Yes, UK citizens need travel insurance for the US. Given the high cost of medical care in the US and the lack of universal healthcare, travel health insurance provides essential coverage for unexpected medical emergencies, hospital stays, and treatment. Emergency room visits in the US can cost between $500 and $3,000, while hospitalization averages $2,000 to $10,000 per day, depending on the treatment needed. These expenses can quickly add up, the importance of having adequate travel insurance to cover unexpected medical emergencies.
| US based travel insurance | UK based travel insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary coverage | UK-Based Travel Insurance primarily offers trip insurance plans, which means travel insurance plans that include trip-related coverage such as trip cancellation, interruption, and delays. | US-Based Travel Insurance provides comprehensive travel medical coverage, ensuring that you’re covered for any medical emergencies that might arise while traveling, including hospital stays, medical evacuation, and emergency treatments. |
| Coverage flexibility | While UK travel insurance offers fixed coverage amounts for specific incidents (e.g., a fixed payout for trip cancellation) | US travel insurance cover the total non-refundable costs of your trip and can offer up to 100% of the insured costs if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip. |
| Pre-Existing conditions | UK policies require you to disclose pre-existing medical conditions, and they often exclude coverage for these unless specifically added. This can complicate the purchasing process if you have a pre-existing condition. | US travel insurance often does not require disclosure of medical history, simplifying the purchase process. Additionally, US policies can cover the acute onset of a pre-existing condition during your trip |
| Deductibles | In the UK, insurance plans require you to pay a deductible (excess) for each separate claim, meaning you’ll pay for each individual incident (e.g., medical expenses, lost luggage, etc.). | US travel medical insurance often requires a single deductible for all claims, giving you easier and less costly management of your policy, and the ability to select the deductible amount that suits your needs. |
| PPO network | UK plans generally do not include PPO network access in the US, you might need to pay upfront for medical care and wait for reimbursement, which can be expensive. | On buying US based travel insurance you get the advantage benefit of having access to a PPO network in the United States. PPO networks allow you to find medical care at preferred rates and streamline the claims process with US healthcare providers. |
| Billing Process | Travel insurance from UK do not offer direct billing, and you may have to pay out-of-pocket and file for reimbursement. | With US travel insurance, you often have access to direct billing (cashless billing) through a PPO network. This means you won’t have to pay upfront for medical services, as the provider bills the insurance directly. |
| Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) | Offers limited coverage when compared to US based travel medical insurance. | Provides a lump sum to your beneficiary in the event of death or severe injury during travel, offering crucial financial support for family members. On average, US-based travel insurance plans significantly provide higher coverage for this benefit compared to UK-based plans. |
Each year, around 3.5 million UK residents travel to the USA for leisure. The United States is a top destination for UK residents, attracting millions of visitors each year for various reasons, including tourism, business, education, and family reunions. In addition to leisure travel, the US is a hub for business, with UK professionals regularly visiting for conferences, meetings, and collaborations across industries like technology, finance, and entertainment. For many, the US is also a key destination for higher education, as British students pursue study programs at prestigious American universities.
Unlike the UK’s NHS, the US has a private healthcare system with extremely high medical expenses. Without insurance, even a simple doctor’s visit or emergency treatment can cost thousands of dollars. US-based insurance providers offer plans with higher coverage limits, specifically designed to meet the needs of the US healthcare system. These insurers are familiar with local networks, ensuring faster medical care and direct billing, which reduces the need for upfront payments. By purchasing travel insurance from the US, UK travelers have peace of mind, knowing they are covered for unexpected medical emergencies, with access to a broader network and more tailored support.
When selecting a travel insurance for the USA, US-based travel insurance is a better option for UK visitors due to key advantages:
UK travelers can compare and buy the best medical insurance for visitors to USA on American Visitor Insurance online. For more details please contact us at (877)-340-7910 or email and one of our licensed agents to get help finding best travel insurance for US visitors from the UK.
The cheapest US travel insurance is Safe Travels Advantage. The other affordable travel insurance for the US are Safe Travels Elite from Trawick International and Visitors Care from IMG.
