When planning a trip to the United States, it’s crucial to protect yourself with the right US travel health insurance. Before comparing plans, it’s helpful to understand the two main categories of visitor medical insurance Fixed Benefit Plans and Comprehensive Plans. Each offers unique benefits, coverage limits, and pricing structures tailored to different traveler needs.
Before comparing the popular US travel insurance diving into plan types, let’s quickly go over some common terms you’ll encounter when choosing
visitor insurance for the USA:Fixed benefit Travel insurance plans, also called Scheduled Benefit Plans, provide limited but affordable medical coverage. They are ideal for travelers seeking basic, low-cost protection for emergencies.
Unlike comprehensive plans, fixed benefit policies set a predefined dollar limit for each medical service such as doctor visits, hospitalization, or prescription drugs. This means the plan pays a fixed amount regardless of the actual cost incurred.
Key Points:If your doctor visit costs $250 and your plan pays a fixed $55 per visit, you pay the difference out of pocket. For your first visit, you’d also need to meet your deductible (for example, $50), after which the insurance company contributes the scheduled benefit amount.
These plans typically have policy maximums of $50,000 or $100,000, but individual medical benefits are capped at specific limits rather than paying up to the maximum for every service.
Some of the most popular fixed benefit travel insurance plans for visitors to the USA include:
The plans that provide medical coverage for acute onset of pre existing conditions for people above 70 are, Safe Travels Elite and the INF plans. Visitors Care from IMG provides only $2500 coverage for people above 70 for acute onset of pre existing conditions.
Comprehensive travel insurance plans offer broader protection and pay for most covered expenses up to the policy maximum. They usually cost more but provide much higher financial protection and flexibility.
These plans include co-insurance, which means the traveler pays a small percentage (typically 10%–20%) of medical costs after the deductible, up to a certain limit. Once that limit is reached, the insurance company pays 100% of the remaining expenses.
If your total medical bill is $1,000 and your deductible is $100 with 20% co-insurance:
Example:Here are some of the top-rated Comprehensive travel insurance plans that offer wide coverage, including options for pre-existing conditions:
Regardless of the insurance provider visitor's insurance is segregated into two broad categories like Comprehensive and fixed plans.Firstly, let us define what fixed and comprehensive plans are. They work quite differently from each other.
A fixed plan also called scheduled benefits plan is popularly known as fixed, because the insurance company has limits placed on what they will pay for each medical expense and they provide basic coverage.
A Comprehensive offers much more complete coverage. Let me explain using an example. Let's suppose that a person has incurred the following medical expenses: Doctor visit for $350, prescription medications for $160, minor surgery for $1350.
The total expenses are $1,860. Let's give two examples of plans with a $100 deductible and a $50,000 maximum limit.
A fixed benefit travel insurance plan is the cheap health insurance for visitors to USA plan, however this is because the fixed benefit travel insurance have a fixed limit of coverage for different medical benefits. Fixed benefit visitor insurance works well for small ailments but can be inadequate for more serious medical conditions involving hospitalisation.
Cheapest fixed benefit visitor insurance plans for the USA
The cheapest US travel insurance is Safe Travels Advantage. The other affordable travel insurance for the US are Venbrook Essential from Venbrook International and Visitors Care from IMG. These plans offer basic coverage at lower cost for visitors to USA.
VisitorSecure is an another affordable travel insurance plan designed for international travelers visiting the US. Offers up to $1,000,000 in emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, and repatriation.
Age: 40 years | Plan: $25,000 | Deductible: $0
Age: 40 years | Plan: $25,000 | Deductible: $0
Comprehensive travel insurance provide full coverage for medical expenses up to the policy medical maximum limit. As opposed to fixed benefit visitor insurance there are no coverage limits for each benefit. It is much more expensive when compared to fixed benefit plans but also provides significantly superior coverage especially in case of a serious medical emergency or hospitalisation.
Best comprehensive visitor insurance plans for the USA
Some of the top recommended best comprehensive plans are Patriot America Plus by International Medical Group, Atlas America from WorldTrips, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive from Trawick International. These plans are well-suited for travelers to the U.S., offering robust medical coverage along with benefits for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
Age: 40 years | Plan: $50,000 | Deductible: $250
Covers doctor visits in case of sudden injury or sickness.
Some plans cover high school sports activities.
Repatriation of remains expenses to home country in case of death.
Expenses from sudden dental pain and accidental dental injuries.
Some plans offer coverage for pregnancy, maternity and new born.
