US visitor insurance for emergency & urgent care
How do urgent care and emergency care in the U.S.?
I get many calls from customers carefully reading fine print on policies asking about special deductibles for emergency rooms and limitations for emergency room coverage for persons not admitted into the hospital. To those customers, I would firstly say: Good job!! Reading the fine print is a very good idea and understanding it even better.
So I do not mind these calls in the least. It shows a very savvy consumer and I am more than happy to assist them in understanding these insurance terms and definitions .
To begin with an Emergency units are meant to attend serious and life-threatening health issues whereas urgent can be health issues which need immediate attention but they are not life-threatening. The issue is quite simply this: Emergency room costs in the US are ridiculously high.
A quick stay in one can cost over $1,000 without needing much in the way of medical care. It is because of this that insurers want to protect themselves from these costs (understandable, but it does tend to make some customers a bit nervous which is likewise understandable). Here’s the deal: if you are not in peril for your life, DON’T go to the emergency room.
There are many somewhat new medical facilities called “Urgent Care Centers” all over the US. This should be your first go-to in case of sudden medical issue (not life threatening) during hours that a doctor’s office is not open or you cannot get a timely appointment. So, when my kid has a bad ear ache and I know it won’t wait until Monday morning, this is where I go.
If I suspect I have a bladder infection at 6pm Friday night, this is where I go. Admittedly, you may not know how badly off you or your visitor is when you seek treatment. Certainly, the medical professionals at an urgent care facility will be able to call and direct you to a hospital/ambulance should the need arise. Furthermore, you or your visitor can receive medical care up until the moment the ambulance arrives.
Limitations on coverage are waived in the case of an injury. So, if someone is badly cut, for example, and they stitch them up in the ER and then release them, you will NOT be subject to limitations in coverage. It’s only in the case of sickness that coverage might not be there for a person who is not fully admitted into the hospital after being seen in the ER.
Now, to be clear, no one is expecting you to risk your traveler’s life. If a heart condition or something more critical may be going on, by all means call an ambulance and get to an ER as soon as may be as time is clearly of the essence. However, you should just be aware of these other medical facilities which often have triage units and can handle a more minor emergency possibly with less waiting time and less cost (to you and the insurance company).
As always, we wish you safe and happy travels wherever you may go!
How much does visitor health insurance USA cost?
How much is medical insurance for tourists in the US?
Healthcare in the U.S. is extremely expensive, and without good travel health insurance, even a simple doctor’s visit can become a financial burden. In 2025, the cost of travel health insurance for visitors to the US ranges between $19 to $172 per month, depending on the age, the insurance company, the type of visitors insurance, the coverage limits, and whether you want coverage for pre-existing conditions. If you are looking for a cheap option, some plans cost as little as $1 to $5 per day, making it an affordable way to stay covered.
Why is travel insurance USA is so important? A routine doctor’s visit can cost between $250 to $350, while a heart attack will leave you with a bill of at least $25,000. If you need to stay in the ICU after a stroke, the cost can exceed $150,000. Even something as routine as an echocardiogram ranges from $1,500 to $4,000, depending on where you get it. Emergency treatments for conditions like diabetes complications cost anywhere from $3,500 to $7,000, and if you need treatment for kidney failure, expect to pay over $30,000.
How much does cheap visitor insurance in USA cost?
Cheap visitor health insurance for visitors to USA starts at $19 per month for fixed benefit plans.
Following is the cost of visitor insurance per month.
| Plan Name | Plan max range | Deductible | Age 35 | Age 55 | Age 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels Advantage | $25,000 - $150,000 | $0 | $19 - $54 | $29 - $82 | $59 -$160 |
| Visitors care | $25,000 - $100,000 | $100 | $25 - $44 | $30 - $65 | $66 - $152 |
| Venbrook Essential | $25,000 - $150,000 | $0 | $25 - $74 | $36 - $105 | $66 - $142 |
| Visit USA Budget | $50,000 - $150,000 | $250 | $30 - $49 | $42 -$74 | $81 |
| VisitorSecure | $50,000 - $130,000 | $100 | $31 - $55 | $46 - $84 | $93 - $135 |
| Travel Medical USA visitor basic | $50,000 - $150,000 | $100 | $39 - $47 | $56 - $68 | $178 - $196 |
How much does the best comprehensive visitor insurance cost per month?
