Yes, you can buy travel insurance after arriving in the USA, although it is generally recommended to purchase it before your trip. Many insurance providers such as WorldTrips, IMG, INF, Trawick International, Travel Insurance Services and Global Underwriters offer plans without arrival time restrictions.
However, it is very important to remember that:
One of the most crucial requirements for international travel is visitor medical insurance, especially in the USA where healthcare costs are extremely high. Medical expenses in a foreign country can be financially crippling, so having the best international travel insurance helps protect your hard-earned money from unexpected sickness or injury.
With sufficient travel insurance USA, you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind knowing that emergency medical expenses will be covered.
While it’s generally recommended to buy travel insurance before arriving in the destination country, some US visa medical insurance plans can be purchased after arrival. Most insurance companies emphasize buying the policy before travel to ensure that it covers new incidents rather than existing medical needs.
However, there are legitimate situations where travelers may need to buy travel insurance after reaching the USA. For instance:
It is important to note that insurance cannot be purchased after a medical ailment occurs. Any condition existing before the policy start date will be treated as a pre-existing condition, and the coverage will be considered under the Pre-existing condition visitor insurance coverage benefits.
Different travel insurance providers have their own eligibility time limits for purchasing coverage after arrival in the USA. For example:
Best Visitors Insurance plans like INF Elite X insurance, INF Premier X Insurance, Atlas America Insurance, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive and Patriot America Plus , INF Premier X Insurance, INF Standard X Insurance are all eligible for purchase after arrival, giving visitors flexibility even if they didn’t buy coverage before traveling.
A Fixed benefit travel medical insurance plan offering full coverage for pre-existing conditions, including worsening chronic issues up to 99 years, for travelers aged 18 to 99. The policy provides flexible coverage durations ranging from 90 to 364 days.
Eligibility: Yes, available after arrival in the U.S.
Comprehensive coverage for foreign visitors to the USA, including benefits such as emergency medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions for travelers up to 79 years old.
Eligibility: Yes, it can be purchased after arrival in the U.S. as there are no arrival-time restrictions.
A robust comprehensive plan offering coverage up to $1M, including acute-onset of pre-existing conditions (up to age 89), emergency evacuation, AD&D, trip interruption, and optional riders.
Eligibility: Yes, typically available for purchase after arrival (just note: not available if already residing in the U.S. for over 365 days).
Comprehensive medical travel insurance ideal for non-U.S. citizens visiting the USA. It includes PPO network access (UnitedHealthcare or First Health) and covers acute onset of pre-existing conditions for travelers under age 70, along with a wide range of other medical needs.
Eligibility: Yes, it can be purchased after arrival in the U.S.
A fixed-benefit travel medical insurance plan for non-U.S. residents. Designed for travelers aged 18 to 99, it provides basic medical coverage with scheduled benefits and is ideal for short-term visits to the USA. The minimum purchase duration is 30 days, with flexible options up to 364 days.
Eligibility: Yes, INF Standard X can be purchased after arrival in the U.S.
A comprehensive travel medical insurance plan offering full coverage for pre-existing conditions , including worsening chronic issues up to 99 years , for travelers aged 18 to 99. The policy provides flexible coverage durations ranging from 90 to 364 days.
Eligibility: Yes, it can be purchased after arrival in the U.S. However, for the INF Elite Plan, there would be a 5 days waiting period for any new sickness and pre-existing conditions.
Many travel insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions if bought after arrival. Some only include acute onset of pre-existing conditions after a short waiting period. However, certain plans such as INF Elite X and INF Premier X offer full pre-existing condition coverage, even if purchased after arrival. This makes them a good option for seniors and visitors with existing health concerns.
Travelers aged 60 and above often face higher insurance premiums, especially when buying coverage after arrival. This is because insurers consider the increased likelihood of medical claims. To save money, it’s always best to purchase early when possible.
Buying travel insurance after arrival makes the most sense for long-term visitors — such as parents or relatives staying for 3 months or more. For short trips (1–2 months), purchasing coverage before traveling is better to avoid any waiting periods or coverage gaps.
Even with post-arrival purchase, most plans still cover essential emergencies such as:
Buying visitor health insurance after arrival in the U.S. is not the best option, but it is still much better than having no coverage at all. Even when purchased after travel begins, the right plan can still cover unexpected sickness, accidental injuries, and medical emergencies. This protection gives travelers and their families peace of mind, and helps avoid large medical bills.
