Health Insurance for Americans Traveling Abroad
Americans traveling abroad can face expensive healthcare costs even a minor hospitalization overseas can cost $10,000 or more, while most U.S. health insurance plans, including Medicare, provide little or no coverage outside the United States.
International health insurance for Americans traveling abroad can cost as little as $1–$6 per day and helps cover emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, doctor visits, and medical evacuation expenses worldwide.
Compare top-rated global medical plans from IMG, Seven Corners, Trawick International, WorldTrips, and BCBS on American Visitor Insurance and get covered in minutes.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
US ResidentsCovers non-refundable trip costs flights, hotels, cruises plus emergency medical expenses when plans change.
Travel Medical Insurance
All TravelersCovers illnesses, injuries, doctor visits, and hospital stays for all international travelers worldwide.
Why Americans Need Separate Health Insurance When Traveling Abroad?
Your domestic US health plan is designed for care inside the United States. When you travel internationally, three coverage problems arise that catch many Americans off guard.
Traditional Medicare Parts A and B explicitly exclude nearly all foreign medical treatment. The only narrow exceptions are care aboard a ship within six hours of a US port, or emergency care when travelling directly between Alaska and the continental US via Canada which apply to very few travelers.
Most employer and marketplace plans either exclude international care entirely or reimburse only a small portion of overseas medical bills. You typically have to pay the foreign hospital upfront and then file for reimbursement at home with no guarantee of what you will get back.
Healthcare costs vary dramatically by country. A hospital visit that costs $200 in Southeast Asia might cost $8,000 in Switzerland or $15,000 in Japan. Without proper international coverage, you are exposed to wildly unpredictable out-of-pocket costs depending on where you fall ill.
Travel health insurance for US citizens abroad is purpose-built for this situation. It provides direct billing with hospitals in many countries, 24/7 emergency assistance, and coverage limits up to $1,000,000 or more for a fraction of what a single emergency would cost uninsured.
What Does Health Insurance for Americans Travelling Abroad Cover?
The best international health insurance plans for US travelers typically include the following benefits, though exact coverage varies by plan and provider.
Covers hospitalization, surgery, intensive care, and doctor visits resulting from sudden illness or injury during your trip.
If local facilities cannot provide adequate care, your insurer coordinates and pays for evacuation to the nearest appropriate hospital or back to the US if medically necessary. Evacuation costs alone can exceed $200,000 without coverage.
Covers the return of remains to the United States if a traveler passes away abroad.
Covers outpatient visits for illness and injury, including prescription medications prescribed during the trip.
Many plans cover sudden, unexpected flare-ups of pre-existing conditions for example, a heart attack in someone with a history of heart disease. Coverage limits and age restrictions vary by plan.
Some plans include reimbursement for non-refundable costs if your trip is interrupted or delayed due to a covered reason.
Access to multilingual assistance teams who can locate hospitals, arrange direct billing, coordinate evacuations, and help navigate foreign healthcare systems at any hour.
Types of Health Insurance for Americans Travelling Abroad
Choosing the right type of plan depends on how often you travel, how long each trip lasts, and whether you are a short-term traveler or a long-term expat.
The most common choice for Americans taking one international trip per year. You select a start and end date, choose your coverage limit and deductible, and you are covered for the duration of that trip. Plans can cover trips from a few days to 12 months. Best for: leisure travelers, one-off international trips, vacations.
Covers an unlimited number of international trips within a 12-month period, with each individual trip covered up to 30, 45, or 70 days depending on the plan. More economical than buying a new policy for every trip. Best for: frequent travelers, business travelers, people who take multiple holidays per year.
Extended coverage for trips lasting from several months up to three years, renewable annually. Often used by Americans on sabbatical, teaching abroad, or spending extended time overseas. Best for: gap year travelers, long-stay visa holders, Americans spending 6+ months abroad.
Comprehensive annual health coverage for Americans living abroad full-time. Unlike travel medical insurance, expat plans cover routine and preventive care in addition to emergencies, and typically include US coverage options. Best for: Americans relocating abroad, long-term expats, retirees living overseas.
International Travel Insurance with Emergency Medical Evacuation for Americans Abroad
Medical evacuation travel insurance helps cover emergency transportation costs if you become seriously ill or injured while traveling overseas. For Americans traveling abroad, emergency medical evacuation can cost over $100,000, especially from remote destinations, cruise ships, or countries with limited healthcare facilities.
