How to use your visitor health insurance in the US? 

How to use your visitor health insurance in the US?

International visitors to the US must buy a visitor health insurance plan to cover their medical expenses. Medical in the US is expensive, making it difficult for many people to afford it. If you are coming to the US for a vacation, it becomes necessary to carry a travel insurance policy so that you are not burdened by the costs.  

How can you use visitor health insurance in the US? 

1. Medical help 

Accidents and sickness can happen anytime. When you are on a business trip or leisure holiday, you do not want to get sick or meet with an accident, but if you do, you need to be prepared. Without an insurance policy, you must be prepared to pay medical expenses from your pocket. But, with an insurance plan, things become easy and less complicated. 

You can receive cashless treatment in hospitals and clinics. Therefore, you do not have to worry about paying a huge amount of money upfront. In addition, you can seek immediate medical attention for conditions like food poisoning, broken bones, injuries and bruises, chest pain, major burns, large open wounds, and more. Some plans also cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions, meaning you can get instant medical help for a pre-existing condition that occurs suddenly without symptoms. 

2. Emergency evacuation 

Your insurance plan can help you with emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. It involves evacuating and transporting you to the nearest medical unit. For example, if you are trekking in a remote location and injure yourself, you may not find a nearby clinic or hospital. You can call for an air ambulance to rescue you and take you to the nearest qualified medical facility. 

Transferring patients from one location to another can cost a few thousand dollars. With a visitor health insurance plan, you can save and utilize this money on your vacation and other expenses.   Plans also include Repatriation of mortal remains coverage. With this benefit,   the remains of the deceased can be repatriated to the home country. 

3. Urgent care 

You can visit urgent care when you need medical attention. Urgent Cares typically do not need appointments and can treat conditions that are not high risk or at immediate threat. Allergies, flu, minor wounds, and sprains are some conditions that fall under urgent care. Visit the nearest medical center registered under your insurance company’s network or covered under the support network. Seeking medical aid from a provider outside the network can leave you with a high medical bill. 

4. Doctor appointments 

You can visit a primary care doctor if your medical event is not urgent. The doctor will understand your health history and can refer you to specialists if required. The doctor can offer you medical services in the US. You need to pay your chosen deductible, and the insurance company can pay the benefits per the plan you opt for. 

If you choose a doctor outside the plan’s network, you must pay the entire bill, which can be reimbursed to you later. Keep a copy of all invoices, receipts, and any other documents, and inform the insurance company about your visits and appointments. It will speed up your claim process. 

5. Prescriptions and drugs 

Your insurance plan can cover prescriptions and drugs for a new illness or injuries during your trip to the US.  If you pay bills from your pockets, you can submit the claims form along with the bills for reimbursement for all the eligible costs according to the coverage on your plan. 

6. Hospitalization 

If you fall severely sick in the US and may require hospitalization for a few days, your policy can cover it. By choosing a comprehensive insurance plan, you can get yourself covered till your selected policy maximum, including lab tests, diagnostics, hospital stay, surgery, and more. In contrast, a fixed-benefit plan will cover you up to the pre-defined limit mentioned in the policy. 

7. Optional add-ons 

If you have purchased optional add-ons, you can be covered for injuries due to adventure sports, accidental death and dismemberment, chaperone and leader faculty, crisis response, personal liability, and more. Your plan can help you with these costs in the event you need to use the coverage. 

What more should you know about visitor insurance? 

The most common exclusions of travel health insurance are: 

  • Losses due to pre-existing conditions 
  • Medical tourism 
  • Losses due to war 
  • Extremely high-risk sports like skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping 
  • Mental, psychological, and nervous disorders 
  • Suicide, attempting suicide, and self-harm 
  • Venereal disease, AIDS virus, pregnancy, cancer, and abortion 
  • Treatment caused by alcohol or drug intoxication 

Individuals or groups traveling outside their home country or country of citizenship can consider buying visitor health insurance plans- regardless of whether they are on tourist visas, for business, immigration, or as international students. 

Four factors determine the plan’s cost- traveler’s age, policy maximum, duration of the trip, and deductible. Age often indicates how much a person is prone to medical emergencies. Therefore, the premiums are higher for older travelers, as they may be at increased risk for health-related problems. A plan’s premium is decided on a daily or monthly basis. Thus, the longer you stay, the higher your premium will be. 

Conclusion 

NRIOL.net has cheap and best travel insurance plans that safeguard people from medical costs, including hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription drugs, repatriation, medical evacuation, and even acute onset of pre-existing conditions. Visitors and travelers can get a quote with a few clicks and apply for the plans and get confirmations immediately.  

Submit the basic details like name, address, date of birth, and passport number, and you can enjoy the coverage from the next day onwards. Our executives can walk you through the process. So, without waiting any further, call us!