Indians form a significant and successful community in the USA. They contribute to various sectors, including education, technology, and entrepreneurship. Indian-Americans have made notable cultural contributions and celebrate their traditions and festivals. The Indian diaspora adds to the diverse fabric of American society. This vibrant Indian American community often have family and parents visiting the US from India.
Along with visiting family, the US offers Indians a wide array of travel experiences. From iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Golden Gate Bridge to diverse cultural traditions and cuisines, there is much to explore. Indians can witness the country's multicultural society in person and visit popular cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, as well as tourist attractions like Disneyworld, Las Vegas, Niagara falls and the Grand Canyon.
Travel insurance to the US from India is highly recommended given the very high cost of US healthcare. Travel insurance for USA provides financial protection and peace of mind in case of unforeseen events or emergencies during your trip. It is also important to note that if you are forced to visit a hospital or access any healthcare services in the USA, simply having US travel insurance from India to USA will significantly lower the hospital bills. The US insurance company preferred provider organisation (PPO) network healthcare billing is always significantly lower than regular hospital bills without PPO network in the United States.
This US travel insurance for Indians information can guide Indian travelers in understanding US travel insurance processes and terms as well as the financial support that it offers.
Deductible is the amount that insured Indian tourists need to pay for coverage before the travel insurance actually starts to pay for the healthcare services. The Deductible has to be paid along with the co-pay or coinsurance. Indians visitors need to pay the medical fees up to the amount of deductible and along with coinsurance and co-pay.
For example if the deductible amount is $500 then the travelers need to pay up to $500, it is only after this amount is paid that the insurance plan stays paying. The Deductible is introduced to prevent frivolous claims.
Coinsurance is similar to co-pay in domestic US health insurance. Here the insured needs to pay a percentage of the total cost of the medical fee instead of paying a fixed amount. If you have 10% of coinsurance that the insured will have to pay 10% of the total cost of the bill .Co-insurance is paid on top of the Deductible. Typical Co-insurance ranges from 10% to 20%. The higher the co-insurance, the lower will be the cost of travel insurance.
Travelers can review the insurance glossary for travel to the USA to understand other terms and also check our travel insurance guide for easy understanding.
Riders are additional benefits that a traveler can purchase within the insurance policy. These are benefits that are usually not covered under the standard insurance policy. Depending on the need of the traveler, customers can add rider benefits at an additional cost while buying the policy.
Copay or copayment is the fixed amount that the insured will have to pay for the medical service availed. The amounts would usually differ depending on the service availed.
Network and Out of Network- In US most hospitals have PPO networks .In the PPO network there are selected doctors and hospitals that have a working agreement with the insurance providers who charge the insurance provider directly and work out cheaper for Indian travelers. If the insurance provider is in the network they will provide a list of in network facilities so that the insured finds it easy to use the provider who can offer services.
Out of network is literally when the customer goes to a healthcare facility outside of the covered network provider. In this situation, the insured will have to pay for the treatment themselves and then file a claim, this process might be confusing and sometimes out of network doctors and hospitals are more expensive and may even not be covered.
Pre-existing condition is a medical ailment that existed before the start of the travel insurance cover. Acute onset of a pre-existing condition is a sudden relapse of the pre-existing condition without advance warning which requires medical attention within 24 hours. Travelers with pre-existing conditions always find it hard to buy travel health insurance. There are various conditions that are considered as pre- existing diseases but some of common ailments in this category are Asthma, heart related issues, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes etc.
Travelers from India with pre-existing conditions always find it hard to buy travel health insurance. There are various conditions that are considered as pre-existing diseases but some of common ailments in this category are Asthma, heart related issues, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes etc. Typically all insurance providers have their terms and conditions for the pre-existing condition coverage provided. Indian Travelers can buy a travel insurance policy without a medical check, however most insurance providers only provide coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions. With the pre-existing condition there is a "look back" period of 60-180 days to determine the claim. Most insurance providers offer travel insurance for acute onset of pre-existing conditions with fixed or limited coverageIf any of the Indian visitors has one of these conditions it’s very important for them to buy a policy that includes the illnesses in the coverage and to be aware of the terms of pre-existing condition coverage.
In situations like an admission at the hospital for overnight stay, Major Surgery, Prescription of expensive drugs, Medical appointment to a behavioural, physical, speech or occupational therapist for treatment all of this would typically require pre-approvals from the insurance provider.
After rigorous searching for suitable student health insurances online, I stumbled upon the American visitor Insurance.
