Best health insurance for H1B visa holders, Health insurance for H1B and H4 Visa
Travel medical insurance for visitors stranded in the USA because of Coronavirus
It is heartbreaking that so many people are stranded due to COVID-19 with many borders closing and travel plans forced to be altered. At American Visitor Insurance, we are committed to getting you the best insurance coverage we can in these uncertain times. Of particular note, INF insurance is offering travel health insurance plans with coverage for Coronavirus in the USA, Canada and Mexica.While many insurers are NOT covering COVID-19 and even voiding policies due to the global pandemic, INF insurance is a REAL option for travelers stuck in the US and needing insurance coverage. The INF travel insurance policy is good if you are replacing an existing travel policy that has expired or maybe you didn't have an insurance policy to begin with. International students in the US, Snowbirds from Canada or the UK, tourists from European nations, even US green card holders can purchase these plans. Note that the INF Traveler USA visitors insurance plan ONLY offers coverage in the US, while the INF Elite Network Insurance can be used in the US, Canada, and Mexico (even by US citizens who ordinarily reside outside the US). The INF Traveler USA is quite affordable and many travelers and students are even buying this plan to complement their existing insurance option if it has limitations in coverage for COVID-19. Please know we are here to help you make the best, informed decision to get coverage even for COVID-19! Let us know how we can assist you. Feel free to contact us by email or phone at any time.
Health Insurance for H1B visa holders
H1B Visa is a temporary work Visa for non immigrants in US offered by US employers in specialty occupations. H4 Visa is given to dependents of the H1 Visa holder. The dependent could be a spouse or minor children.Health insurance had been made mandatory in the US according to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) commonly referred to as Obamacare. The Trump administration has however repealed the requirement making it compulsory to have health insurance. Obamacare is however not Government subsidized health care like in some other countries.
Health Insurance is however an essential requirement for anyone living in the United States given the high cost of healthcare for H1B visitors in the US. Not having proper healthcare coverage while on the H1B visa can have huge adverse implications. People have to pay the entire medical expense out of their pocket which can easily be in hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
Can non citizens get Medicare?
To qualify for Medicare, you must have worked in the US for 40 quarters (10 years) or have a Green card for at least 5 years.h1b h4 visa insurance US employers with more than 50 full time employees provide health care coverage. If there are less than 50 full time employees and if your employer does not provide health care coverage, you need to purchase a qualified health insurance plan to receive coverage for medical treatment. While employers provide some cover for H1B visa holders, they do not usually provide coverage for H4 Visa holders.
At American visitor insurance we offer a number of short term visitor insurance plans which however do not satisfy Obamacare (ACA) requirements. These plans work well even while you are waiting for your employer's plan or during the time period before you can purchase a domestic Obamacare US plan.
HEALTHCARE COST IN USA
Importance of H1b visa insurance coverage
Given that health care costs in the USA are astronomical, a H Visa insurance plan is a requirement while in USA. American Visitor Insurance allows a H visa holder to buy short-term medical insurance for the duration of their stay in the USA. This short-term medical insurance plan will cover them for injury sustained in an accident and for any new sickness. Health insurance coverage for H1-visa in the USA includes medical expenses such as doctor's visits, hospital fees and medicines/prescription drugs. We work with all the major insurers who offer health insurance for H1B visa employees, so that you can select the most appropriate plan for your needs from amongst all available plans.We try to identify the best insurance for H1B visa holders. All health insurance for H1B visa holders offered here are underwritten by reputed insurers with A.M. ratings of A+. On purchasing the insurance, you will be provided with the relevant medical insurance details, including an ID card, and a toll free number to the plan administrator so that you can contact someone, at any time of day or night in case of a medical emergency. You may also use the toll free number for guidance on how to find a hospital or doctor, file a claim, or verify a benefit.
The monthly premium or cost of the H1B or H4 Visa insurance plan depends on the following variables:
- The age of traveler: The older the H visa holder, the more expensive is the medical insurance costs for H1b visa holder.
- The maximum medical coverage selected: The options range from $25,000, up to $1,000,000, the higher the coverage amount, the higher the premium.
- The selected deductible: A 'deductible' is the amount of the medical costs the customer pays before the insurance plan provides any coverage. Most plans provide several options ranging form $0 to $2500 (travelers over age 60 years may not have the $0 deductible option). The lower the deductible, the higher the premium.
- The co-insurance on the plan: 'Co-insurance' is the percentage on medical expenses borne by the customer AFTER the deductible is paid off. This is relevant to comprehensive plans and is typically the 80/20 or 90/10.
- The insurance underwriter: There are different underwriters such as AIG, Lloyds, Nationwide, etc. Premium will correspondingly vary for different underwriter.
- Type of plan: There are two types of plans available: Fixed vs comprehensive visitor insurance coverage
Fixed benefit plans
Affordable but Limited Coverage
Fixed Benefits plans are have specific benefit limits for different covered medical expenses. These benefit limits are not the same as the plan medical maximum.Scheduled Benefits Example: A plan with a $50,000 maximum limit may have a maximum of $3000 for surgery, and a maximum of $500 for diagnostic services (X-rays, scans). These fixed limits for different situations are detailed in the plan brochure. How do fixed benefits plans work? The customer is required to pay an initial deductible for each injury or sickness and the plan pays for the rest of the covered expenses. Scheduled Benefits Plans Highlights.
These plans have a list of medical benefits, over and above which the plan will not pay. While these plans tend to have lower premiums, the out of pocket costs (the cost borne by the customer that are over and above the fixed benefit) may be quite high.
These plans have a list of medical benefits, over and above which the plan will not pay. While these plans tend to have lower premiums, the out of pocket costs (the cost borne by the customer that are over and above the fixed benefit) may be quite high.
Comprehensive Plans
Expensive but Exhaustive coverage
These plans do not have benefit limits based on the type of medical expense. Benefits for covered medical expenses go all the way up to the plan maximum (less deductible and co-insurance) How do comprehensive benefits plans work?
Typically for all covered medical expenses during the plan period the insured pays the deductible plus 20% of the first $5,000; and then the plan pays 100% of the eligible medical expenses upto the plan maximun. The details for each plan such as the plan maximum, medical expense eligibility etc. are listed in the plan brochure. Comprehensive Coverage Plans Highlights
- Relatively higher premiums
- Offer better benefits than the Scheduled Benefits Plans.
- Can reduce premium cost by increasing the deductible.
- Amounts are available at $0, $100, $250, $500, $1000, and $2,500 with some plans offering even higher deductible options.
