It is common for people to have a misunderstanding of how visitors insurance works. You may be interested in purchasing visitor health insurance for your parents, or you may have questions about how a health insurance policy for foreign visitors in the USA works. By reading on, you should be able to answer those questions.
The Concept of Insurance
Health insurance is designed to make sure a person is restored to the same financial position that existed before an accident or medical emergency (also known as a loss) occurred. The transfer of risk is the basic principle of insurance; risk simply means the chance of a loss.
By purchasing health insurance, you share risk with others, which reduces the individual potential of financial hardship. People protect themselves against physical risks by purchasing health insurance policies. By doing so, they have a better chance of restoring and/or maintaining the financial position they had before the accident or illness occurred.
As the insured, you pay a set amount of money called a premium to the insurer (the health insurance company); in return, the insurer agrees to pay an amount to help cover the costs related to a covered benefit as stipulated in the health insurance policy certificate wording.
Visitors Insurance vs Domestic Health Insurance
Visitors health insurance, unlike the domestic health insurance you may have where you live, is designed to cover a person who is traveling outside their home country or country of citizenship. Visitors insurance is a short-term international travel medical insurance policy designed to cover medically necessary expenses related to unforeseen injuries, medical emergencies, or illnesses that occur after the effective date of the policy.
Visitors insurance is not the same as domestic health insurance (Affordable Care Act compliant plans that are federally regulated in the USA). ACA compliant medical insurance plans are only available to US citizens and residents. Benefits commonly found in domestic health insurance may not be covered benefits in a travel insurance policy.
For example, the services below are not typically covered in a visitor health insurance policy:
- Birth Control
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Routine Dental Work
- Elective Surgery
- Immunizations
- Maintenance Medication
- Maternity Care
- Preventive Check-ups
- Routine Visits
- Treatment for Known Medical Conditions
- Vision
Ongoing Treatment Of a Pre-Existing Medical Condition
If visitors insurance plans were to cover all of the same services as domestic insurance, the health insurance would cost much more, it would be mandatory for all visitors to purchase a visitors insurance policy from a small set of insurance travel companies and the policy could be purchased only during certain times of the year (an open enrollment period). Of course, these restrictions can't be placed on visitors who may come to the US at any time and only for a short duration.
-
Best Insurance for Visiting Parents
More Information -
Learn How Visitor Insurance Works
Read Article -
The Two Types of Visitors Insurance
More Details
Visitor Insurance - Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions
Most visitors insurance plans are not designed to cover the ongoing treatment of a pre-existing medical condition. For the relatively low premium charged, visitor medical insurance companies simply can't afford to offer this type of coverage.
However, many visitors insurance plans can cover the acute onset of a pre-existing medical condition. The acute onset of a pre-existing condition is the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing health condition which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or medical symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, requires immediate care, and occurs after the effective date of the insurance policy. Treatment must be obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of the condition. This benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatments existent or necessary prior to the effective date of the health insurance coverage.
-
Visitor Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
More Information -
Learn About Acute Onset Coverage
Read Article
Visitor Medical Insurance FAQ
What is visitors insurance?
Visitor insurance is USA health insurance for nonresidents. It is designed to cover those with citizenship and residency outside the United States and is particularly popular with parents visiting their children in the US.
How to get health insurance for visitors in the USA?
You can purchase travel insurance right on this website. Just enter your information in our quote form and you can instantly compare travel insurance plans from multiple travel insurance companies and purchase online in less than 5 minutes. It doesn't matter if you buy travel insurance for your parents or for yourself, as no doctor's exam is required.
What is the best health insurance for visitors to USA?
The best health insurance for visitors to the USA will vary depending on the insured individual and/or purchaser, their budget, any pre-existing conditions, and what policy maximums and insurance benefits they are comfortable with. Not sure where to start? Read about the best insurance for USA visitors based on customer feedback below:
How much is visitors insurance in the USA?
The most cost-effective visitor medical insurance plans can cost as little as a few dollars a day. To get accurate pricing on insurance policies for yourself or your parents, fill out our quote form.
Which companies sell medical insurance to visitors to US?
Although you can buy visitor health insurance from many different companies, we highly recommend purchasing through an independent insurance broker marketplace such as ours, as we sell the widest selection of visitor health insurance from top insurers across the industry. And unlike insurance companies, we're a truly independent broker. Our interest is selling you the best insurance policy for your needs, regardless of who administers it.
Which is the best health insurance for visitors to USA?
The best health insurance for visitors to USA depends on a variety of factors such as your age, the duration of your trip, and which types of insurance coverage you're interested in. The best travel insurance plans for USA visitors include features such as:
- Medical evacuation coverage
- Coverage for medical emergency care
- Repatriation of remains coverage, in case the unthinkable should happen
Which is the cheapest health insurance for visitors to the USA with good health?
The cheapest international travel insurance for visitors to the USA will typically be a fixed coverage plan. However, keep in mind that fixed benefit insurance policies offer very limited coverage. We strongly recommend a comprehensive visitor insurance plan. Get free quotes to find the cheapest international travel insurance for your needs.
Which hospitals accept visitors insurance?
You can visit any hospital you like with a USA visitor health insurance plan. However, remember that many comprehensive coverage plans participate in PPO networks, allowing you to take advantage of direct, cashless billing at in-network medical providers.
What is short term visitors insurance?
Short term visitor health insurance is temporary emergency medical insurance for visitors to the USA. You compare various insurance policies and their benefits and purchase online directly from this website. Get free quotes!
Buy Visitors Insurance
Can't find answers to your questions?
Ask our specialists - Licensed and experienced insurance professionals in the U.S.