Are you shopping around for visitors medical insurance for your parents or relatives and spending endless hours online trying to figure out what policy is a good match for you at an affordable price? Are you asking yourself, “With so many insurance companies offering so many different plans, how can I possibly decide which plan is best for my needs?” Your search ends here. On Path2USA, we provide you with all the information you need to make an educated purchasing decision when it comes to travel medical insurance.
When thinking about visitors insurance for the US, there are certain factors you want to consider such as your coverage options, the age of those who will be insured, the health of those who will be insured, and your budget. Your plans while visiting the US will also come into account when choosing a visitors insurance plan that is right for you.
Related Article: 10 Reasons CoverAmerica-Gold is the Best Visitors Insurance Plan for the USA
Let’s start with some visitors health insurance basics. Visitors medical insurance is short-term health insurance plan that is specially designed for foreign travelers visiting the US. Travel medical insurance does not work exactly like your regular domestic health insurance, where the only expense you owe is your co-payment upon use of your insurance, which usually ranges from $15-$45.
Though you may initially have to pay a deductible and then some, depending on the type of plan you purchase, you are ultimately covered from large expenses that you would otherwise have to pay tens of thousands of dollars for if anything major happened. It is, however, important that you don’t assume that just because you buy visitors medical insurance, you won’t be paying anything at all in the event of a medical issue. When it comes to travel medical insurance, much of the coverage is circumstantial based on the plan you purchase and the travelers specific situation but nonetheless, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Coverage Talk
Coverage typically includes doctor’s visits, pharmaceutical expenses, emergency visits to the hospital, lab work, emergency evacuation, some trip interruption/baggage loss, and emergency dental and vision coverage.
Finding the Perfect Plan
It may be difficult to find a plan that fits your needs 100%, as each plan offers different coverage for different circumstances. Because accidents and illnesses are unpredictable, no one knows what kind of problems one might face in the future and as a result, you can never be 100% sure about the kind of coverage that is best for you or what you may need along the way. As with anything, there are pros and cons for each visitors insurance plan. For instance, if one plan is cheaper and has a low deductible, then it will likely provide limited coverage. On the other hand, if one plan offers higher, more thorough coverage, then it will either have a higher deductible/co-insurance or will have a more expensive premium. In the end, however, the most important thing is that you choose a plan that will provide you with adequate coverage at a price you can afford.
The two main types of travel medical insurance plans are:
- Limited Coverage Plans: These plans are less expensive, but have limitations on coverage. They are also called fixed coverage plans/scheduled benefit plans.
- Comprehensive Coverage Plans: These plans are a bit more expensive than limited coverage plans, but they offer more coverage.
Learn more about the differences between limited and comprehensive coverage plans here.
What Kind of Policy Should I Purchase?
When making a decision on what travel medical insurance plan you should ultimately purchase, you must first identify your specific needs and ask yourself how much you are willing to pay based on your individual circumstances:
I want to pay less and buy a basic coverage plan, but I know and understand that limited coverage plans may not be adequate in case of any bigger medical/accident emergency. In such an event, I am ready to pay any additional expenses from my pocket.
If this aligns with your thoughts and needs for your visitors insurance plan, you should opt for a limited coverage plan.
OR
I do not want to take any risk and would prefer to pay a little more now, but want coverage that protects me from a bigger expense that may occur from accidents/emergencies on my trip.
If this aligns with your thoughts and needs for your visitors insurance plan, you should opt for a comprehensive coverage plan.
Note
For travelers aged 80 and up, most of the comprehensive coverage plans have a limitation on maximum coverage. If you are purchasing travel health insurance for a traveler over 80 years of age, contact VisitorsCoverage for assistance.
Once you have decided on what type of plan is suitable for you, you have already won half the battle of your decision-making process. Now all you need to do is decide on the company you would like to purchase from and the specific plan you would like to purchase.
Which Company Offers the Best Priced Visitors Insurance?
With so many companies around, which one is the best for visitors health insurance?
There are very few well-known and reputed American insurance companies who issue the actual insurance policies themselves. Each company has various plans/products with different given names.
These companies also sell these plans through agents, and can be purchased online as well. If buying through an agent, it is important that you make your purchase through an agent you can trust. If you need a second opinion, you may also want to ask your friends and family about their experiences.
Path2USA has listed the top-rated and industry’s best plans, where you can find additional information regarding what insurance plans are best for visitors to the US.
Related Links
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