Health Insurance for Visitors to the USA
If you plan to stay in the US for less than a year, this article on health insurance for visitors to the USA will be beneficial for you. If you are just visiting the USA, then a travel medical insurance plan may be enough to cover your needs. This is also a great option for younger travelers who need basic emergency coverage.
Make time to research whether you will need travel insurance for the USA before entering the country. You should also check if the policy needs to come from your home country, the US, or both.
Most travel insurance plans provide coverage for accidents and illnesses, saving you from the large medical expenses associated with doctor check-ups and hospital visits. At the same time, this type of policy will give you access to pharmaceutical care and translation services, should you need them.
If you are a non-citizen, immigrant, or international citizen, we recommend getting a global medical plan. We have guides to help you choose the International Health Insurance plan for your needs.
Cost of Health Insurance for Visitors to the USA
Global medical insurance plans offer many different options. The more affordable catastrophic coverage that only covers worst-case scenarios is good for travelers on a budget. On the other end of the spectrum, comprehensive medical plans may include physician visits, hospitalization, prescription drugs, lab services, and chronic disease management.
The most affordable global medical plan ranges from $400 to $500 a year, while the most expensive but comprehensive ones can go as high as $30,000 to $40,000 a year.
Short-term travel medical plans start at about $1.50 per day, and can cost more than $10 per day for older clients or more comprehensive coverage.
How Much Health Insurance Coverage Should Visitors Purchase?
For foreign nationals, buying a US health policy is a personal decision. It is up to you how much you are willing to pay based on your current health, the nature of your work, and the length of stay. Consider these and the other factors outlined in this article to identify the most affordable medical insurance for you.
Policy maximums typically start at as little as $50,000 per period and can reach as high as $5 million. Maximums are typically per person. Certain plans, like GeoBlue Xplorer and Cigna Platinum, offer unlimited coverage.
To make it simpler for you to choose the type of health coverage to get, here is a guideline:
For a 5-day to 1-month stay, we recommend getting $50,000 to $100,000 in medical coverage.
For a 1-month to 3-month stay, we suggest getting coverage of $100,000 to $500,000.
Look for a policy with at least $250,000 of coverage for a period longer than 3 months but less than a year.
We recommend getting at least $1 million in coverage per year for a year or a longer stay. Get more if you have a family that will be living with you, especially if you all want to be treated in the USA. If you or any of your family members have a critical illness or if you will be staying in the US for several years, get a plan with unlimited coverage.
If you are older or are traveling with more people to the US, the risk of making a claim becomes significantly higher. In this case, you will want to get full coverage health insurance plans with higher limits and more comprehensive coverage.
Choosing the Right International Health Insurance Plan
Make sure you get the right type of policy. We recommend getting a travel medical plan for short-term travels lasting a year or two. An International Health Insurance plan is a more viable option for long-term stays lasting multiple years.
Here are links that will help you generate some quick, no-obligation quotes from us:
Short-term travel medical free quote (covers emergency medical issues plus other travel benefits)
Long-term global medical free quote (comprehensive medical coverage with annual renewal)
What Are the Costs for Acute or Emergency Care in the USA
According to a study by the National Institute for Health, the average cost of an ER visit is $1,900 to $2,100. But this depends on the kind of medical emergency you’re in, so you may end up paying a lot more or less than this range.
The charts here show some of the variations in pricing you will see in different hospitals and clinics. The minimum and maximum charges vary by illness. This kind of price range can catch you off-guard if you’re diagnosed with any medical problem.
One of the biggest benefits of having an international health plan is that it can also be the cheapest health cover — you will often receive the best healthcare service at the lowest prices. You can receive treatment from your doctor at their office or clinic, and in most cases, the cost will be 3 to 4 times less expensive than getting it at a hospital from the same doctor without any medical coverage.
Final Thoughts on Getting Health Insurance for Visitors to the USA
Medical benefits provide comfort, knowing your expenses will be covered should you become ill or need emergency medical treatment. The peace of mind from having medical insurance in the USA comes at a price, but the cost of a health policy is almost always lower than paying hospital bills out-of-pocket.
To help you make a better decision on which policy to get, view our list of the top international health insurance companies and look at the benefits and exclusions of each provider.
If you need assistance, we have licensed advisors who are always available to walk you through the process and explain the differences of each provider. We will make the application process easier and more seamless for you, so you can worry less about getting the right US health policy.