AnkyroTravel insuranceUSA visitors
Visitors insurance for the USA.
The US doesn’t ask visitors for insurance. But a few days in hospital can cost more than a car. Here is what care costs, and what a visitor plan must cover.
The rules
What the USA asks of visitors.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Entry rules change, so check again before you fly.
- Not required for entry
Visitors don’t have to show health insurance to enter. The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of 42 countries stay up to 90 days for business or tourism.
Source: cbp.gov - Hospitals must treat emergencies
Every US hospital must treat an emergency, even if you can’t pay. You are still charged for everything they do.
Source: travel.gc.ca - ACA plans need you to live in the US
To buy a Marketplace (ACA) plan, you must live in the US. A tourist, a B1/B2 visitor or a visiting parent can’t use them.
Source: healthcare.gov - Existing conditions: acute onset only
Visitor plans often leave out existing conditions. Some pay for a sudden flare-up, called acute onset. 1 common plan limits this to people under 80, treated within 24 hours.
Source: worldtrips.com - Cover falls with age
On that same plan, the maximum is USD 50,000 or 100,000 from 65 to 79, and only USD 10,000 from 80.
Source: worldtrips.com
What care costs
If something goes wrong, this is the bill.
What a visitor pays without insurance. Prices vary by hospital and change every year.
- About USD 3,300 a day in hospital
In 2024, US hospitals spent an average of USD 3,297 per patient per day. 5 days is over USD 16,000.
Source: kff.org - Air ambulance: about USD 36,400
The median price of a helicopter air ambulance was about USD 36,400 in 2017, and USD 40,600 by plane.
Source: gao.gov - A deposit on admission
Some hospitals ask non-residents for a deposit when they admit you. Call your insurer first, and pay only if they say so.
Source: gov.uk - No insurance, you pay it all
Foreign visitors without travel health insurance pay for their treatment out of pocket.
Source: travel.gc.ca
What to look for
Choosing travel cover for USA visitors.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Acute onset cover
If a parent has diabetes or a heart condition, check the plan pays for a sudden flare-up, and up to what age.
- A high enough maximum
At over USD 3,000 a day in hospital, USD 50,000 goes fast. Aim for USD 100,000 or more where the age allows.
- The real limit for their age
Limits drop at 65 and again at 80. Check the maximum for the person travelling, not the headline one.
- A US provider network
Plans with a US network can often pay the hospital directly, so you don’t have to pay first and claim.
Before you land
Sort these before you fly.
- Emergency: 911
Call 911 for an ambulance, the police or the fire service.
- Mobile data
Set up an eSIM or local SIM before you fly, so you can call your insurer from the airport.
- Keep the assistance number
Save your policy number and the insurer’s 24/7 line on your phone and on paper. Call them before any planned visit.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Buying the cheapest plan for a parent over 65. Its maximum may not cover 1 hospital stay.
- 02Assuming an existing condition is covered. Most plans pay only a sudden flare-up, and some pay nothing.
- 03Trying to buy an ACA plan for a visitor. You must live in the US to get one.
Questions
People also ask.
Is visitor insurance mandatory in the USA?+
No. Visitors on ESTA or a B1/B2 visa don’t have to show it. But hospitals charge visitors in full, so going without is a big risk.
Does visitor insurance cover pre-existing conditions?+
Usually not in full. Some plans pay for a sudden flare-up, called acute onset. On 1 common plan, this is only for people under 80.
Can visitors get Obamacare?+
No. ACA Marketplace plans are for people who live in the US. Tourists and visiting parents can’t enrol.
How much visitor insurance do my parents need?+
Enough for a hospital stay. US hospitals spend about USD 3,300 a day per patient, so aim for USD 100,000 or more if their age allows.
Other trips
Going somewhere else?
Visiting Singapore? Care is excellent and expensive. Living here and going abroad? MediShield Life does not pay overseas. Here is what to check.
02Schengen visaA Schengen visa needs travel medical cover of at least 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen country, with repatriation. Here is what passes, and what doesn’t.
03MalaysiaVisiting Malaysia? Public hospitals charge foreigners full price. Living here and going abroad? Your cover at home stays at home. Here is what to check.
04ThailandThailand doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But hospitals want a payment guarantee before they treat you, and private care is not cheap. Here is what to know.
05JapanJapan doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But visitors pay the full bill, and unpaid bills can get you refused entry next time. Here is what to know.
07Bali and IndonesiaIndonesia doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But a broken leg in Bali can cost over 160 million rupiah, and serious cases can need a flight out. Here is what to know.
08Dubai and the UAEDubai’s law says visitors must be insured, and the 5-year tourist visa asks for proof. Care is good but private, and an unpaid bill can stop you leaving.
09VietnamVietnam doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But private hospitals cost a lot, and a motorbike crash can stop you leaving the country. Here is what to know.
10SpainPublic care in Spain is free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, dental care and the flight home are not. Here is what the card leaves to you in Spain.
11MexicoMexico doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Private hospitals in big cities are good, but most want payment first, and Medicare won’t pay.
12FranceCare in France is not free, even with an EHIC or GHIC. You pay upfront, claim back part, and the flight home is never covered. Here is what to check.
13ItalyThe EHIC and GHIC work in Italy’s public system, but you still pay fees, most medicines and any private doctor. Here is the Italian bill the card leaves you.
14GermanyWith an EHIC or GHIC, most care in Germany costs little. Private extras, mountain rescue and the flight home are on you. Here is what to check.
15PortugalPublic care in Portugal is mostly free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, medicines and the flight home are not. Here is what to check before you fly to Portugal.
16Costa RicaCosta Rica doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Only first emergency care is free, private clinics want payment first, and extensions have their own rules.
17ColombiaMost tourists need no visa and no policy for Colombia. If you do need a visa, insurance is part of it. Private clinics want payment first.
18South KoreaKorea doesn’t ask tourists for insurance, and the national scheme is not for short trips. Hospitals expect you to pay on the spot, then claim.
19Australia working holidayThe 417 and 462 visas don’t make you buy health insurance. But you pay every medical bill yourself, unless your passport gets you limited Medicare. Here is who is covered and what to buy.
20New Zealand working holidayMost working holiday visas for New Zealand require medical and hospital insurance for your whole stay, and you can be asked for proof when you land. Here is who is exempt and what to buy.