Travel Articles

Purchasing visitors medical insurance is a smart move for anyone traveling to the United States. Health care in America can be extremely expensive and visitors who experience an incident ranging from a minor injury to a major health issue risk huge medical bills should they not have the adequate coverage.

Visitors medical insurance is different than other travel insurance in that it provides protection in the event of an accident or injury that occurs after the policy is in effect. While no one wants to think about the worse case scenario, this is one situation where it is better to be safe than sorry. Any visitors to the United States should carefully research and compare several policies before making a final commitment. Here we offer tips to ensure you are getting the right level of coverage at an affordable price.

Assess your needs- Each person has unique medical needs when traveling. Senior travelers or those who have current medical issues might have more health care needs while abroad than someone who is in peak physical health. Clearly no one can predict accidents, injuries or other health problems, however a person who has existing issues can reasonably anticipate a greater need for health care while traveling. Look for a plan that reflects your current and anticipated needs.

Understand different plans- There are many different plans available to travelers. While it is important to purchase a plan that is affordable you do not want to go for the cheapest plan just to save money. There are fixed coverage plans and comprehensive plans available, each providing different levels of coverage. Fixed coverage plans are cheaper than comprehensive plans, however they may not be cost effective should you actually find yourself in need of medical care. Although you will have certain protection and coverage you may find yourself paying more out of pocket than you would had you opted for a comprehensive plan. Again, each person has different needs, therefore it is up to the individual buying the insurance to compare the pros and cons of each before making a decision.

Finding a provider- As a foreign traveler visiting the United States you have the option of purchasing visitors insurance from your home country or the United States. Many travelers recommend purchasing visitors insurance from an American company despite the fact that it may cost more money.

You can research American companies by visiting the Better Business Bureau website to see how others have rated the company and services provided. Since the rules in the health care and insurance industry are very strict, you are more likely to find a plan that confirms to the regulations as well as faster claim processing and reduced paperwork.

Read the fine print- As with all other contracts you must carefully read all of the information relating to your policy. In certain cases what may appear to be a reasonably priced policy is actually one that provides little protection in the event of an emergency. Look for exclusions and restrictions that might render a policy less than useful for your individual needs.

There is no easy answer as to how much you should pay for visitors medical insurance. When you consider the number of options available compounded by individual needs what one person considers affordable might not hold true for another. Carefully assess your personal needs and how much you can afford to pay out of pocket should you find yourself in need of medical care while traveling. It is often more cost effective to pay for adequate coverage versus high out of pocket expenses at the time of care.

Kane Michaels is a freelance writer providing articles for American Visitors Insurance, a company that provides visitors insurance, including visitor medical insurance to individuals traveling to the USA.