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Pre-existing condition is a medical ailment that existed before the start of the travel insurance policy.Pre-existing condition is a sudden relapse of the pre-existing condition without advance warning which requires medical attention within 24 hours. As of a few years ago, companies now exclude chronic illnesses from this "Pre-existing condition" coverage which has deep impacts to people purchasing travel health insurance, particularly people with these conditions and older travelers.
Travelers with pre-existing conditions always find it hard to buy travel health insurance. There are various conditions that are considered as pre-existing diseases but some of common ailments in this category are asthma, food & drug allergies, environmental allergies, heart related issues, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and diabetes. Typically all insurance providers have their terms and conditions for the pre-existing condition coverage provided. Most do not cover anything related to a pre-existing condition. Travelers can buy a travel insurance policy without a medical check, however most insurance providers only provide coverage for pre-existing conditions which excludes chronic illnesses, like cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions. With the pre-existing condition there is a "look back" period of 60-180 days to determine the claim.
Some insurance providers offer travel insurance for pre-existing conditions with fixed or limited coverage which may be suitable for people without chronic illnesses, like food allergies and certain asthma conditions. The Safe Travels USA, Safe Travels USA Cost Saver, and Safe Travels USA Comprehensive all offer $1000 coverage for pre-existing conditions without limitation to chronic illness. If travelers have a medical condition they are concerned about, it is very important for them to buy a policy that includes the illnesses in the coverage and to be aware of the terms of pre-existing condition coverage.
INF is one of the few companies which offers travel insurance plans for travelers with full coverage for pre-existing ailments. They define pre-existing conditions differently and do not exclude chronic illness. First of all, if the person has had no flare up or change in their condition, even if they take medication for it (as long as there has been no change in medication) for 12 months prior to the start of the plan, then the plan does not consider it as a pre-existing condition. If there has been a flare up or change in the condition, then it is covered but at a lower maximum than the overall maximum of the plan and may be subject to a higher deductible.
They have two plans which have this coverage: INF Premier and INF Elite. The Premier plan is a fixed plan which has limitations on the coverage of each medical expense. The Elite plan is an 80/20 comprehensive plan (the plan pays 80% and the insured 20% after the deductible). INF offers the best travel insurance for pre existing medical conditions but the difference is reflected in the cost, particularly in the Elite plan. Note that regularly needed maintenance medications or treatments are still not covered with these plans, only if there is a new problem will there be coverage. However, the problem does not need to be life-threatening or acute. Travelers with pre-existing conditions should weigh these options to reduce their risk of high medical costs should they suffer from one of their conditions while traveling. Note that the plans need to be purchased for at least 90 days, so these are more suitable for longer term stays in US, Canada, and/or Mexico. Also, the plans may be purchased by green card holders as long as they have a non-US residence address. The Elite plan has several variations : INF Elite, Elite Plus and INF Elite 90.
To compare the best travel insurance for full pre-existing conditions plans offered by INF, use this link: INF Premier & INF Elite best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Here are some travel insurance tips for travelers with pre-existing conditions
There are several visitors insurance plans available for international travel. However, many travel insurance and visitors insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions. This means that a travel insurance plan will not cover the costs of treating a pre-existing medical condition. Therefore, the insurance company may deny a claim if the ailment already existed when the travel insurance was purchased. However, there are some travel medical insurance plans that offer coverage for pre-existing conditions and the policy clearly defines a look-back period and what is covered for pre-existing conditions, as well as specifying a limit to this coverage.
Some travel health insurance plans like Atlas America, Patriot America Plus offer coverage for the acute onset of a pre-existing conditions, ie, when there is a sudden medical emergency without any prior symptom that needs to be treated immediately. The coverage typically includes emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and evacuation expenses related to the acute onset of the pre-existing condition. INF insurance however has the INF Elite insurance plans which cover pre-existing conditions going beyond the acute onset coverage. It is important to compare visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions both for the price as well as the specific details for pre-existing conditions coverage as well as review the policy brochures for exclusions and coverage limits before making a decision.
The travel health insurance plans which cover pre-existing conditions have clear definitions of what is a pre-existing condition, the look back period for pre-existing condition, whether the travel insurance coverage is limited to acute onset of pre-existing conditions, and if it provides full coverage for pre-existing conditions the coverage limit within the policy for pre-existing conditons. Any travel health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions will depend on all these.
