Health insurance is a common topic of discussion in American news and media. However, many people don’t realize that leaving the United States requires an entirely different insurance plan. If you’re considering travelling abroad, make sure you don’t leave US soil without buying an excellent travel insurance plan.
Unfortunately, too few Americans actually buy travel insurance for their international trips. A 2018 survey from AAA Travel found that only 38% of Americans would consider travel insurance for their future international trips. While this number may have gone up in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the reality is that not enough Americans are purchasing travel insurance and many are paying the price for their short-sightedness.
We believe that purchasing travel insurance is much easier and more straightforward when you actually know what you’re buying. Today, we’ll explain the basics of purchasing travel insurance in the USA, including which features are most important and how you’ll know you’re buying the right plan for your needs.
What is Travel Insurance?
First, let’s be clear when we talk about what we mean by travel insurance. This is dedicated insurance designed to cover various incidents that may occur while you’re away from home. If you’re leaving the country for as little as one day, you should consider purchasing US travel insurance for your trip.
Here are a few situations where travel insurance may come in handy:
- Your airline loses your baggage, and you need to purchase clothes and other essentials while you wait for it to be recovered
- You need to cancel your trip due to a family or medical emergency
- You get in a car accident and need to have emergency healthcare treatment abroad
- Your connecting flight is delayed, forcing you to spend the night in a pricy airport hotel
Typically, standard travel insurance is available for a few dollars a day and offers peace of mind and reassurance that your needs will be covered if you have an emergency, accident, or interruption both before and during your trip.
Why Buy US Travel Insurance When You’re Travelling Abroad?
So, why buy USA travel insurance for your next trip abroad? It’s simple. If you don’t have insurance and something happens to you while you’re away (or even before you leave), you will be on the hook for all the associated costs.
There are so many stories out there of individuals and families who have had their trips saved by travel insurance. In one story posted on The Points Guy, a couple who had a multi-country South Asia trip planned were able to get tens of thousands of dollars recovered after they had to cancel due to a health emergency – all thanks to their travel insurance.
Even travellers to nearby countries like Canada and Mexico should consider purchasing travel insurance before their trip. No domestic health insurance in the United States offers coverage in these areas. While both countries offer a mix of public and private health insurance, no care is available to non-resident visitors without payment.
Common Features of Travel Insurance You Need to Know
While health emergencies aren’t the only incidents covered by travel insurance, health coverage is an extremely important benefit. Below we’ll break down some of the other significant features you should look for in your travel insurance plan.
Healthcare coverage
In most basic travel insurance, health coverage helps to cover or defray some of the costs associated with health emergencies. This includes accidents, injuries, or other unexpected events that require immediate treatment. It typically does not cover pre-existing conditions, prescription drugs, or routine care unless you purchase a specialty plan.
Trip cancellation
Your travel insurance’s trip cancellation benefit kicks in if you have to cancel your trip for any legitimate reason. This includes events like a death in the family, medical emergency, or natural disaster at your travel location.
Disruption and delay coverage
Trip disruption or delay coverage is designed to help travellers recoup costs associated with any temporary interruption to their travel. This includes any rebooking fees incurred by delaying your travel or cutting a trip short if you need to return home suddenly.
Car insurance
Going to be renting a car or driving while you’re out of the United States? You should ensure your travel insurance also includes dedicated car insurance. This helps protect you if your rental car is damaged or you are in an accident on the road while travelling.
How to Purchase the Best Travel Insurance in the USA
In the USA, travel insurance is often offered as part of a package deal when you’re purchasing airline tickets, hotel rooms, or other travel amenities. However, shopping around before buying a plan is always a good idea. This helps to ensure your travel insurance has all the features you need.
For example, if you plan on renting a car, you’ll want to ensure your plan has car insurance. If you have a pre-existing health condition, some insurance providers offer travel health insurance that can cover you.
Some of the best-reviewed travel insurance providers in the USA include:
- AXA Assistance USA
- GoReady
- HTH Worldwide
- John Hancock Insurance Agency
- Nationwide
As well, make sure to check your credit card benefits as you’re shopping around. Many credit cards, including most dedicated travel rewards cards, already have excellent travel insurance you can access for free if you book your expenses using that card.
Don’t have travel insurance on your credit card? You should compare a few different popular plans to see which is best for your needs. These comparison sites can help you pick out individual plans by showcasing the benefits of each.
The next time you plan a trip abroad, don’t forget about travel insurance! Paying a few dollars a day can save you a ton of money, worry, and headaches if your trip is delayed, cancelled, or interrupted for any reason.
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