What Is U.S. Visitor Health Insurance?

Questions about health and safety can be a source of travel anxiety for international visitors to the USA. How much would medical treatment cost if you were to suffer an unexpected injury or illness while in the U.S.? Would your regular health insurance provide any coverage? 

Visitor health insurance is a form of travel medical insurance for non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. residents who are traveling to the United States from abroad. A visitor insurance plan like Atlas America insurance can cover individuals, families, and groups for up to 364 days.

Atlas America insurance features important medical benefits and travel assistance for unexpected accidents and sickness as well as coverage for travel complications like interruptions and delays. Worried about damaging your devices during your travels? Optional device protection through bolt for smartphones, laptops, and tablets is available upon purchase.

Travelers Who Might Benefit from Visitor Health Insurance Include:

  • USA tourists and leisure travelers
  • Parents visiting their children in the U.S.
  • Temporary workers and business visitors
  • International students and exchange program participants
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Why Do I Need Visitor Medical Insurance for the USA?

No matter your reason for traveling the United States, it’s wise to consider the unpredictable issues that could occur during your trip.

Here are four reasons why you should consider visitor health insurance coverage during your time in the USA:

1. No matter your planned destinations or activities, there’s always a chance you could encounter a travel mishap, accident, or illness that calls for visitor health coverage. Visitor insurance can provide coverage for eligible hospitalizations, physician expenses, sutures, surgery, travel delays, trip interruptions, and other eligible expenses required to get your trip back on track.

2. Healthcare in the U.S. can be very expensive. According to Healthcare.gov, fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500 in the United States. The average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000. A visitor medical insurance plan can provide access to quality doctors and hospitals as well as coverage for eligible medical expenses.

3. Your regular health insurance may not cover you in the USA. That’s why the U.S. Department of State recommends that you “ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas – and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation.” If it doesn’t, visitor medical insurance could provide the coverage you need.

4. Your visa may require travel medical insurance or proof that you’ll be able to pay for unexpected expenses incurred in the United States. Our Atlas America plan meets the requirements of the J-1 visa for work and study-based exchange programs in the U.S. It also provides policyholders with a visa letter that can serve as proof of coverage or help prove your ability to pay for unexpected medical expenses.

DID YOU KNOW? 

Atlas America is our Atlas Travel plan for non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. residents whose travel plans include the United States. Atlas America will be automatically chosen for you when you purchase Atlas Travel insurance and select that your travel plans include the U.S.

What Does Visitor Health Insurance for USA Visitors Cover?

If faced with an unexpected medical emergency in the USA, visitor health insurance can provide emergency travel assistance as well as important medical and emergency travel benefits.

Our Atlas America insurance plan pays 100% of eligible expenses after the deductible and up to the overall maximum limit. You can customize your Atlas America plan by choosing your deductible, coverage length, and overall coverage maximum. You can even increase your coverage amounts for several benefits at purchase.

Some Atlas America Highlights Include:

  • Up to $2,000,000 of Overall Maximum Coverage
  • Up to $1,000,000 for Emergency Medical Evacuation
  • Medical benefits including Hospital Room & Board, Local Ambulance, Intensive Care Unit, and Emergency Dental
  • Up to $25,000 for Personal Liability
  • 7 deductible choices: $0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000
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Additional Atlas America Highlights

  • Benefits for Unexpected Death: Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Repatriation of Remains, Local Burial or Cremation

  • Benefits for Unforeseen Emergencies: Emergency Medical Evacuation, Political Evacuation, Terrorism, Natural Disaster – Replacement Accommodations, Personal Liability

  • Family Transportation Benefits Resulting from a Medical Emergency: Bedside Visit, Emergency Reunion, Return of Minor Children, Pet Return

  • Supplemental Travel Benefits: Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost Checked Luggage, Lost or Stolen Passport/Travel Visa, Border Entry Protection

How Do Atlas America Benefits Work in Action?

See examples of how a visitor health insurance plan like Atlas America can provide coverage for your trip to the USA.

