Travel Health Insurance for Visitors to the U.S. (2024 Guide)

Do Visitors Need U.S. Health Insurance?

While health insurance is not always mandatory when traveling to the U.S., regulations may vary depending on the circumstances around your visit and your visa needs. In addition, health plans from different countries are generally not accepted in the U.S., which means you could pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for treatment in an emergency without a valid plan.

Note that many foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. do not need a visa to enter the country for less than 90 days. However, some visa requirements for long-term visitors require health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay. Regardless of the requirements for your travels, it’s worth considering a travel medical insurance plan based on the high cost of U.S. healthcare. According to GoodRx, an emergency room visit can cost upwards of $2,400 to $2,600 without insurance in the U.S.

Health Insurance Requirements for Visitors

While tourists do not technically need a travel medical insurance plan to obtain a visa, other types of visitors do. For instance, if you’re a student planning to study abroad in a U.S.-based college or university using an F-1 or J-1 visa, you’ll likely need some sort of health insurance or a comparable equivalent. Many universities that accept students on visas require medical coverage that complies with the school’s outlined health insurance requirements.

Note that health insurance requirements for visitors to the U.S. largely depend on the type of visa you need to enter the country. Regardless of whether it’s required, we recommend medical insurance based on the high costs of U.S. healthcare services.

Best Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors to the U.S.

Our team has spent extensive time researching the best travel medical insurance plans for visitors to the U.S., considering factors such as availability, coverage, customer support and provider reputation.

Compare Travel Medical Insurance Plans for U.S. Tourists

See the table below for a direct comparison of costs, deductibles and more between travel medical insurance plans for U.S. visitors.

We based plan costs on quotes we obtained for a 30-year-old Australian citizen traveling to the U.S. for 30 days. Each plan includes a medical maximum of $500,000 with a $250 deductible. Note that your actual cost will depend on factors such as your age, number of travelers, chosen deductible and more.

Types of Health Insurance for U.S. Visitors

Travelers have options when it comes to health insurance for U.S. visitors. For one, you could choose an international travel medical insurance plan, which provides coverage for emergency medical expenses or evacuation abroad. A U.S. short-term health insurance plan is also an option. Some health insurance companies, such as UnitedHealthcare, work with providers to allow policyholders to use the company’s preferred provider organization (PPO) network.

If you’re wondering whether your domestic health insurance policy will cover you in the U.S., we encourage you to contact your insurance provider for more details. You may need to purchase valid coverage specifically for your U.S. trip if you’re concerned about or foresee needing medical care abroad.

Fixed Medical Insurance

Fixed medical insurance or fixed indemnity insurance pays a predetermined amount of money for specific medical procedures and services. This type of medical insurance plan is limited — no matter what your total bill amounts to, it will not cover more than the agreed-upon amount. Fixed medical insurance plans are usually cheaper than comprehensive policies, which we cover in the next section.

Comprehensive Medical Insurance

Comprehensive medical insurance covers doctor’s visits, hospital care, prescription drugs and more without setting limits on certain services. Note that these plans typically have coverage maximums, deductibles and copays, so you will have to pay a certain amount before your policy covers any medical expenses. 

Comprehensive coverage does not have benefit limits based on the type of medical service like fixed medical does, but it will cost you more overall. However, because health care in the U.S. is expensive, you may find comprehensive plans more beneficial in the long run despite being pricier than a fixed plan.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Health Insurance

Short-term and long-term health insurance plans provide coverage that lasts for a specific period. You can consider travel medical insurance plans short-term policies for U.S. visitors, as they can cover medical expenses incurred during a period lasting less than a year. 

If you plan on staying in the U.S. for longer than a year, you may be eligible to purchase a health insurance plan through a domestic provider, depending on your visa. For example, if you have a J-1 or F-1 visa, you may be eligible for a university-sponsored or private health insurance plan. We encourage you to check with the U.S. Department of State when you receive your visa for more on what long-term health insurance options are available to you.

What Does Travel Insurance in the U.S. Cover?

Travel insurance in the U.S. provides a variety of coverages for unexpected events that can affect your travel plans both before and during your trip. Specifics will vary depending on your choice of policy but will likely include some or all of the following coverages:

• Trip cancellation: If you must cancel your trip for a covered reason, travel insurance can help you recover non-refundable costs such as hotel reservations, airline tickets and more.
• Trip interruption: If you need to cut your vacation short for a covered reason, travel insurance plans can compensate you for expenses you didn’t use during your trip.
• Trip and baggage delays: A travel insurance policy can help cover costs you incur if your trip or baggage gets delayed for a covered reason. Most coverage also includes lost or stolen baggage.
• Emergency medical: Emergency medical coverage can reimburse the cost of necessary treatments if you experience a medical emergency abroad up to a maximum amount.
• Emergency evacuation and transport: If you need transportation to a medical facility in the U.S. during a medical emergency, this coverage will provide an expense limit for the services. This benefit can also cover emergency evacuations if a natural disaster or political conflict occurs and affects your travels.

