the beaches of California.
While some people get to visit the United States easily with just ESTA, others have to go through an arduous visa process. Either way, it is important to remember that all healthcare in the United States is private. There is no socialized healthcare. Even if you are used to a socialized health care in your home country, the United States does not have any reciprocity with your country. Therefore, you will be responsible for your medical costs out of your pocket. Without proper travel insurance for the United States, most visitors just cannot afford medical treatment.
Many people traveling from countries where healthcare cost is cheap are used to paying out of their pocket, even for major surgeries, and may simply not realize how expensive the treatment could be. Unlike many countries, the United States has no set or fixed prices for various medical procedures. A simple visit to the emergency room could cost a few thousand dollars. A surgery may cost $10,000 or $85,000. Few days' hospital stay could run up the bill from $30,000 to $90,000.
As the United States is vast and geographically separated from most parts of the world, with many cities and tourist places, most people that visit the United States come for a few weeks to a few months.
Travel insurance for the United States can be primarily divided into two categories:
Travel insurance for the United States can be primarily divided into two categories:
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Travel medical insurance
Most people buy such insurance while traveling to the United States. There are many U.S.-based companies available to choose from. Most travel insurance plans fall into two categories:
- Fixed coverage: Low cost, limited coverage
- Comprehensive coverage: Higher price, better coverage
We always recommend that everyone purchase comprehensive coverage plans.
Travel medical insurance plans are typically extendable and refundable, and they provide various policy-maximum choices and deductible choices. Many plans also cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions for people under a certain age up to a certain amount.
Most comprehensive coverage plans participate in a PPO network, which allows for cashless direct-billing treatment.
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Trip-cancellation insurance
While most insurance companies provide travel medical insurance, some companies provide trip-cancellation insurance. In addition to covering other travel benefits, including emergency medical coverage, they also cover the prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you need to cancel the trip unexpectedly for a covered reason.
Travel insurance can be purchased either from your home country or the United States. However, U.S.-based insurance has many distinct advantages and therefore, it is recommended that you purchase from the United States.
Travel insurance for the United States provides other important benefits, such as trip interruption, loss of checked luggage, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, travel assistance and more.
Without proper travel insurance for the United States, if you were to get sick or injured, not only it would ruin your vacation, but it would be financially devastating to you.
If you are participating in hazardous sports activities, make sure to check the certificate wording to see if your specific sport is included. If not, you may be able to purchase an optional rider at an additional cost.
Even though the United States is generally considered a safe destination, there are specific risks associated with travel, such as terrorist incidents, random mass shootings, political climate and natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, blizzards and earthquakes.
Travel insurance for the United States has specific exclusions, and they vary by the particular plan that you purchase. However, the typical exclusions are pre-existing conditions, preventive checkups, dental, vision, etc.
All travel insurance for the United States is not alike. Even though there are similarities, there may be a lot of differences. Therefore, it is best to get various quotes from a comparison website such as this one, compare the plans side by side and make a purchase. For any questions, you can discuss with a U.S.-based licensed insurance agent to help you select the travel insurance plan most suitable for your specific needs.