The following are important factors for buying travel insurance for pre-existing conditions
There are many international travelers who have medical ailments and it is important for them to be well informed about visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions. Many of the regular travel insurance plans exclude any coverage for pre-existing conditions. The definition of pre-existing conditions varies for different insurance providers as they have a ‘look back’ period and any medical ailments during this look back period would be considered pre-existing. At American Visitor Insurance, we offer plans which do offer coverage for acute onset of a pre-existing condition, as well as full coverage for pre-existing conditions up to a clearly defined limit in the policy document. All of these details can be better understood by using our facility for comparing visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Unfortunately, this simple question has a fairly complicated answer. The answer is: it depends. Firstly, it depends on whether you are a US resident traveling outside the US or a visitor to the US. US residents can purchase trip cancellation insurance that can cover pre-existing conditions and even plans that are travel medical only without cancellation often are more generous in their coverage of pre-existing conditions. These plans may have specific requirements in order to waive the usual exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions (like purchase them within a certain number of days of your initial trip deposit or that you have a primary domestic insurance plan in the US), so you should check these details carefully if this is important to you.
Non-US residents or US residents traveling into the US have much more limited options to insure their pre-existing conditions are covered. Some plans offer coverage for "acute onset" of pre-existing conditions. However, this is misleading, since a careful look at their definition excludes chronic or congenital disorders from such coverage. Chronic illnesses are those that worsen over time and congenital disorders are issues one is born with. They exclude emergencies due to chronic illness because they will say that is not "acute" it is simply a worsening of your condition. There are only two policies we know of that offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. They are INF Premier and INF Elite plans.
Firstly, they define pre-existing conditions in the following way: A pre-existing condition is a condition for which the insured received treatment or took medication for in the previous 12 months before the start of the policy. If the medication dosage has not changed and is taken as a maintenance medication, this would NOT count as a flare up or treatment of the condition. In that case, very stable conditions that have no flare ups in the past 12 months are not even excluded as pre-existing conditions. Conditions that have had flare ups or doctor recommended treatment or change in medication, are still covered by the plans but with a higher deductible and a lower maximum.
INF Elite (also INF Elite 90) are comprehensive plans offering fairly complete coverage. INF Premier is a fixed plan. Find details on these plans here.
The above plans must be purchased for at least 90 days and can be quite pricey for seniors, but they offer the only real coverage for chronic conditions.
The other option, of course, is to take a plans with little ($1K) or no coverage for pre-existing conditions and take a risk that that condition will not flare up during the trip.
INF plans boast they offer "full" coverage for pre-existing conditions. This can be a little misleading. Firstly, any regular treatment or medication that is required by the condition is never covered. The main advantage to the INF Elite and INF Premier is that they cover sudden illness/injury regardless of whether it is pre-existing or not. The only difference is that a pre-existing condition will be covered with a higher deductible at at a lower maximum than any other "new" illness or injury. However, coverage is not limited to an emergency or life-threatening situation.
The "Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition" is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing medical condition which occurs without any advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms and requires immediate care (within 24 hours of first symptoms). A Pre-Existing Condition that is a chronic or congenital condition or that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered acute onset.
The acute onset coverage benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatment existent or necessary prior to the effective date of coverage. An example of this might be someone who has a food allergy or bee allergy and is unknowingly exposed to their allergen and requires immediate medical attention.
Acute onset of a pre-existing condition can be defined as the sudden & unexpected occurrence of a pre-existing condition which requires in-patient, emergency hospitalization within 24 hours of exhibiting first symptoms. The main difference between acute onset & full pre-existing is that with Full Pre-Existing coverage, is that one is covered for all pre-existing conditions and associated medical costs and this includes follow up visits, hospitalizations and doctor’s visits, etc. The acute onset coverage will only cover the in-patient hospitalization expense.
Full Pre-existing means we will cover any issue regarding a pre-existing condition, however, if one is traveling to the United States solely for medical treatment, that will not be covered. INF plans do not cover any medical tourism related claims. Pre-existing conditions under the INF plans are covered with a higher deductible and a lower maximum than other illnesses or injuries. These are chosen or specified when you purchase you plan.
Yes, the INF policies will cover any pre-existing issue that the traveler may have during their stay in the United States. This includes blood pressure, diabetes, kidney related issues and arthritis, all of which are covered by the INF Premier, INF Premier Plus, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90, Hop Travel Assist, Hop Mindoro Assist, Hop WorldHopper, Hop Trip Assist Plus Plans.
The insurance company takes on an enormous risk by insuring individuals and including coverage for pre-existing conditions without any prior medical examination. Under the INF plans, you are paying more, but you are getting the full value for the money you pay given the very high cost of US healthcare. With the INF Premier, INF Premier Plus, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90, Hop Travel Assist, Hop Mindoro Assist, Hop WorldHopper, Hop Trip Assist Plus Plans, even though it is expensive, you can have the comfort of knowing that you are covered for any emergency or contingency. This peace of mind given the expensive US healthcare expense is what makes INF plans worth it despite being expensive.
