With so many travelers visiting the USA from different parts of the word, there’s bound to be some challenges along the journey. That’s why it’s best not to leave home without the right visitors insurance plan.
Have you heard about visitors insurance? Are you familiar with the benefits of visitors insurance?
Many people are unaware of travel medical insurance benefits. Yet the word is starting to get out that visitors insurance is worth considering. International visitors to the U.S. continue to be the top consumer of visitor health insurance plans because they offer a variety of medical benefits, including letting the policyholder decide their own deductible, medical maximum, and coinsurance amounts.
The Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), a nonprofit organization, reports that the average emergency room bill in the United States is $1,389 USD, up to 176% more than the previous decade. This average charge for emergency room health care doesn’t even include the extra charges for IVs, medications, diagnostic tests, and other treatments.
Visitors insurance policyholders get their policy because they want to avoid paying out-of-pocket for unexpected illness or injury while traveling stateside. If you’re visiting from another country, most likely neither your private or government health plan will provide coverage while traveling through the United States.
Visitors Insurance Tips from Other Travelers
Frequent visitors to America often look for generous medical benefits when shopping for the perfect travel medical insurance policy. Visitors from nations with free healthcare may be shocked by the cost for USA medical care.
The best advice from your fellow visitors is to read the fine print (exclusions particularly) on their travel medical insurance. Keep a close eye on the provider network and which providers are available within the area you’ll be visiting. You should also know the copay and coinsurance requirements, as well as the maximum coverage amounts and deductibles.
Which Type of Travel Medical Insurance Is Best for USA Visitors?
There are two basic types of travel medical coverage for USA visitors. You can opt for a scheduled plan or a comprehensive plan.
Scheduled Policies
You’ll pay less upfront in insurance premiums for a scheduled policy because you’ll be responsible for a higher percentage of any medical claims filed later. In fact, scheduled visitors insurance has a list of medical treatments or health services and their corresponding coverage amounts. If the provider charges more than the policy’s scheduled limits, then you’ll pay the remaining balance.
Comprehensive Policies
Comprehensive visitors insurance will usually have a higher priced premium than a scheduled policy. This means you’ll pay more in premium for the robust coverage and less out-of-pockets when (and if) you do file a medical claim. In this scenario, there is no set limit to what the insurer will pay for each type of medical treatment. Instead, there’s an overall maximum limit to the policy’s protections.
Customer Service is Key with Visitors Insurance
If you’re considering a visitors medical insurance plan, be sure to:
- read the insurance policies for benefits, limitations and exclusions,
- ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations,
- find out if the insurance company processes claims quickly,
- check into whether the customer care team is available
Be sure to work with an experienced travel insurance agency like Visitors Guru that can help find the best coverage for you and your family. A knowledgeable travel insurance agent can help you shop more effectively by answering many of the questions above.