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When you think about visiting the U.S., you probably think about strutting down the Hollywood Walk of Fame or checking out the view from the top of the Empire State Building. What you might not think about is America's notoriously high-cost healthcare and what happens if you or one of your travel companions falls sick or is injured while abroad. Buying visitors insurance can save you a lot of stress, anxiety, and money. Read on to find answers to some of our customers' top questions about visitors insurance.
What is visitors insurance?
So, let's start at the beginning. What exactly is visitors insurance? Well, to put it simply, visitors insurance is medical insurance that protects visitors to the U.S. While your domestic health care won't be of much help abroad, visitors insurance can cover you for any illness or injuries incurred in America.
Why should I buy visitors insurance? Is it really important?
Medical care in the U.S. is expensive. If you require medical attention while in the country, without health insurance you could be looking at thousands of dollars in medical bills. Taking the time and spending a little money upfront to buy visitors health insurance can literally save you thousands of dollars.
Why should I buy medical insurance from the United States if I can buy it from my home country?
There are several advantages of buying travel insurance from an American insurance company including:
- The insurance industry in the United States is regulated by the government and follows strict rules. If all factors are the same, plan costs will not vary
- No lengthy and frustrating follow-ups
- Most plans provide instant coverage, so there'd be no need to pay out-of-pocket if covered by your plan
- If you need to contact the insurance company, especially while on your trip, you'll receive more efficient customer support
- You'll find many more plan options that cover America
- Claims can be processed faster since the American insurance companies interact with American health services and doctors with more efficiency
- You can easily buy and renew plans online
- Many companies are supported by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), who can help you with any disputes that might arise
- Peace of mind. You'll see higher customer satisfaction rates compared to non-American visitor Insurance plans
Why should I buy from VisitorsCoverage.com?
VisitorsCoverage is not, strictly speaking, an insurance company. Rather, we're an insurance comparison site. This means you can count on us to give you truthful, transparent information about some of the best visitors insurance options on the market. We're also here to simplify the travel insurance buying process. We offer top-notch self-service resources like MyPolicy and Luna, our AI-based smartbot, so you can research, compare, buy and manage your policies online. Any plan you'll find on VisitorsCoverage has been top-rated by an independent, third-party insurance assessor.
How do I find the best visitors insurance for my needs?
The best way to choose your plan is to figure out what type of coverage you're hoping to receive from your visitors insurance plan. Consider factors like age, duration of trip, the type of activities you'll be engaging in, and the overall health of every traveler. Depending on these variables, you may want to opt for a more comprehensive plan.
But won't I get better rates if I buy directly from the insurer?
You can't get any better rates than the ones you'll find at VisitorsCoverage. Because the insurance industry is government-regulated in America, if all plan variables are identical, the rates you get here will be the same as you can get from any other reputable insurance company or comparison site.
Beware of online scams. Since rates are regulated, if an insurance company is offering a different rate for the same visitors insurance plan than other sites, they may not be trustworthy.
I am not in the U.S., can I still buy insurance through VisitorsCoverage?
Yes! You can buy insurance through us from anywhere in the world. You'll just need a valid credit or debit card.
When should I purchase visitors insurance?
Once you decide to travel and obtain a visa, you should purchase visitors insurance. Your insurance coverage will begin on the first day of your trip. The coverage should start on the first day of the visitor's journey.
I'm already in the United States and don't have visitors insurance. If I get sick or am injured, can I buy and use insurance at that point?
Unfortunately, no. Your illness or injury would be considered a pre-existing medical condition and pre-existing conditions aren't covered by visitors insurance. Stay on the safe side and buy visitors insurance before your trip.
Can I buy insurance for my parents/relatives?
Yes! You can buy travel and trip insurance for anyone, including friends and relatives.
I want to purchase insurance for more than one visitor. Should I purchase two separate policies for them or have a combined policy?
The benefits and costs don't differ if you buy individually or combined policies. But if the visitors have different travel plans (they might be coming together but are leaving on different dates, etc.) buying separate policies is your best option. Having separate policies gives you more flexibility for renewals and cancellations.
Is there a medical test required before you can buy insurance?
No. There's no medical test required. You can buy travel insurance at any time.
What is an AM Best Rating?
An AM Best Rating is an independent, third-party evaluation organization, providing a benchmark for comparing insurers, regardless of country. AM Best Ratings are based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company's balance sheet strength and operating performance. It's not a warranty of a company's financial strength and ability to meet either its obligations to policyholders or its financial obligations.
The rating you might have seen in the plan brochure or on this website is denoted with a letter like "A", "B", "C" etc and +/- signs. This is Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR). AM Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an opinion of an insurer's ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. Rating Modifiers and Affiliation Codes may also be associated with these ratings. The following list outlines our rating scale and associated descriptions.
Secure (Trustworthy):
- A++, A+ (Superior)
- A, A- (Excellent)
- B++, B+ (Very Good)
Any rating below B+ might indicate that the plan will not provide sufficient coverage:
- B, B- (Fair)
- C++, C+ (Marginal)
- C, C- (Weak)
What if I have more questions about visitors insurance?
If you have more questions about visitors insurance or any other aspect of travel insurance, our Customer Success Team is happy to help.