Cheapest travel insurance cost for USA| Insurance Plans | Plan Maximum | Deductible | Cost * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels Advantage | $25,000 | $0 | $20 |
| Safe Travels Elite | $25,000 | $0 | $25 |
| Visitors Care | $25,000 | $100 | $27 |
*Disclaimer: The average cost of cheapest travel insurance for USA is based on quotes for a 40-year-old for one month. Source: AMERICAN VISITOR INSURANCE®
The best travel insurance for USA are Patriot America Plus by International Medical Group, Atlas America from Global Underwriters, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive from Trawick International. These are comprehensive plans and offer coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Best travel insurance cost for USA| Insurance Plans | Plan Maximum | Deductible | Cost * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas America | $50,000 | $250 | $76 |
| Patriot America Plus | $50,000 | $250 | $76 |
| Safe Travels USA Comprehensive | $50,000 | $250 | $118 |
*Disclaimer: The average cost of travel insurance for USA is based on quotes for a 40-year-old for one month. Source: AMERICAN VISITOR INSURANCE®
If pre-existing medical conditions is a top concern for you when insuring your visiting parents, then you should consider one of three plans that actually covers any emergency whether due to something new or due to a pre-existing condition. The policies are: Visitors Protect by IMG, or Premier or Elite from INF.
The Elite plan and the Visitors Protect plans are comprehensive which make them fairly complete. The Visitors Protect plan is a 25/75 plan meaning that after the deductible, they pay 75% and you would pay 25% of medical expenses. The Elite plan is a 20/80 plan, or you can opt for the Elite 90 plan which is a 10/90 plan. The third plan is a fixed plan offered by INF. A fixed plan or limited plan has caps on what it pays out for each medical expense, so it may not pay 100% of any bill (and it does not cover a percentage like the comprehensive plans).
The definition of pre-existing conditions and how they cover is unique to these plans. Firstly, if a condition is VERY stable (has had no flare up nor change in medication 12 months before the start of the plan), then the policy covers it like any other condition (at the maximum and deductible you chose). If there HAS been a flare up or change in the past year, then it is still covered, but it will be subject to a higher deductible and a lower maximum (on the fixed plan, you choose these). Please call us if you have any questions or need assistance at (877)-340-7910.
For minor illness or injury, $50,000 might be enough coverage. However, if you are concerned about an (albeit unlikely) stay at a hospital, those expenses can run up quickly beyond $100,000 in a few days. When asked, I typically recommend at least $100,000 maximum. If a person is at risk for multiple fractures or a longer hospital stay (they are older, perhaps?), then I would go as high as I could. Often, the age of the insured will limit the maximum allowed.
The cheapest $50,000 travel insurance with deductible $250 for 65 years old traveler is Safe Travels USA whose cost starts from $160 per month, then is the Patriot America Plus insurance cost starting from $173 per month while Atlas America insurance can cost $206 per month.
Visitor travel health insurance plans never cover regular, required medical care for a chronic condition. For example, if a traveler takes medication regularly or requires treatment like dialysis, those things will have to be paid for out of pocket by the traveler and should be calculated into the cost of their trip. If medications are lost or stolen and need to be replace, that will require a doctor visit to get a prescription and then the purchase at the pharmacy all of which would have to be paid for by the insured.
If the concern is for a sudden, unexpected flare up with a chronic, pre-existing condition, then there are a few plans which will cover that, but they are quite expensive and must be purchased for at least 90 days. Note also, that those plans also must be purchased BEFORE the travel begins and cover only travel to the US (some include Canada and Mexico).
No. Visitor policies do not cover wellness visits and routine checkups. So, vaccinations, for example, will not be covered, nor an annual ob-gyn exam. Also, there is often limited or no coverage for pre-existing medical conditions (check carefully on the policy if these are a major concern). Also, all policies have exclusions of particular illnesses.
For example, maternity is specifically excluded from most policies as are UTI’s and other diseases (particularly sexually transmitted diseases and issues or expensive and lengthy ones, like cancer treatment). Also, if a person is traveling to get a particular medical treatment, that will not be covered nor any issue arising therefrom.