Student insurance who need coverage for existing medical ailments.
Fixed benefit (or scheduled benefit) plans pay pre-set amounts for specific medical services. Coverage is usually limited.
Comprehensive plans cover actual eligible medical expenses up to the policy limit. They are broader and more protective.
💡 Best for : Students on short stays, young travelers, budget visitors.
💡 Best for : Elderly visitors, long stays, anyone who wants full protection.
US Healthcare is extremely expensive, and even a simple doctor’s visit can become a financial burden unless insured properly.
In 2026, the cost of travel health insurance for visitors to the US ranges between $19 to $172 per month, depending on
Cheaper options are available for as little as $1 to $5 per day, however the coverage is also limited.
Why is travel insurance USA is so important? A simple doctor’s visit can cost anywhere between $250 to $350, while a heart attack can cost at least $25,000. A stay in the ICU after a stroke can cost upwards of $150,000. As routine echocardiogram can range from $1,500 to $4,000 while emergency treatments for conditions like diabetes can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $7,000. Treatment for kidney failure can result in bills of over $30,000.
Cheap visitor health insurance for visitors to USA starts at $19 per month for fixed benefit plans. Following is the cost of visitor insurance per month.
| Plan Name | Plan max range | Deductible | Age 35 | Age 55 | Age 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels Advantage | $25,000 - $150,000 | $0 | $19 - $54 | $29 - $82 | $59 -$160 |
| Visitors Care | $25,000 - $100,000 | $100 | $25 - $44 | $30 - $65 | $66 - $152 |
| Safe Travels Elite | $25,000 - $175,000 | $0 | $25 - $71 | $36 - $110 | $105 - $150 |
| Venbrook Essential | $25,000 - $150,000 | $0 | $25 - $74 | $36 - $105 | $66 - $142 |
| Visit USA Budget | $50,000 - $150,000 | $250 | $30 - $49 | $42 -$74 | $81 |
| VisitorSecure | $50,000 - $130,000 | $100 | $31 - $55 | $46 - $84 | $93 - $135 |
| Travel Medical USA Visitor Basic | $50,000 - $150,000 | $100 | $39 - $47 | $56 - $68 | $178 - $196 |
The cost of comprehensive visitor insurance starts around $53 month, depending on the age of the traveler, coverage limits, deductible, and optional add-ons. Higher medical maximum plans including pre-existing condition benefits and lower deductibles are more expensive.
On average, a good comprehensive health insurance plan costs between $58 to $108 per month for a 35 year old traveler.
Following are the cost of best health insurance for visitors to USA per month for a $250 deductible.
| Plan name | Plan maximum | Age 35 | Age 55 | Age 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Essential America | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $53 - $98 | $117 - $200 | $244 - $326 |
| Visitors Preferred | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $53 - $99 | $123 -$231 | $244 |
| Patriot America Plus | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $57 - $106 | $124 - $235 | $279 - $420 |
| Safe Travels USA | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $57 - $103 | $123 - $227 | $244 - $321 |
| Venbrook Premier | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $58 - $104 | $129 - $240 | $352 - $437 |
| Atlas America | $50,000 - $2,000,000 | $58 - $114 | $127 - $253 | $344 - $429 |
| Safe Travels USA Comprehensive | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $66 - $122 | $143 - $269 | $285 - $455 |
| Atlas Premium America | $50,000 - $2,000,000 | $72 - $142 | $158 - $316 | $430 - $537 |
| SafeVista Protect | $100,000 - $1,000,000 | $76 - $97 | $158 - $225 | $320 |
| Diplomat America | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $81 - $142 | $176 - $303 | $342 |
| Travel Medical Choice | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $98 - $173 | $186 - $333 | $736 - $1,000 |
| Patriot America Platinum | $1,000,000 - $8,000,000 | $108 - $226 | $240 - $494 | $604 |
| Visit USA Superior | $250,000 | $112 | $233 | $404 |
Travel worry-free with the best visitor insurance from American Visitor Insurance. Compare top plans instantly and choose coverage that fits your needs and budget. Secure your policy today and stay protected abroad!
For a 60-year-old traveler, the cost of USA visitor insurance for 6 months typically ranges around $122 to $1,050, based different coverage options, medical needs, and traveler’s budget on American Visitor Insurance.
The best 6 month USA travel insurance is the one which is affordable, reliable and allows the traveler stress free.
