Health Insurance for travelers in USA
Oct 12, 2019, 9:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 114
Health Insurance for travelers in USA
Hi!
Any recommendations for health insurance for travelers visiting the USA? Last time I had searched online, and bought temporary health insurance for visitors through a website, but when the time came to use it the Urgent care did not want to deal with that insurance and asked me to pay upfront and then claim it from the insurance. This was not a requirement of the Insurance, just the care facility decided that they did not want to deal with that Insurance.
Needless to say, I was not happy with the situation. So do you have any recommendations? The visitors are in the 70s.
TIA
Any recommendations for health insurance for travelers visiting the USA? Last time I had searched online, and bought temporary health insurance for visitors through a website, but when the time came to use it the Urgent care did not want to deal with that insurance and asked me to pay upfront and then claim it from the insurance. This was not a requirement of the Insurance, just the care facility decided that they did not want to deal with that Insurance.
Needless to say, I was not happy with the situation. So do you have any recommendations? The visitors are in the 70s.
TIA
Oct 13, 2019, 8:24 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,149
Hi!
Any recommendations for health insurance for travelers visiting the USA? Last time I had searched online, and bought temporary health insurance for visitors through a website, but when the time came to use it the Urgent care did not want to deal with that insurance and asked me to pay upfront and then claim it from the insurance. This was not a requirement of the Insurance, just the care facility decided that they did not want to deal with that Insurance.
Needless to say, I was not happy with the situation. So do you have any recommendations? The visitors are in the 70s.
TIA
Any recommendations for health insurance for travelers visiting the USA? Last time I had searched online, and bought temporary health insurance for visitors through a website, but when the time came to use it the Urgent care did not want to deal with that insurance and asked me to pay upfront and then claim it from the insurance. This was not a requirement of the Insurance, just the care facility decided that they did not want to deal with that Insurance.
Needless to say, I was not happy with the situation. So do you have any recommendations? The visitors are in the 70s.
TIA
Oct 13, 2019, 10:04 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
No different than what US travelers face overseas. Even in emergencies, fairly routine to have full payment demanded upfront.
Typically, treatment facilities, e.g. hosptials, urgent care and the like will only process insurance for carriers which are "in network" and thus where they are certain of payment. Unlikely with most short-term policies.
Typically, treatment facilities, e.g. hosptials, urgent care and the like will only process insurance for carriers which are "in network" and thus where they are certain of payment. Unlikely with most short-term policies.
Oct 13, 2019, 10:09 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Note that publicly funded hospitals are required to provide lifesaving emergency care regardless of insurance, financial, or citizenship/immigration status.
Oct 13, 2019, 10:24 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 114
To clarify the insurance I bought was underwritten by a US-based company (I forget which one now.) There are many policies like Patriot USA or some such name that are sold. And the policy was fairly expensive but my experience with it was mediocre. Similar travel policies can be bought overseas (by the guests themselves before they arrive in the USA) and which are considerably cheaper. I am leaning towards this option in the future. The more expensive US-based policy didn't buy us anything more.
Oct 14, 2019, 7:51 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,149
To clarify the insurance I bought was underwritten by a US-based company (I forget which one now.) There are many policies like Patriot USA or some such name that are sold. And the policy was fairly expensive but my experience with it was mediocre. Similar travel policies can be bought overseas (by the guests themselves before they arrive in the USA) and which are considerably cheaper. I am leaning towards this option in the future. The more expensive US-based policy didn't buy us anything more.
Oct 14, 2019, 10:08 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Posts: 123
I also have seen travel insurances, which give you a card (like MasterCard), where you can call them, they will approve the needed amount of money, and you can pay like with a regular credit card. In Germany Allianz has such a product. I haven't used it myself, so i cannot vouch how easy or difficult it really is to get the approval if you're waiting at the doctor or hospital and they want you to pay.
Oct 28, 2019, 6:40 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Frensham, Lincolnshire
Programs: RFC
Posts: 5,093
No different than what US travelers face overseas. Even in emergencies, fairly routine to have full payment demanded upfront.
Typically, treatment facilities, e.g. hosptials, urgent care and the like will only process insurance for carriers which are "in network" and thus where they are certain of payment. Unlikely with most short-term policies.
Typically, treatment facilities, e.g. hosptials, urgent care and the like will only process insurance for carriers which are "in network" and thus where they are certain of payment. Unlikely with most short-term policies.
Sorry, but on what basis do you say that? I've used travel medical insurance in six countries over the last ~25 years and have never been asked for payment up front *except* in the US. In every other instance the hospital called the insurer and confirmed the policy was in place and then provided service. The "in network" claim is also odd - very few countries have the same network-provider set up that the US has. What countries were you thinking of?
Nov 20, 2019, 5:34 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 6
Hello
Insuremytrip and World Nomads are the best travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA. They cover a very high level of medical expenses, especially compared to other providers, which is what makes them so great as travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA.
Insuremytrip and World Nomads are the best travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA. They cover a very high level of medical expenses, especially compared to other providers, which is what makes them so great as travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA.
Nov 27, 2019, 2:34 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Apparently home insurance policies in some countries may include foreign medical expense coverage of sorts. While these home insurance companies covering medical expenses incurred during trips/visits to other countries mainly do reimbursement for charges incurred, they also do at times engage in paying for services directly to the medical and other service providers so that the covered person/party need not pay out of pocket first and then get reimbursed by the insurance company.
Feb 18, 2023, 8:44 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
Hello
Insuremytrip and World Nomads are the best travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA. They cover a very high level of medical expenses, especially compared to other providers, which is what makes them so great as travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA.
Insuremytrip and World Nomads are the best travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA. They cover a very high level of medical expenses, especially compared to other providers, which is what makes them so great as travel insurance for travelers visiting the USA.
Last edited by dcpdxtrans; Feb 18, 2023 at 8:51 am
Mar 8, 2023, 9:29 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Canada
Posts: 5
I'm sorry to hear that you had a negative experience with your previous temporary health insurance for visitors. It's important to choose a reputable insurer and understand the terms of your coverage before you purchase it. Here are some recommendations for health insurance for travelers visiting the USA:
- Seven Corners: Seven Corners offers a range of travel insurance plans that include medical coverage for visitors to the USA. Their Liaison Travel Plus plan, for example, offers up to $1 million in coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. They have a 24/7 customer service hotline to assist with claims and offer direct billing with many healthcare providers.
- IMG Global: IMG Global offers a variety of travel medical insurance plans for visitors to the USA. Their Patriot America plan, for example, provides up to $1 million in coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. They have a large network of healthcare providers and offer direct billing to many of them.
- GeoBlue: GeoBlue is a popular choice for travelers who require international health insurance coverage. They offer a range of travel medical plans that provide coverage for visitors to the USA. Their Voyager Choice plan, for example, offers up to $1 million in coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. They also have a 24/7 customer service hotline and offer direct billing with many healthcare providers.