- US-based travel insurance is the preferred option for UK visitors to the US due to a number of factors, including access to a PPO network and direct billing.
- Travel medical coverage is a necessity for UK residents visiting the US, as the US has no universal healthcare and medical costs can be extremely expensive if you are uninsured.
- UK-based plans are trip insurance policies, while purchasing from a US-based provider gives you the option of choosing a more comprehensive and customizable travel medical insurance plan.
- Purchasing a US-based travel insurance policy can make getting medical care and contacting support easier for UK visitors.
- UK-based travel insurance plans require you to disclose pre-existing health conditions, and do not offer coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions, while many US-based travel medical insurance policies do.
More than 4 million residents in the UK travel to the United States each year, making it one of the United Kingdom’s top outbound destinations. When planning your travels to the United States as a UK resident, whether for tourism, business, or family, it is important to consider the crucial protection that travel insurance has to offer.
The United States has some of the highest medical costs in the world, and unfortunately the US does not have a publicly funded healthcare system like the UK’s NHS. In the US, patients must have health insurance to cover medical costs or pay for their care out-of-pocket.
With a travel insurance plan, UK travelers can have peace of mind during their trip to the United States knowing that they have the vital health coverage they need in the event of an unexpected medical emergency. While UK residents may have travel insurance options in the UK, purchasing a travel insurance plan from the US can prove to be much more beneficial for tourists from the UK.
Why Do UK Travelers Need Travel Insurance for the US?
Travel insurance is highly encouraged for UK travelers when they come to the United States as without coverage, travelers would be faced with paying for medical care out-of-pocket when faced with an unexpected illness or injury.
An emergency room visit in the United States can average between $500 to $3,000 without insurance. A hospital stay uninsured can cost about $2,000 to $5,000 per day.
With such staggering medical costs, having travel medical insurance can protect visitors from the UK from potentially financially devastating out-of-pocket medical bills.
Why UK Travelers Should Purchase Travel Insurance From a US-Based Provider
When selecting a travel insurance policy for a trip to the United States, UK residents have the choice to buy a plan from a provider in the UK, or go with a plan provided by a US-based company.
While coverage may seem similar between the two options, there are several differences when it comes to purchasing from a UK company versus a US company.
Here are some key reasons why purchasing a travel insurance plan from a US-based provider as a UK resident can be more beneficial for your trip.
UK-Based Travel Insurance Is Trip Insurance, Not Travel Medical Insurance
The travel insurance plans that you can purchase from the UK are considered trip insurance plans, which means that they are travel insurance plans that include trip-related benefits such as trip cancellation or interruption coverage.
Purchasing from a US-based company means that you have the option of purchasing a travel medical insurance policy, which is travel insurance that can offer comprehensive medical benefits in the event of an emergency. These plans can also offer many similar benefits as trip insurance, such as lost luggage or stolen travel documents, but are more focused on offering excellent coverage for emergency medical care abroad.
Travel medical insurance also gives you the opportunity to customize your plan to your needs, such as choosing your own policy maximum, deductible, and additional coverage.
UK Travel Insurance Only Offers Fixed Trip Benefits
While UK-based travel insurance policies offer trip-related benefits, these benefits are fixed for each incident. For example, these plans will only pay out a certain benefit amount for a covered trip cancellation, regardless of what the trip cancellation actually ends up costing you.
Trip insurance plans from the United States, however, allow you to insure the total prepaid and nonrefundable costs of your trip to protect the amount of money you could lose from a trip hiccup.
For example, a US-based trip insurance plan could cover anywhere from 100% up to 150% of your insured costs for a trip-related hiccup such as cancellation or interruption.
UK-Based Requires You to Disclose Pre-existing Conditions
When purchasing a UK-based travel insurance plan, you have to disclose any pre-existing health conditions you have. Additionally, pre-existing condition coverage is excluded by UK-based plans, unless otherwise agreed upon by the insurance company.
Most US-based travel insurance providers do not require travelers to disclose medical history or pre-existing conditions when purchasing a plan. This can make the buying process quicker and simpler for travelers.
Many US-based travel insurance policies also include coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions, which is not something that UK-based travel insurance policies offer. This coverage can protect you if a dormant pre-existing condition suddenly has a recurrence and requires emergency medical care during your trip.
UK-Based Requires an Excess/Deductible for Each Individual Claim/Incident
Another key difference between UK-based and US-based travel insurance is that UK travel insurance requires that you pay a deductible, or commonly referred to as an excess in the UK, for each individual claim or incident.
This means that with a UK-based travel insurance policy, you have to pay a deductible for each individual incident you make a claim for. For example, if you make claims on your policy for lost luggage, lost travel documents, and a medical expense, you will have to pay a deductible for each of those incidents individually as defined in the policy’s wording.
US-based comprehensive travel medical insurance plans typically only require that you meet your deductible once during your policy for all claims and incidents. Additionally, most travelers can choose the deductible they want when selecting a US-based travel medical insurance policy.
UK-Based Doesn't Offer Access to a PPO Network
When you purchase a travel medical insurance plan from a US-based provider, you get the crucial benefit of having access to a PPO network in the United States.
A PPO network makes getting medical care easier and more organized, and also gives you preferred pricing on your care.
With a PPO network, you can find medical care in the US through a provider that you know will work with your insurance, making the process streamlined.
Most UK-based travel insurance plans will not work with US PPO networks, which can make finding care trickier and you won’t get the advantage of discounted care. Additionally, not having access to a PPO network may mean that you have to pay out-of-pocket for your medical bills and file for reimbursement later on.
You May Not Have the Option of Direct Billing With UK-Based Plans
With a US-based comprehensive travel medical insurance plan, you can have access to a PPO network. Beyond the benefits touched on above, visiting a provider within your plan’s PPO network also means you will likely have access to direct billing, or cashless billing.
This means that the healthcare provider will bill your travel insurance directly, rather than having to pay out-of-pocket upfront. While you will still have to file a claim for your expenses, cashless pay can reduce any stress associated with having to pay a potentially large medical bill before you even receive your care.
With a UK-based travel insurance plan, you likely won't have access to a PPO network, and US healthcare providers may not recognize your insurance. This means you will likely have to pay for your medical care upfront.
UK-Based Has Low Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage
Many UK-based travel insurance policies offer very limited accidental death and dismemberment coverage compared to US-based travel medical insurance plans.
Accidental death and dismemberment is an important benefit of travel insurance as it pays a lump sum to your beneficiary in the event of your death or serious dismemberment during your travels. This can be a huge relief for family members if the unimaginable were to occur.
On average, US-based travel insurance plans offer 4-5x more accident death and dismemberment coverage than UK-based travel insurance plans.
Support May Be Difficult Due to Different Time Zones With UK-Based
If you do need to use your travel insurance during your trip to the United States, having a UK-based travel insurance plan may prove to be difficult when it comes to getting assistance due to the difference in time zones.
With a US-based travel insurance plan, you will be able to contact your plan’s support to get the help you need, as you need it.
Best Travel Medical Plans for UK Visitors to the US
These plans are best suited for travelers from the UK to the US.
Secure Your Trip to the US With VisitorsCoverage
VisitorsCoverage offers a wide range of travel insurance plans that are perfect for UK travelers coming to the United States.
When you choose VisitorsCoverage, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are getting a top-rated travel insurance plan and have access to an award-winning Customer Success Team for any assistance you may need.
Ready to secure your US travel insurance? Browse our travel medical insurance plans or reach out to our Customer Success Team for further assistance.
