Tommy Lloyd
Author: Tommy Lloyd, Managing Director

Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.

Originally posted: 20th Oct 2022

Travel insurance for The States

Explore comprehensive travel insurance covering trips to the USA. With Medical Travel Compared, you can compare quotes between a range of different providers to help you get the best deal and level of cover for your trip to the USA.

You’ll probably already be more than aware that purchasing the right type of policy will give you the peace of mind to enjoy your holiday – but while you’re here, you can scroll down to find out even more about travel insurance for USA holidays.

Do I need travel insurance for USA?

Travel insurance is not a compulsory item for the USA – but it comes highly recommended.

Reason being is that medical bills are notoriously expensive in the States. Hospital bills and medication expenses can be costly if you fall ill, so it’s worth bearing that in mind (especially if you find yourself surprised at how high some premiums for travel insurance are).

Repatriation costs from the USA back to the UK are also high.  The last thing you want to do is foot the bill for these when you can get covered beforehand at a reasonably competitive price.

Peace of mind is one of the most important things when it comes to travelling – especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Getting travel insurance ahead of your trip is therefore a vital consideration before booking your USA holiday.

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Medical Travel Compared - USA National Park

What does USA travel insurance cover?

If you read our travel insurance destinations guide, you’ll see insurance providers generally rank costs by geographical location in the following order:

  1. UK
  2. Europe
  3. Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean
  4. Worldwide (this will include USA, Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean)

If you're looking for an annual multi-trip policy, you generally won’t find cover that’s exclusive to the USA only. You’ll need to find worldwide policies that include USA, Canada and the Caribbean – to ensure you get the cover you need for your trip.

These policies will generally cover you for a number of key things including cancellation, loss of personal belongings and most importantly medical costs and repatriation should anything unfortunate happen regarding your health while you travel.

Travel insurance for USA with pre-existing conditions

It’s important to understand that it can be tricky for people over the age of 60 and people living with specific pre-existing medical conditions to get the sufficient level of cover they need for the USA.

Therefore, we urge people to explore what’s on offer in terms of insurance before actually committing to booking their holiday.

You might find that many USA travel insurance providers won’t cover certain pre-existing conditions that other worldwide insurers will. As a result, if you fall into these two categories it’s vital to do you due diligence beforehand.

Medical Travel Compared - Californian Beach

USA travel advice

If you’re confident that you can access USA travel insurance cover suitable for your personal circumstances, you’re as good as ready to start thinking about booking your trip.

However, travel insurance isn’t the only thing you need to consider. There are certain entry requirements for the USA – and yes, obtaining a tourist visa is one of them.

Most UK passport holders can apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).

This is a simple application process which can be done via the ESTA website. The visa lasts 90 days from your first date of entry.

Taking medication into USA

There are certain restrictions when it comes to taking certain prescription medications in the USA.

You should always consult with your doctor beforehand – and in many cases you’ll need a letter signed by them, a copy of your prescriptions and in most importantly, the prescription printed on any medicine containers you intend to bring into the country with you.

There’s also a limit on the supply (the rule of thumb is that you should take no more than 90 days’ worth – which is essentially the duration of your visa).

Do I need vaccinations for USA?

In most cases you won’t need specific jabs or vaccinations – unless your doctor says you do.

Again, it’s important to consult with them beforehand as they might advise you to get a certain vaccination based on your health condition.

It also depends what part of the USA you intend to visit. Certain territories have a high volume of mosquito activity – so it’s worth taking the necessary precautions along for that if needed.

Medical Travel Compared - New York City

Finding the best travel insurance for USA

To compare quotes for policies including USA travel insurance cover, you’ll need to specify this at the start of the process.

You’ll need to let us know when and for how long you’re travelling – before declaring any conditions that need to be covered under your chosen policy.

From there, you can purchase a policy to suit your needs in minutes.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

The number of trips is not limited on an annual policy so you can go away as many times as you want!
With annual trip cover, some insurance providers will have a maximum number of days that you will be covered for during the year so always check your policy wording. The maximum duration of a trip will always be specified and will vary by provider. But don't worry, when you get a quote we'll ask you what your maximum trip length is and only show you quotes which match!
Depending on whether you select European or Worldwide cover, your insurance provider will cover most countries within that area. However, there may be some countries that your insurance provider will be unable to cover you cover for, including any countries which the Foreign & Commonwealth Office have advised it is unsafe to travel to. Always check your policy wording if you are unsure if your country will be covered.
Some insurance providers will have age limits on their annual trip cover. If you are finding it difficult to get annual trip cover, we would recommend trying a single trip quote, as you are more likely to find cover this way.

A pre-existing condition is a diagnosed medical condition that existed before taking out a policy. We'll ask a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us about the traveller's conditions. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!

You can send your question to our team, or visit our help centre on Destinations.

* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has no medical conditions and is travelling to the USA for 7 nights. The price is correct as of October 2023. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.


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If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, the Money Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their website.