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You experience a serious bout of food poisoning that requires inpatient hospitalization.

With a visitor insurance policy like Atlas America, you’ll have coverage for all eligible medical expenses. These could include local ambulance costs if your illness results in hospitalization, hospital room and board, physician charges, diagnostic testing, and more.

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You learn that a member of your immediate family has passed away and you decide to return home.

Your Trip Interruption benefit could cover up to $10,000 for the cost of an economy, one-way plane ticket to return you to your home country so you can be with your family.

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Bad storms cause your evening flight to be delayed until the following morning.

Rather than staying at the airport overnight, you decide to get a warm meal and a hotel room nearby. Under Atlas America’s Travel Delay benefit, you could be reimbursed up to $100 a day for reasonable accommodations and meals incurred as a result of a covered, 12-plus-hour delay.

Why Choose Atlas America Insurance?


Flexibility

Atlas America insurance is available to individuals 14 days old and up—including seniors and individuals over 80 years old—who are traveling outside of their home country. Coverage is available for trips up to 364 days. After your initial purchase, you will have the ability to extend your coverage via Member Portal, our online policy management portal.

Customizable Coverage

Customize your policy by choosing the deductible, length of coverage, and overall coverage maximum that best align with your travel needs. You’ll have the option to upgrade your coverage amounts for several key benefits upon purchase. There is also an option to add separate device protection coverage by bolt for damage to smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

Ease-of-Use

You can purchase coverage while traveling, extend your coverage after purchase, or cancel your policy if your plans change. Your policy documents will be sent to your email address immediately upon purchase. You can also visit our Find a Doctor page to find qualified medical providers in your destination country if needed.

Multilingual Travel Assistance

As an Atlas policyholder, you’ll have access to our multilingual travel assistance services 365 days a year. Emergency services are available 24/7. Travel assistance services include referrals, translation assistance, help replacing lost or stolen travel documents, medical monitoring, coordination of emergency travel arrangements, and more.

CNN Editors' Pick 2023

"Of the top eight travel insurance companies in our review, WorldTrips’ underwriting company is the only one to have an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best."

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“WorldTrips is the best travel insurance company of 2024, based on our analysis of cost and coverage options.” 

Are There Any Exclusions To Keep in Mind?

Certain types of expenses are excluded from all Atlas Series plans. Here are some of the more asked-about exclusions:

  • *Pre-existing conditions
  • Routine medical examinations and care (i.e. wellness exams, ongoing prescriptions, etc.)
  • Routine prenatal, pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care
  • Medical expenses for injury/illness resulting from participation in some extreme sports
  • Medical expenses related to any form of cancer or neoplasm
  • Mental health disorders
  • Injury due in whole or in part to the effects of intoxication or drugs (this does not refer to drugs taken in accordance with treatment prescribed by a physician)

For a full list of exclusions, be sure to review the Atlas America (Atlas Travel) Description of Coverage.

*Pre-existing condition means any injury, illness, sickness, disease, or other physical, medical, mental, or nervous disorder, condition, or ailment that, with reasonable medical certainty, existed at the time of application or at any time during the 2 years prior to the effective date of this insurance, whether or not previously manifested, symptomatic or known, diagnosed, treated, or disclosed to us prior to the effective date, and including any and all subsequent, chronic or recurring complications or consequences related thereto or resulting or arising therefrom.

Why WorldTrips

Who is insuring you is just as important as the insurance plan you choose. For the past 25 years, WorldTrips has provided travel insurance and compassionate service to help our customers travel fearlessly. Our knowledgeable customer representatives are available 24/7 to respond to your travel emergencies, no matter the situation, time zone, or spoken language.

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WorldTrips international travel medical insurance products are underwritten by Lloyd's. WorldTrips is a service company and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies. WorldTrips has authority to enter into contracts of insurance on behalf of the Lloyd's underwriting members of Lloyd's Syndicate 4141, which is managed by HCC Underwriting Agency, Ltd.