If you are hosting parents or relatives visiting the U.S., make sure to arrange their visitor medical insurance immediately after arrival. With the high cost of healthcare in the U.S., paying a few dollars a day can save thousands of dollars during a medical emergency. Quick enrollment also ensures there are no coverage gaps during their stay.
Some plans, such as INF Elite X and INF Premier X, include full pre-existing condition coverage. This is rare in the market and especially useful for older visitors or travelers with existing medical issues.
Other well-known plans, including Atlas America, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive, and Patriot America Plus, cover only the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. This means they offer limited protection if a sudden and unexpected flare-up occurs. However, this coverage often depends on factors such as traveler age and plan limits.
Summary: It is always better to buy insurance before traveling. But if that was missed, buying a plan after arrival is still a smart step to secure medical care and reduce financial risk.
Yes. The majority of visitor insurance policies can be cancelled, and unused days are reimbursed if there have been no claims. In case the visitor departs the U.S. prematurely or changes to a different policy, a prorated refund is generally issued, less an administrative fee. Always check the cancellation terms of the plan prior to purchase.
Note: Most policies provide a refund of the full premium if canceled prior to the policy commencement date. After coverage has commenced, refunds are usually prorated and also attract admin fees.
Yes, you can get travel insurance after arriving in the US.
The International Medical Group (IMG) offers popular fixed and comprehensive visitor insurance plans for all budgets. They have an eligibility criteria which is inbuilt in their online application. Customers will not be allowed to buy their plan once they have exceeded the eligibility time frame of being in the destination country.
Some of the other companies that do not have arrival time restriction in the US are highlighted below:
WorldTrips travel insurance does not have any eligibility time limits to buy their visitor travel insurance plans.
Trawick International is another company that has plans for visitors and they do not have any arrival time restrictions as well. Their Safe Travels USA Comprehensive plan have very good coverage for acute onset of pre-existing condition for even people who are above 70 which makes these plans unique from other comprehensive plans.
Travel Insurance Services has excellent comprehensive plans for Green Card holders and visitors. Their Visit USA Healthcare plan has good sports coverage as well. Their student plans are quite popular as well for their benefits. The plans from this company have a unique advantage where they do not have state restriction in the US where, purchasing of plans while located physically in some states is prohibited although the coverage is still available when purchased in a different unrestricted state in the US.
Global Underwriters is another popular provider and their Diplomat America plan is suitable for visitors as well as US citizens visiting US for brief time. They provide a year coverage with the plan for US citizens visiting US.
Other Affordable health insurance for visitors to the United States are Venbrook Essential from Venbrook International and Visitors Care from IMG.
* The price shown is for a 30-day trip with a $25,000 maximum coverage and a $0 deductible for a 40-year-old traveler.
| Already in USA | Eligible Plans (Can Be Purchased After Arrival) | Key Features | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Months | INF Standard X, Atlas America, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive, Patriot America Plus, Diplomat America | Short-term visitor medical coverage with emergency benefits. | All listed plans allow purchase after arrival. Some plans may have a waiting period before certain benefits, including coverage for new sickness or pre-existing conditions, become effective |
| 6 Months | INF Elite X, INF Premier X, Atlas America, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive, Patriot America Plus, Visit USA | Designed for medium-term visitors; extendable up to 6–12 months in many cases. | Confirm plan allows renewal beyond 6 months. Pre-existing condition coverage varies (e.g., INF plans includes more comprehensive options). |
| 1 Year (12 Months) | INF Elite X, INF Premier X, Atlas America, Patriot America Plus | Long-term visitor medical insurance; most plans allow up to 364 days and renewal for another term. | Check for renewal rules — INF and Atlas plans can often be extended; Safe Travels USA may require repurchase. Coverage depends on continuous visitor status. |
| 2 Years | Patriot America Plus, Patriot America Lite | Multi-year renewable options for long-term non-U.S. residents. | Policy is available for up to 24 months in a single term. Traveler must still qualify as a visitor, not a U.S. resident. |
| General Eligibility | INF Plans (Elite X, Premier X, Standard X) WorldTrips (Atlas America) Trawick (Safe Travels USA Comprehensive) IMG (Patriot America Plus) | All allow purchase after arrival in the U.S | Recommended to buy as soon as possible after arrival to ensure maximum coverage and to minimize any waiting periods for certain benefits. |
The types of US travel insurance plans are fixed benefit and comprehensive visitors insurance. Compare Comprehensive vs fixed benefit visitors insurance for USA.