Travel medical insurance with evacuation coverage available on American Visitor Insurance protects U.S. travelers with air ambulance services, hospital transfers, and emergency medical transportation back to the United States when medically necessary.
Emergency evacuation benefits can include air ambulance transportation, coordination with local hospitals, physician monitoring during transport, and medically supervised return travel to the United States.
How Much Does Health Insurance for Americans Travelling Abroad Cost?
Travel medical insurance for US citizens abroad starts from $1–$6 per day which is significantly more affordable than most people expect. Costs depend on your age, trip duration, destination, coverage limit, and deductible choice.
Average monthly health insurance costs for Americans travelling abroad are shown below.
| Plan | Deductible | Age 20 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Age 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Essential International World Trips |
$250 | $20 | $40 | $86 | $263 |
| Safe Travels Outbound Trawick International |
$250 | $26 | $77 | $168 | $296 |
| Atlas International World Trips |
$250 | $27 | $54 | $117 | $212 |
| VisitorSecure World Trips |
$100 | $29 | $34 | $55 | $96 |
| Travel Medical Excluding USA Basic Seven Corners |
$0 | $29 | $55 | $121 | $269 |
| Patriot International Lite IMG |
$250 | $29 | $55 | $121 | $214 |
| BCBS Single Trip Gold BCBS |
$250 | $32 | $58 | $116 | $271 |
| BCBS Single Trip Platinum BCBS |
$250 | $35 | $65 | $130 | $259 |
| Diplomat International Global Underwriters |
$250 | $32 | $86 | $181 | $315 |
| Intermedical Travel Insure |
$250 | $48 | $73 | $121 | $201 |
Source: American Visitor Insurance® | Prices verified for 2026 travel season.
Travel Medical Insurance for U.S. Citizens Traveling Abroad
Review travel medical insurance coverage benefits.
Travel Medical Plans for U.S. Citizens Abroad 2026
Other affordable travel medical insurance plans for U.S. citizens include Atlas International, Patriot International Lite .
Other top recommended travel medical insurance plans for U.S. citizens include Intermedical, Patriot Platinum International .
Best Health Insurance Plans for Americans Travelling Abroad
The following plans are among the most popular options for US citizens travelling internationally. All are available to compare and purchase on American Visitor Insurance.
| Plan Name | Plan max range | Age 35 | Age 55 | Age 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Essential International | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $23 - $40 | $66 - $90 | $151 - $167? |
| VisitorSecure | $50,000 - $130,000 | $31 - $55 | $46 - $84 | $93 - $135? |
| Atlas International | $50,000 - $2,000,000 | $31 - $56 | $90 - $126 | $205 - $226? |
| Patriot International Lite | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $32 - $51 | $91 - $114 | $207? |
| Safe Travels Outbound | $50,000 - $500,000 | $44 - $47 | $133 - $142 | $292 - $299? |
| Travel Medical Choice | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $46 - $79 | $152 - $187 | $359 - $454? |
| Intermedical | $50,000 - $150,000 | $51 - $61 | $102 - $125 | $195 - $232? |
| WorldMed Outbound | $500,000 - $2,000,000 | $55 - $60 | $120 - $127 | Not available |
| GlobeHopper Senior | $500,000 - $1,000,000 | Not available | Not available | $232 - $313 |
| Diplomat International | $50,000 - $500,000 | $50 - $56 | $141 - $159 | $305 - $454? |
| Atlas International Premium | $50,000 - $2,000,000 | $44 - $79 | $126 - $176 | $287 - $316? |
| Patriot International Platinum | $2,000,000 - $8,000,000 | $67 - $104 | $191 - $235 | $418? |
Who Needs Health Insurance When Travelling Abroad?
Travel health insurance is valuable for almost every American travelling outside the US, but it is especially important for certain groups.
- Leisure and vacation travelers Even a routine trip to Europe, Mexico, or the Caribbean carries the risk of accident or illness. A broken leg while skiing in France or food poisoning in Mexico can result in thousands of dollars in medical bills if you are not covered.
- Senior travelers and retirees Medicare does not cover overseas medical care. Americans over 65 travelling internationally have the most to lose from an unexpected health event, both financially and physically. Many senior travel plans offer high coverage limits with acute onset pre-existing condition coverage.
- Business travelers Short-notice international trips are common, and many employers' group health plans offer limited overseas coverage. Individual travel medical plans provide dependable coverage regardless of destination.
- Digital nomads and remote workers Frequent international travelers who move between countries need consistent medical coverage. Annual multi-trip plans or longer-term travel medical plans are ideal for this group.
- Students studying abroad US university student health plans typically end at the US border. International student plans provide affordable medical coverage for the full duration of a study abroad program.
- Americans with Medicare or Medicaid Both programs provide virtually no coverage outside the United States. Travel medical insurance is essential for any Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary travelling internationally.
How to Choose the Right Travel Health Insurance?
With dozens of plans available, the right choice depends on a few key factors.
Key Things to Compare Before Buying
- Decide on your coverage limit. For most travelers, a minimum of $100,000 in medical coverage is recommended. If you are travelling to a country with high healthcare costs (Switzerland, Japan, Scandinavia, the US), $500,000 or higher is advisable. Medical evacuation coverage should ideally be $500,000 or more.
- Check whether the plan is primary or secondary. A primary plan pays your medical bills directly, regardless of any other coverage you have. A secondary plan pays only after your other insurance has paid its share. Primary coverage is simpler and faster in a real emergency.
- Consider your deductible carefully. A $0 deductible means the plan pays from the first dollar of covered expenses. A higher deductible ($500 or $1,000) lowers your premium but means more out-of-pocket cost if you make a claim. Choose based on your risk tolerance and how often you actually visit doctors while travelling.
- Check pre-existing condition coverage. If you have any existing health conditions, look for a plan that covers the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. Most good plans include this for travelers under age 70 or 80, though the exact terms vary.
- Verify US coverage if needed. Most international travel medical plans are designed for travel outside the US and exclude US-based care. If you are a US expat who travels back to the US periodically, make sure your plan covers you during those visits or buy a separate plan for US visits.
- Compare the 24/7 assistance services. In a real emergency, the quality of your insurer's assistance team matters enormously. Look for plans with direct billing networks at hospitals, multilingual support, and strong customer reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions — Health Insurance for Americans Travelling Abroad
In most cases, no. Most US employer-sponsored and marketplace health plans provide little or no coverage outside the United States. Some plans may cover genuine emergencies abroad but require you to pay upfront and seek reimbursement afterwards, which can be burdensome with large foreign hospital bills.
No. Traditional Medicare Parts A and B do not cover healthcare outside the United States, with only very narrow exceptions. If you are on Medicare and travelling internationally, you need Globehopper travel medical insurance.
It is best to purchase your plan before you leave the US. Many plans allow you to purchase coverage up to your departure date, and some permit purchase after departure though waiting periods may apply for certain benefits.
A minimum of $100,000 is a reasonable baseline for most destinations. For countries with high healthcare costs such as Japan, Switzerland, or Scandinavia $500,000 or more is advisable. Emergency medical evacuation coverage of at least $500,000 is strongly recommended for all destinations.
Yes. Many travel insurance cover the acute onset of pre-existing conditions meaning a sudden, unexpected medical crisis related to a known condition. Coverage limits, age restrictions, and waiting periods vary by plan, so compare carefully if this is a concern.
Yes. The Schengen countries in Europe require proof of travel medical insurance (minimum €30,000 in coverage) as part of the visa application process for non-EU citizens. Several other countries also have insurance requirements or strong recommendations. Always check the entry requirements for your destination before you travel.
Some insurers allow you to purchase travel medical insurance after you have already departed the US, though coverage for illness or injury that occurred before purchase is typically excluded. It is always better to purchase before departure.
Travel medical insurance covers healthcare expenses like doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency evacuation that arise during your trip. Trip cancellation insurance protects your non-refundable trip costs (flights, hotels, cruises) if your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to a covered reason. Many comprehensive travel insurance plans include both types of coverage.
Standard travel medical plans often exclude injuries from extreme or adventure sports such as skydiving, rock climbing, or scuba diving. If you plan to participate in adventure activities, check the plan's exclusions carefully and consider a travel insurance for adventure sports.
Most insurers offer 24/7 emergency assistance lines. In a serious emergency, call your insurer before seeking treatment when possible they can direct you to in-network hospitals and arrange direct billing. For non-emergency claims, keep all receipts and medical documentation, and submit a claim through your insurer's online portal or by post after returning home.
Compare Health Insurance Plans for Americans Travelling Abroad
American Visitor Insurance works with the most trusted travel insurance providers in the US including IMG, WorldTrips, Seven Corners, Trawick International, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Compare plans side by side, review coverage details, and get covered in minutes.
