Compare USA travel insurance

Depending on your final policy, you could be covered for:

 

• A&E admission (Known as Emergency Room/ER in the US) - It’s possible to be covered up to a certain amount if you’re admitted to A&E/ER during your trip.

 

• Hospital stays - If you need an overnight stay in a hospital, due to illness or injury, this should be covered up to a certain amount.  

 

• Visits to a doctor - A visit to a Primary Care Physician (an equivalent to a GP here in the UK) is likely to be covered to a certain extent.  

 

• Repatriation cover - If someone needs to be flown back home after an injury or illness in the USA. 

 

• Trip cancellation cover - If an unforeseen event happens before departure that stops you or another person on the policy from travelling, it’s possible to claim some money back. 

 

• Lost, stolen, or damaged belongings - You can be insured up to a certain amount if your belongings are damaged or lost in transit. This is also the case if your luggage, or personal belongings are stolen during your trip.

According to the World Economic Forum, the United States has the highest healthcare costs in the world1. 

 

This is a major reason why travelling to the USA without travel insurance can be a significant financial risk.

 

It’s worth remembering that both the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) and the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) are not valid in the United States. 

 

Purchasing travel insurance to go to the USA can help you avoid paying a large amount of money in medical bills. Buying travel insurance for the USA can also help you relax more during your trip.

 

It is possible to get very comprehensive travel insurance to travel to the USA. But many of these policies are unlikely to cover absolutely everything. It can be helpful to do your own research to ensure that your policy covers the things you need it to cover. 

 

Some of the examples of things that may not be covered, include:

 

• Injuries from extreme sports, or other high-risk activities - It’s still possible to get cover for extreme sports and other high-risk activities. But a separate specialist policy may be required to do so. A standard travel insurance policy may not include this initially, so it’s worth checking the policy documents to be sure.

 

• Undeclared pre-existing conditions - If someone with an undeclared pre-existing condition fell ill on the trip, they wouldn’t be covered by their insurance policy.

 

• Flight cancellations - If your flight is cancelled, it’s usually your airline that has to pay you for any costs e.g. food, hotels etc.

 

• Alcohol/drug-related injuries - If any items are lost, or a medical emergency occurs due to intoxication, it’s unlikely they will be covered. 

 

• Reckless behaviour - If any illnesses or injuries occur due to reckless behaviour, they are unlikely to be covered. Reckless behaviour can include actions such as excessive gambling and dangerous driving.  

 

The price of travel insurance for the USA can vary depending on a few factors, including:

 

• The duration of the trip - Longer trips can mean higher travel insurance costs because there’s more time for potential claims.

 

• The planned activities during the trip - The riskier the activities, e.g. skiing, the more likely the cost premium will be higher.  

 

• Age - It’s possible that older people may have to pay more, as they’re more likely to need to claim while on holiday.  

 

• Medical history - Some pre-existing medical conditions can raise the price of travel insurance, as claims are more likely.

 

 

Travel insurance for the USA is generally more expensive than Europe, due to the higher medical care costs.

 

This is one of the many reasons comparing travel insurance options is important. You can use PayingTooMuch to compare different insurance policies to find the right one for your trip to the USA.

You can compare different travel insurance policies for the USA by: 

 

• Tailoring cover to your specific trip, or trips - For example, if you’re not doing any extreme sports, find a policy that doesn't include it. 

 

• Find group policies - If there are multiple people visiting the USA together, a family or group policy may work out to be better value for money. 

 

• Declare all pre-existing medical conditions - If you have to have medical treatment while you're travelling for an undeclared medical condition, it may not be covered. 

 

• Considering an annual multi-trip (AMT) policy - Some AMTs can work out cheaper, depending on the type of policy purchased. However, there are limits to these policies including age, so it’s important to check any limits before you buy. 

 

 

By using PayingTooMuch to compare travel insurance policies for the USA, you can find the right travel insurance for your USA trip.

¹https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/02/charted-countries-most-expensive-healthcare-spending/ 

 

² https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-26802/en-us