This guide from American Visitor Insurance helps you compare top travel medical insurance plans that offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, ensuring safe and worry-free travel to the United States. Health insurance is essential for international visitors, especially seniors or travelers with chronic health issues. This page offers expert guidance, trusted plans, and affordable options tailored to your specific medical needs while visiting the USA.
Pre-existing condition coverage is vital for travelers with chronic health issues like diabetes, heart disease, or hypertension, as these conditions can require expensive medical treatment while visiting the USA. Without this coverage, travelers risk paying high out-of-pocket costs for medical emergencies or ongoing care, which can be financially overwhelming. U.S. healthcare is among the most expensive in the world, and most standard travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions.
Choosing travel health insurance that includes pre-existing condition coverage ensures you’re protected against unexpected health problems. It provides financial security, access to quality healthcare, and peace of mind, knowing that your condition will be treated appropriately if necessary. This is especially important for senior travelers or those with chronic conditions, as they are more likely to need medical attention during their trip. With the right insurance plan, you can travel confidently, knowing that your health needs are fully covered.
When choosing visitor insurance with preexisting conditions, consider the following:
The cheapest visitor insurance for pre-existing conditions in the USA starts at $39 per month. Actual costs may vary depending on the traveler’s age, duration of coverage, insurance provider, and coverage limits.
| Plan Name | Medical Maximum | Deductible | Acute onset coverage | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels Advantage | $25,000 | $0 | Up to 89 yearsopen_in_new | $39 |
| Visitors care | $25,000 | $100 | Up to 70 yearsopen_in_new | $40 |
| Safe Travels Elite | $25,000 | $0 | Up to 89 yearsopen_in_new | $50 |
| Visit USA Budget | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 65 years and aboveopen_in_new | $49 |
The best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions USA starts at $139 per month. Actual costs may vary depending on the traveler’s age, duration of coverage, insurance provider, and coverage limits.
| Plan Name | Medical Maximum | Deductible | Acute onset coverage | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels USA Cost Saver | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 69 yearsopen_in_new | $139 |
| Visitors Preferred | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 70 yearsopen_in_new | $148 |
| Atlas America | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 79 yearsopen_in_new | $151 |
| Patriot America Plus | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 70 yearsopen_in_new | $164 |
| Travel Medical Basic | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 79 yearsopen_in_new | $168 |
| Safe Travels USA Comprehensive | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 89 yearsopen_in_new | $172 |
| Venbrook Premier | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 70 yearsopen_in_new | $176 |
| Diplomat America | $50,000 | $250 | Up to 70 yearsopen_in_new | $229 |
Source: American Visitor Insurance®
Some of the US visitor health insurance plans are designed to cover unexpected and new medical issues that occurs during your trip and do not include coverage for chronic illness or existing medical conditions. If the medical condition existed prior the start date of the policy, even if not diagnosed it may still be considered as a pre-existing condition and excluded from the coverage. However, some plans offer coverage for acute onset of pre-existing condition which would apply in the case of sudden worsening without warning. If the symptoms existed before the policy start date, the claim would be denied.
The best visitor insurance with pre-existing conditions will impact the cost of coverage, leading to higher premiums with limited coverage for pre-existing conditions.
| Feature | Pre-existing conditions | Acute onset of pre-existing conditions |
| Definition | It refers to a medical condition that existed before the enrolling in to the visitor insurance plan. | A sudden & unexpected occurrence of a pre-existing condition which requires in-patient, emergency hospitalization within 24 hours of the first symptoms. |
| Benefits | It covers follow up visits, hospitalizations and doctor’s visits, etc.. and other associated medical care for pre-existing conditions. | It will only cover the in-patient hospitalization expense and does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatment existent or necessary prior to the effective date of coverage. |
| Cost | It usually comes with higher deductibles and premiums. | Some plans offers coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions with no extra cost or as an optional add-on benefit. |
| Examples & limitations | Regular check-ups, scheduled treatments, or ongoing medications are not covered and it often available as a waiver or after a waiting period. | A food allergy or bee sting reaction with no prior warning requiring emergency care is covered. Gradual worsening conditions or ongoing treatments are not considered acute onset. |
The following are the factors to consider while purchasing travel insurance for pre-existing conditions
Even if travel health insurance that covers preexisting conditions is available, there are important exclusions. These plans do not cover:
You can find reliable US insurance providers like International Medical Group(IMG), Seven Corners, WorldTrips, Global Underwriters, Travel Insure, GeoBlue, HTH Worldwide, INF insurance, HTH Worldwide and Venbrook International.
