When visiting the United States, you can use travel insurance option to a variety of things to ensure you’re protected from unforeseen circumstances. read this comprehensive guide on the different types of insurance you might consider for your trip.
1. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of the most important types of coverage for international visitors. It provides protection against various travel-related risks such as trip cancellations, delays and lost luggage and more:
- Trip Cancellation: Reimburses you for non-refundable trip expenses if your trip is canceled due to covered reasons (e.g illness and death in the family and natural disasters).
- Trip Interruption: Covers unexpected costs if your trip is cut short for a valid reason
- Travel Delays: Provides compensation for expenses incurred due to significant travel delays (meals and accommodations etc.)
- Lost or Delayed Baggage: Offers reimbursement for luggage lost, stolen or delayed for a certain period.
- Missed Connections: Covers the cost of rebooking flights or other travel arrangements due to missed connections.
- Providers:
- Allianz Global Assistance: Offers comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, interruption, travel delays, lost luggage and more. Plans are customizable based on your trip needs.
- World Nomads: Known for offering flexible travel insurance tailored for adventure travelers. It includes trip protection, medical emergencies and coverage for a variety of adventure activities.
- AXA Travel Insurance: Offers plans with trip cancellation and medical emergency coverage, lost baggage and more. AXA’s policies are designed for international travelers.
2. Health Insurance
U.S. healthcare is very expensive so having adequate health insurance is crucial when visiting the country.
- Visitors Health Insurance: Short-term health insurance for non-U.S. residents. It covers medical expenses for accidents, sudden illnesses and emergency medical treatments during your stay.
- Coverage can include:
- Emergency medical care
- Doctor visits and hospital stays
- Prescription medication
- Medical evacuation (transport to a medical facility or back to your home country in an emergency)
- Repatriation of remains (in case of death)
Popular Providers:
- Atlas Travel Insurance: Offers customizable visitor insurance plans with extensive medical coverage.
- Seven Corners: Provides visitors’ insurance with coverage for medical emergencies and travel-related issues.
- IMG Global: Known for comprehensive travel medical insurance plans for short or long visits.
- Coverage can include:
3. Auto Insurance
If you plan to rent a car or drive while in the U.S., you will need auto insurance.
- Rental Car Insurance: Provides coverage for rental vehicle damage or theft. This is often offered by rental car companies, credit card providers, or third-party insurance companies.
- Coverage includes:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Covers damage to the rental vehicle.
- Liability Insurance: Covers damages or injuries to third parties if you are responsible for an accident.
- Personal Accident Insurance: Covers medical expenses if you or your passengers are injured while driving the rental car.
- Personal Effects Insurance: Covers your personal belongings inside the rental car if they are damaged or stolen.
- Providers:
- Allianz Global Assistance: Provides rental car protection covering damage to the rental vehicle, liability, and theft.
- Bonzah: Offers rental car insurance for damage, liability and personal accident coverage. Coverage is easy to purchase online before your trip.
- Insure My Rental Car: Specializes in affordable rental car insurance, covering damages and theft often at lower prices than those offered by rental agencies.
- Coverage includes:
4. Life Insurance (Temporary Travel Life Insurance)
Some visitors may want to purchase short-term life insurance. especially if engaging in risky activities (e.g., extreme sports or adventure activities).
- Coverage: Pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries if you pass away while on your trip.
- Providers:
- Allianz Global Assistance: Includes life insurance as part of its travel packages for high-risk travelers, such as those engaging in adventure activities.
- AIG Travel Guard: Offers travel life insurance policies as part of broader travel insurance, including accidental death and dismemberment.
- World Nomads: Provides life insurance for travelers who engage in adventurous activities like skiing, hiking, or scuba diving.
5. Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance
This insurance covers the cost of medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility or back to your home country if necessary due to a medical emergency.
- Medical Evacuation: Transport to a hospital or medical facility in case of an emergency.
- Repatriation of Remains: Covers the return of your remains to your home country in case of death during your trip.
- Providers:
- Seven Corners: Includes emergency evacuation and repatriation as part of their comprehensive travel medical insurance plans.
- IMG Global: Offers emergency evacuation coverage in their travel insurance policies, ensuring safe transport in medical emergencies.
- GeoBlue: Focuses on health and safety abroad, with evacuation and repatriation coverage as part of its travel insurance plans.
6. Adventure or Sports Insurance
If you plan on participating in high-risk activities or extreme sports (e.g., skiing, hiking, skydiving), standard travel insurance may not cover you. You can purchase additional adventure or sports insurance.
- Coverage: Includes injuries and medical expenses related to extreme sports, adventure tours, or other risky activities.
- Popular Providers:
- World Nomads: Offers specific adventure sports coverage as part of its travel insurance plans.
- IMG Global: Offers travel insurance that covers a range of adventure activities.
7. Personal Property Insurance
You can also insure personal belongings that you bring with you, especially high-value items like electronics, jewelry or cameras.
- Coverage: Reimbursement if personal items are lost, stolen, or damaged while traveling.
- Popular Providers: This coverage can be added to many travel insurance plans, or through specialty insurers like Clements Worldwide.
8. Flight Insurance
Flight insurance provides coverage for specific issues related to your flights, including flight accidents or delays.
- Coverage: Typically covers death or injury during a flight, missed connections, and flight delays.
- Popular Providers:
- Allianz Global Assistance: Offers flight insurance along with broader travel insurance plans.
- Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Known for covering flight issues and cancellations.
9. Identity Theft Insurance
Identity theft insurance can be valuable if you’re worried about losing sensitive information such as your passport, credit card or personal data while traveling.
- Coverage: Helps cover the costs associated with recovering your identity, including legal fees and replacing documentation.
- Popular Providers:
- Allianz Global Assistance: Offers identity theft protection as part of its travel insurance package, including assistance with recovering stolen documents.
- AIG Travel Guard: Includes identity theft insurance as part of their travel protection plans, covering legal fees and document replacement.
- IdentityForce: Specializes in identity theft protection with global coverage, including travel scenarios.
10. Gadget or Mobile Device Insurance
If you’re bringing expensive gadgets (like smartphones, tablets, or cameras), you might want to insure them against damage or theft.
- Coverage: Includes replacement or repair for damage, loss, or theft of electronic devices.
- Popular Providers:
- SquareTrade: Offers coverage for gadgets and electronic devices, even when traveling.
- Worth Ave. Group: Provides specialized insurance for smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets.
Conclusion
When visiting the U.S., it’s important to have appropriate insurance coverage to protect yourself against health emergencies, travel disruptions, and property loss or damage. Consider your specific needs and activities and choose the right insurance types to ensure peace of mind while traveling.