| Feature | Fixed Benefit Visitor Insurance USA | Comprehensive Visitor Insurance USA |
| 💲 Cost | Affordable with lower premiums | More Expensive due to extensive coverage |
| 🛡️ Coverage | Fixed amount per benefit limited or coverage under certain conditions | Benefits for covered medical expenses up to the plan maximum |
| 📉 Deductibles | Usually higher deductibles for lower cost | Often lower deductibles, more coverage |
| 🌐 PPO network | Usually no PPO network participation | Offers PPO network access with discounted rates |
| 💳 Payment method | Usually requires you to pay upfront and then seek reimbursement from the insurer | Allows direct billing(cashless), so the insurer handles payments to the provider |
| ❤️ Pre-existing conditions coverage | Not all plans offer coverage. Some offer coverage up to a specified limit | Some plans offer coverage, while some others offer coverage only for acute onset of pre-existing conditions |
| 👥 Recommended for | Budget conscious travelers who only need basic coverage. | Travelers who want comprehensive coverage for any medical needs. |
Compare and buy best pre-existing plans
Yes, visitors insurance is the same of travel insurance. However there are several types of travel insurance one can purchase for a trip. Some policies are long-term and meant for a frequent international traveler who wants to choose where they get their medical care (global medical plans). Some are annual travel insurance that require a home plan that will cover for medical expenses while away from home for short (generally under 45 days) trips (annual multi-trip plans). There are trip cancellation plans that allow you to insure the value of your trip should you not be able to take your trip as well as cover your unexpected medical expenses should you go on your trip (trip plans) which are available from US companies for US residents only. And, finally, there are single trip travel insurance which do not insure your trip, but cover you medically while on your trip and are usually completely refundable if you cancel your trip (travel insurance).
No there is no penalty for buying the policy after arrival in the US. However, the coverage will only start on the following day after buying the policy. The policy will not cover any accident or sickness that the traveler already has and will only cover any unanticipated future ailments.
Some plans will cover ‘pre-existing conditions’ while some more plans provide “acute onset of pre-existing condition” coverage. Please refer to the pre-existing conditions coverage plans to make an informed decision.
Yes, however only some plans allow this. Please check the eligibility based on your arrival date in the plans listed at American Visitor Insurance.
Yes, many of our customers at American Visitor Insurance buy coverage for visiting parents after arrival. However, the plan will provide coverage from the following day after buying the policy and will only cover unanticipated future sickness or accidents.
To buy the policy you need to complete an online application with relevant details of the travelers and the travel dates. There is no medical exam or documents required to buy travel medical insurance on American Visitor Insurance.
Tourists can use Urgent Care clinics, make appointments at a doctor's office or go the the hospital, if needed. However, they will have to pay out-of-pocket for any and all medical care they receive. This is why we recommend getting a travel or US tourist health insurance plan for the duration of their stay.
Coverage varies by plan, but generally includes:
Common exclusions include:
Note: While most plans do not cover full pre-existing conditions, select plans such as INF Elite and INF Premier are exceptions, as they provide comprehensive pre-existing condition coverage even if purchased after arrival.
No. Visitor insurance is short-term protection for unexpected medical expenses during travel. It is not a replacement for domestic U.S. health insurance.
Immediately, the better. Most visitor insurance policies have a waiting period of 2–15 days for sickness coverage if purchased after arrival. During this time, only accidents are covered immediately. Buying as early as possible reduces the risk of being uninsured during the waiting period and ensures faster access to full benefits.
Yes, depending on the type of coverage you need. While trip cancellation coverage usually must be purchased before departure, you can still buy travel medical insurance plans after you arrive in the United States. These plans cover new illnesses, injuries, emergency medical care, and more during your stay.
Most visitor insurance plans can be renewed online before the policy expires, allowing continued protection for your extended visit.
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Understanding different types of travel health insurance plans.
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