The cost of comprehensive visitor insurance starts around $53 month, depending on factors such as age, coverage limits, deductible, and optional add-ons. Higher-tier plans with extensive coverage, including pre-existing condition benefits and lower deductibles, tend to be more expensive. On average, a good comprehensive health insurance plan costs $58 to $108 per month for a 35 year old traveler.
Following are the cost of best health insurance for visitors to USA per month for a $250 deductible.
| Plan name | Plan maximum | Age 35 | Age 55 | Age 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Essential America | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $53 - $98 | $117 - $200 | $244 - $326 |
| Visitors Preferred | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $53 - $99 | $123 -$231 | $244 |
| Patriot America Plus | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $57 - $106 | $124 - $235 | $279 - $420 |
| Safe Travels USA | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $57 - $103 | $123 - $227 | $244 - $321 |
| Venbrook Premier | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $58 - $104 | $129 - $240 | $352 - $437 |
| Atlas America | $50,000 - $2,000,000 | $58 - $114 | $127 - $253 | $344 - $429 |
| Safe Travels USA Comprehensive | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $66 - $122 | $143 - $269 | $285 - $455 |
| Atlas Premium America | $50,000 - $2,000,000 | $72 - $142 | $158 - $316 | $430 - $537 |
| SafeVista Comprehensive | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | $76 - $97 | $158 - $225 | $320 |
| Diplomat America | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $81 - $142 | $176 - $303 | $342 |
| Travel Medical Choice | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $98 - $173 | $186 - $333 | $736 - $1,000 |
| Patriot America Platinum | $1,000,000 - $8,000,000 | $108 - $226 | $240 - $494 | $604 |
| Visit USA Superior | $250,000 | $112 | $233 | $404 |
Visitors travel insurance reviews
“Thank you for such helpful information. You've impressed me as I have contacted other companies and haven't gotten half of the information from them that you have sent me. I will take what you've said into consideration and hope to be in touch soon.”
Shelie
“ I recently visited your website for the first time to buy insurance for travel to US. I found the information very good. Your customer support was fantastic and awesome. You were so dedicated to take care of my inquiries. I would rate your service 100/100.”
Charlotte
“ I am pleased to say that your company is very professional in the field of Insurance. The customer is happy to get easily connected and then you very patiently explain the difference between various plans to suit each customer's need.”
Lori Fields
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General - FAQ's
1. Is travel medical insurance necessary?
Some of the countries have made it mandatory to have travel insurance before starting the travel. While the travel insurance takes care of the unexpected incident coverage travel plans extend their coverage benefit to cover emergency coverage in case of sudden recurrence of a pre-existing condition, repatriation, evacuation, trip interruption, baggage delay and loss which definitely makes a very necessary requirement for a traveler.
2. What are the benefits of travel insurance?
Travel insurance not only covers the unexpected incidents and injuries and takes care of the hospital costs, it also extends coverage for acute onset of pre existing condition, emergency evacuation, repatriation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage loss or delay some of the travel insurance plans offer coverage for adventure sports.
3. Does travel insurance work in the US?
Yes. These travel insurance plans are from the reputed and popular private insurance companies in the US. These companies have been used for international travel for a long time now and has served many travelers over the years and have excellent rating and popularity.
They are associated with the provider networks in the US which are popularly known as PPO networks such as First Health network, United Healthcare, Coventry healthcare...to name a few.
4. Is insurance mandatory for US travel?
No, the US authorities do not mandate travel insurance for visiting the United States on a tourist visa. However considering theexpensive healthcare costs in the US international travelers will invariably not be able to pay out of pocket for unexpectedmedical incidents.
Most US residents depend on health insurance for their healthcare expenses, and international tourist shouldsimilarly ensure that they have proper travel insurance to cover the unexpected incidents.