The list of covered services under Visitors insurance full pre-existing conditions coverage can be found on the American Visitor Insurance website of the INF Premier, INF Premier Plus, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90, Hop Travel Assist, Hop Mindoro Assist, Hop WorldHopper, Hop Trip Assist Plus Plan pages. INF plans are open to green card holders
The best US visitors insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage is listed here:
1. The INF Elite Insurance plans are designed for travelers who need coverage for full pre-existing medical conditions up to age 99 years. INF Elite plans are comprehensive plans available for people traveling to the US and provide flexible coverage. Minimum Purchase of 90 days is required on the plans.
2. Safe Travels USA Comprehensive Insurance offers coverage for acute on set of pre-existing conditions up to 89 years. For persons under 70 covers medical treatment to policy maximum (cardiac-related treatment up to $25,000). For persons above 70 Acute Onset benefits is reduced to a maximum of $35,000 (cardiac-related treatment up to $15,000).
3. Atlas America Insurance is a comprehensive visitor insurance for acute on set of pre-existing conditions that covers Non-US citizens and Non-US residents while visiting the US up to age 79 years.
The plan provides acute onset of non-chronic pre-existing conditions coverage..
4. Patriot America plus Insurance is Comprehensive travel insurance covers acute on set of pre-existing conditions up to chosen maximum limit aged up to 70 years. This plan is available for Non US citizens travelling to the USA and US citizens and Non US citizens living abroad can buy this plan for visiting the US for short while. Plan is suitable for Green Card holders as long as they reside outside the US.
5. Visitors Protect Insurance is Comprehensive visitor medical insurance offers pre-existing conditions up to age 99 years. Minimum Purchase of 90 days is required on the plan. It is an affordable plan for visitors visiting the US.
6. Safe Travels USA Insurance is a cheap travel medical insurance plan that covers sudden, unexpected recurrence of a Pre-existing Condition for Non-US Citizens and Non-US Residents while visiting the USA up to 89 years.
What happens if a Indian tourist goes to the hospital in the US? How are Indian tourists emergency hospital bills handled? What is involved in seeing a Doctor in the US as a tourist? How is the medical treatment in USA for Indian handled?
These are common concerns of Indian tourists visiting the US. International travelers to the US should be aware the US healthcare is very expensive and is usually covered by health insurance coverage which most US residents have. It is hence important for international tourists in the US to buy the best US travel insurance since they have to pay for any medical expenses incurred while visiting USA.
Being forced to visit an US hospital without good travel insurance can be devastating and one should buy US travel insurance for the entire duration of one’s visit to the USA.
There are many US Travel insurance plans available for visitors in the online health insurance marketplace. They are mainly classified broadly as Fixed plans and Comprehensive plans. The best US tourist health insurance varies based on the unique needs of diverse travelers with several plans working well in different situations. Amongst the popular travel insurance in USA for visitors are Patriot America by IMG, Atlas Travel from World Trips, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive from Trawick International, Travel Medical Choice plan from Seven Corners, INF Premier travel insurance all of which have excellent coverage.
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American Visitor Insurance offers a wide range of travel medical insurance plans for visitors to the USA designed by the top US travel insurance providers. Customers can compare different travel insurance plans offered by US insurance company on American Visitor Insurance. After comparing different plans, you can choose the one that best meets your needs and budget and buy the policy online by filling out an application and paying for the travel insurance USA using a credit card.
No, international tourists do not get free healthcare in the USA. The United States does not have a universal healthcare system, and US healthcare services are very expensive, especially for the uninsured. If you are a tourist visiting the US, it is very important to have the best travel medical insurance for any unexpected medical expenses that may arise during your trip. US travel medical insurance covers emergency medical expenses, including hospitalization, doctor visits, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation.
Tourists can compare and review the best US travel insurance options using the American Visitor Insurance comparison tool as well as review the policy brochures to understand the coverage limits and exclusions.
US Visitors Insurance plans offered by popular US insurance providers might seem similar on first impressions, since many of the visitors medical insurance plans have similar coverages and costs. However, in order to find the best visitor health insurance plan based on the visitors specific needs and to get the best coverage available, it is important to compare different visitor medical insurance benefits.
The following are some of the important factors to consider while comparing visitors insurance:
Type of visitor insurance (Fixed or Comprehensive): Fixed benefit visitor insuranceare cheaper when compared to the Comprehensive insurance planshowever they offer limited coverage when compared to Comprehensive plans. Normally, it is recommended to buy comprehensive visitors insurance as it offers exhaustive coverage with greater flexibility, however some travelers are looking for the cheapest option.