How Much Does Travel Health Insurance for U.S. Visitors Cost?

Our research found that the cost of travel insurance for U.S. visitors can range from $96 to $115. This range is based on quotes gathered for a 30-year-old Australian citizen traveling to the U.S. for 30 days. Each plan we obtained a quote for included a medical maximum of $500,000 with a $250 deductible.

For cost data specific to your travel needs, we encourage you to gather quotes from the providers in this review. The quotes you receive will depend on factors such as your age, plan limits, chosen deductible, number of travelers and more.

How To Use Visitor Health Insurance

If you’ve purchased a visitor medical insurance plan for your stay in the U.S., it’s important you understand how to use it. Healthcare facilities in the U.S., such as doctor’s offices, urgent care locations and emergency rooms, often require you to bring an insurance card with you. This card includes essential information associated with your policy that helps the facility file a claim with your insurance provider. If you have one through your visitor health insurance plan, it is best to have on hand when receiving medical treatment.

Note that your health insurance plan may also require pre-approval before you receive treatment. Your insurance company may verify a procedure or medicine is necessary before agreeing to cover it. This preauthorization usually is not required in an emergency, but your insurance provider may request it in other circumstances.

Many visitor health insurance plans also cover prescription medications. If you’ve been prescribed medicine through a U.S. doctor during a medical visit, a pharmacy may choose to verify your prescription before filling it. This means the pharmacy will contact your healthcare provider with any questions about the prescription being correct. Verification could delay when you receive your medication, but likely won’t take longer than three to10 business days.

Finding Doctors and Hospitals as a Visitor

Most insurers provide online tools that help you find in-network healthcare providers and facilities covered by your insurance policy. Note that you may pay more if you choose to receive care through a doctor or facility that is not considered in-network. Out-of-network providers do not contract with your health insurance plan to provide agreed-upon rates. Unless you have a plan that lets you pick any provider you’d like, you will need to find a provider or facility working with your insurance.

If you want to verify the benefits offered by your insurance plan, contact your insurance provider directly or consult any documentation provided at the time of purchase. Healthcare providers may also take steps to verify your coverage, as it ensures the facility receives payment and lessens the chance of a denied insurance claim. 

The cost of medical treatment depends entirely on the type of insurance plan you have. If you’ve purchased a travel medical insurance plan, your provider will cover emergency medical expenses up to a maximum amount. Once you’ve hit that limit, you will have to pay the rest of your bill. If you have a plan with a deductible or co-pay, you must pay that amount before your insurer will cover your expenses.

Paying Medical Bills Without Insurance

If you opt out of medical coverage when visiting the U.S. and end up needing medical care, you will have to cover the entire bill out of pocket. However, you have several options regarding payment. You can contact the debt collector in charge of your bill and work to negotiate the cost of your bill down. You can also set up a payment plan that works with your income and what you can afford. 

While these payment options can be helpful, they do not negate the high U.S. healthcare costs, and can still leave you with a substantial bill after a medical crisis. According to a study by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, health expenditures per person in the U.S. in 2022 were over $4,000 more than any other high-income nation. For this reason, we recommend some form of medical coverage to help cover potential emergency expenses when visiting the U.S.

Filing a Claim with Visitor Health Insurance

Filing a claim through a visitor insurance plan or travel medical insurance policy will vary based on your provider. Note that providing proper documentation will help the claims process go smoothly, so it is important to keep track of hospital invoices and other billing forms.

If you have a domestic health insurance policy, the healthcare facility that provided your treatment will file your claim. You’ll receive a bill once your insurance provider processes the claim. On the other hand, travel medical insurance may require you to submit documents proving your claims for emergency medical treatment. Once your claim has been approved, your travel insurance company will reimburse your medical bills.

Where Can You Buy Visitors Insurance?

You can buy visitors’ insurance directly from travel insurance companies, international health insurance companies, university-approved providers and domestic providers, depending on the type of visa required during your stay. If you’re on a tourist visa, you can purchase travel medical insurance covering emergency medical services and transport, if needed, to a healthcare facility. Most travel insurance providers also offer travel healthcare plans that can last up to a year if you are planning multiple trips.

If you’re on a J-1 or F-1 visa and enrolling in a schooling program, contact your university to see if you’re eligible for a sponsored or private health insurance plan. If you need clarification on the available coverage or plan to stay in the U.S. for longer than a year, contact the U.S. Department of State for more information.

The Bottom Line: Do U.S. Visitors Need Health Care Coverage?

Healthcare in the U.S. is expensive. While medical insurance isn’t required for some visitors — such as tourists on a B-2 visa — it’s still worth considering if you’re concerned about an unexpected medical emergency abroad. We encourage you to extensively research your visa type and the coverage available to you before settling on a plan. Understanding the benefits and exclusions of a healthcare coverage plan will ensure there are no surprises if you need medical care during your U.S. trip.

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