Best medical insurance for visitors to USA from India

While there are different Indian travel insurance plans for the USA, many US hospitals or healthcare facilities do not recognize international insurance plans. In such cases, visitors are required to pay upfront for healthcare services and then get reimbursed by their insurance provider. However, this reimbursement process can be bureaucratic and time-consuming, often being credited to an Indian bank account, which can be inconvenient when payments need to be made in the USA.

Moreover, most Indian domestic health insurance policies only cover services within India and do not provide coverage in the USA. Therefore, it is crucial for Indian travelers to purchase travel medical insurance specifically for their trip to the USA. This insurance should offer adequate coverage for medical emergencies, accidents, and other unexpected events. Customers can compare and buy US visitor health insurance plans on American Visitors Insurance online, ensuring they have the necessary coverage for their stay. For more details please contact us at (877)-340-7910 or email and one of our licensed agents to get help finding travel health insurance for visitors from India to USA.

This US travel insurance for Indians information can guide Indian travelers in understanding the processes and terms as well as the financial support that it offers.

India and the US has been witnessing a stronger political, economic and cultural connection in the 21st century. This has involved in a large number of Indians traveling to the US on work thanks to India’s dynamic technology sector and many outsourcing companies. Many of these Indians have now settled in the US and today the Indian American population in the US is 4 million strong.

This large Indian American community retains strong ties with family members in India and it is natural to have parents and relatives travel to the US to meet their children. Traveling to the USA is naturally exciting for parents are seeing their children and grandchildren. However despite much planning, travel may not turn out to be as comfortable as planned.

During travel older travelers will be exposed to strenuous long hours of travel, change in weather conditions and food which eventually may lead to a medical emergency. Given the pandemic, even though the worst seems to be behind us, Covid is still causing health problems, especially for senior citizens. It is therefore very important for Indian parents to take full precautions while traveling to the US. Due to the older age of parents, health and stress-free travel is crucial.

To avoid any such emergencies buying good US parents travel insurance is necessary as this will cover them for unforeseen medical situations that can leave them with a financial loss and nightmare in the US.

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).

A large number of Indian computer engineers and software developers work in the United States on the H1B visa. The United States of America being the global leader in research, science and technology attracts Information Technology talent from around the world and in particular from India given India’s large technically savvy labor force.

As a result, every year thousands of Indian techies migrate to the US for employment and to start a new chapter of their life. The US is also a magnet for entrepreneurs who are willing to innovate and work hard to translate ideas into products and services and to create new companies for the same.

Most of these skilled professionals come to the US on the H-1B visas. More than half of all Indian immigrants to the US finally secure their Green Cards through employment. While the Trump administration had made it difficult to get a new H1B visa or to renew existing H1B visas, the Biden administration is easing on those restrictions. Given all these changes going on with the visa process Indians who are planning to immigrate to the US should anticipate uncertainties and be well prepared for them.

One of the additional stresses that H1B visa holders face is that of their healthcare. US healthcare while excellent is also very expensive. It is in this context that it is very important for Indian H1B visa holders to buy good health insurance in the US, especially so given the Covid pandemic. At American Visitor Insurance, H1B visa holders can compare several top US insurance companies offering short term health insurance which works ideally for H1B visa holders.

These short term H1B visa health insurance plans are flexible in that they can be purchased only for the duration of one’s requirements. If the H1B visa holder gets domestic US health insurance through his employer, he can discontinue the temporary health insurance purchased here. Indian technology professionals can compare different H1B visa insurance options and buy the plan that works best for their budget and specific needs.

Even though the Covid pandemic seems to be over, many Indian visitors on a temporary tourist visa are forced to extend their stay in the US for different reasons. These travelers have to extend or renew their visa status in order to stay longer in the US. The following is the procedure to extend the US short term visa:

• The visitor should complete the I-539 form for extension of a Non-Immigrant Visa.
• Indians should submit a letter stating the reason with detailed explanation for extension.
• Visitors should submit a copy of form I-94 that that he/she received on entry into the US.
• Visitors should provide documentary evidence that the extended stay is temporary along with the booked return tickets.
• Indians provide proof that the stay is completely taken care and he/she are financially covered and will not be a public charge in the United States.
• Visitors should confirm that if the applicant has received any state benefits after 11-Feburary-2020; they need to be supported with proof of documents separately. The applicant should not have accessed any monetary state benefits or supplementary income from state post this period.

Pay the required renewal fees

Pay $370 filling fees +$85 for biometric fees depending on the petition at the USCIS.

Visa extension processing

The USCIS will issue a receipt with 13-digit case number on submission of the extension application. The Indian visitor should provide this case number to check the status of the application and its processing times (customer service number helpline number is: 1-800-375-5283).