Policy Maximum: This is the maximum coverage that any plan would offer which normally ranges from $50,000 up to $1,000,000. This is the maximum a policy can cover in case of an emergency according to the policy conditions detailed in the policy.
Deductible: This is an initial amount that the traveler needs to pay before the visitors insurance actually starts to pay. The deductible options can range anywhere from $50 up to $5000 based on the plan. A larger deductible means lower premium price and vice versa. Picking a large deductible thus lowers the premium and choosing a comprehensive plan is usually recommended.
Pre-existing condition coverage: This is very important benefit factor as many customers need this benefit. This benefit requirement mostly is required by people over the age of 60, however there may be exceptions where younger people may need this coverage too. Most comprehensive visitors insurance plans offer this coverage for people up to 70, some go up to 80 and a few provide for people above 80. Fixed benefit plans limit this coverage for travelers up to the age of 70 years. Very few plans do not have pre existing condition coverage at all.
Pre existing condition coverage is provided only for acute onset of a pre existing condition. There is only one company namely INF that offers plans providing full pre existing condition coverage.
Residential status: Many visitors insurance provide coverage only within the US. Some plans provide coverage worldwide. There are plans available only for Non US citizens visiting the US. There are plans where both Non US and US citizens living abroad are eligible to visit the US and claim coverage. There are plans where US citizens traveling outside the US are eligible. Comparing the plans to look for this factor is necessary before we purchase the plan and start the travel.
Sports and other unique activities: Some of the plans provide excellent sports medical coverage for hazardous sports and other adventure activities.
Based on these US visitors medical insurance factors, American Visitor Insurance provides a compare visitor insurance facility which is user friendly and helps visitors compare and buy the best US visitor insurance for their specific requirements.
The main factor to consider is what is most important for you to have coverage for and what type of coverage do you need. Do you want trip cancellation coverage which will return the money you would lose on a trip should you have to cancel your trip due to health concerns, your job or jury duty? Or do you want to be sure you have plenty of medical coverage while you are on your trip? Or do you want to be sure you can get a medical evacuation from a remote location where you are vacationing? Depending on your answers to those questions, you can choose a different “perfect†plan for each situation.
USA - General InformationComplete the travel insurance quote form by providing traveler details and the insurance requirements.
Buy the plan that fits your requirements and budget best by using a credit card and completing the online application.
Buy the plan that fits your needs and budget by using a credit card and completing the online application.
Review the travel insurance policy documents received by email for coverage details and relevant contact numbers.
The travel insurance price is directly proportional to the age of the traveler. The older the traveler and higher is the cost of the travel insurance.
Comprehensive travel insurance provides exhaustive coverage but is more expensive than fixed benefit insurance which has a specified limit for each treatment.
The price of travel health insurance is directly dependant on the maximum medical coverage and inversely dependant on the deductible of the plan chosen.
Travel insurance depends on the coverage region. The cost for travel health insurance in some countries (USA …) is more expensive than others.
The cost of travel insurance directly depends on the length of travel. The longer the duration of visitor medical insurance required, the higher will be the cost.
Additional add-on benefits to the basic travel insurance plan like adventure sports coverage, coverage for pre-existing conditions… will add to the overall cost.
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021
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91-11-24198000
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011-91-11-2419-0017
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044-2857-4000
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044-2811-2020
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91-33-6827-2400
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91-33-2288-1616/0356
There are over One hundred and eighty thousand Indian students currently in the United States. Most of the Indian students come for a graduate program with only about 10% of the students being Undergraduate students.
There are about 30% of Indian students who are currently in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) status. India is the second largest source of the international students to the US after China. Most of the Indian students focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) programs. Business degrees are also highly regarded by Indian students.
Indian students in the US should ensure that they have proper student medical insurance. While most Universities offer student insurance, these university insurance plans are quite expensive. We offer more affordable student health insurance plan for OPT Indian student with comparable coverage.
Indian students can also buy the OPT student insurance options that we provide which are very affordable compared to University options.
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International travel insurance resources for India visa holders.
Important factors while deciding on the best travel insurance to India.
Different types of India visa travel insurance options.
India travel insurance claims process for medical care.
FAQs about travel insurance for India travelers.
Click here to read more »Blog about travel health insurance India travelers.
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Fixed benefit or scheduled benefit plans are the most affordable international travel insurance plans.
Click here to read moreWe also offer international travel insurance plans covering pre-existing conditions which many older travelers look for...
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