Let us take an example: The medical bill is $25,000; Deductible is $100; and the chosen Policy Maximum is $50,000
The fixed benefit visitor insurance in the USA covers clearly defined amounts for specific medical situations up to the medical maximum coverage (in this example, $50,000). The insured pays the deductible amount ($100), after which the plan pays a fixed sum for each covered treatment as outlined in the policy.
In this example, the insured is responsible for $20,250, which is the difference between the actual billed medical expenses and the fixed amount the insurance plan pays. This simple and predictable payment structure makes fixed benefit health insurance for visitors to the USA an ideal option for budget-conscious international travelers, seniors visiting the USA, and anyone seeking affordable travel medical insurance in the USA.
| Expense | Billed | Insurance pays | You Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deductible | $100 | $0 | $100 |
| Hospital Stay (for 3 days) | $6,000 | $1,450 | $4,550 |
| Surgery | $17,000 | $3,300 | $13,700 |
| Prescription Drugs | $800 | $150 | $650 |
| Diagnostic X-rays & Lab Services | $1,700 | $450 | $1,250 |
| Total: | $25,600 | $5,350 | $20,250 |
* Disclaimer: We have done everything to the best of our ability to make the insurance information up-to-date and accurate. However this information does change periodically and we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.
Let us take an example: The medical bill is $25,000; Deductible is $100; and the chosen Policy Maximum is $50,000
Below is a simple calculation showing how much the plan/insurance company pays you:
| Expense | Billed | Insurance pays | You Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deductible | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Days in hospital | $3,000/day for 2 days | $6,000 | $0 |
| Surgery | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 |
| Prescription Drugs | $600 | $600 | $0 |
| X Ray | $1,400 | $1,400 | $0 |
| Total: | $26,500 | $26,000 | $500 |
Comprehensive visitor insurance is generally the best choice for older travelers because it:
Fixed benefit plans are riskier for seniors due to capped payouts.
Yes, comprehensive insurance is better than fixed benefit plans, especially if you want true financial protection while visiting the U.S.
Why Comprehensive Is Usually Better
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US Travel insurance plans for coverage can be purchased online at American Visitor Insurance to get a medical and travel insurance cover in the United States. International travel insurance provides coverage for unexpected medical emergencies during the travel period.
Travel insurance is particularly important during the Covid19 pandemic for safe travel to the US. American visitor insurance offers customers with some of the best US travel insurance options which can be compared to find the most appropriate product for one’s needs. For more details travelers can call the customer service or email and the team will be glad to help.
Yes, many plans cover sudden flare-ups for older travelers.
Yes, travelers can buy travel insurance if the traveler has already started a trip. However travelers should keep in mind that the cover is provided for any illness or injury that occurs after the inception of the policy.
Yes, if the traveler is a non US citizen and needs medical insurance it can be purchased. The US travel insurance cover can provide the traveler with the medical coverage required.
Comprehensive visitors insurance coverage offer more extensive coverage than fixed benefit visitors insurance, also known as limited coverage plans. Comprehensive travel health insurance are more flexible and provide coverage for a wider range of situations. They usually include basic travel protection, as well as coverage for natural disasters, personal accidents, and third-party liability. On the other hand, fixed benefit travel health insurance offer limited coverage and are cost-efficient. They usually provide basic travel protection and are ideal for those who are looking for a budget-friendly option.
Comprehensive insurance is generally safer for elderly visitors or those with chronic conditions.
Typically no. Only emergency medical care may be covered.
A pre existing condition is a health issue you already had before buying the insurance — like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, etc.
Comprehensive plans definitely have a higher premium because they cover a wider range of risks. Fixed plans, being more focused and predictable, lower premiums.
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Guide to buying the best international travel insurance for USA.
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Learn More »The best US visitors insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage is listed here :
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Know MoreImportant factors while deciding on the best travel insurance for USA.
Know MoreUnderstanding different types of travel health insurance plans.
Know MoreTravel insurance online claims process for getting medical care in a hospital.
Know MoreThe choice between a fixed and comprehensive plan depends on individual needs and preferences. If someone prefers a cheaper plan, a fixed visitors travel insurance plan might be suitable. If someone wants a more versatile solution covering various aspects, a comprehensive visitor travel insurance plan could be better.
💡️ Tip: For most elderly visitors to the U.S., comprehensive travel insurance for visitors is the safer and smarter choice.
You can find reliable US insurance providers like International Medical Group(IMG), Seven Corners, WorldTrips, Venbrook International, Global Underwriters, GeoBlue, HTH Worldwide, Trawick International, Travel Insurance Services, INF insurance, Travelex and BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions.