Summary: Buying visitors insurance takes about 5 minutes online. You need your trip dates, each traveler's age, and a desired coverage level. Policy documents arrive by email instantly.
The 5 Steps to Buying Visitors Insurance
Gather Your Trip Details
Collect the start and end dates of your USA stay, your home country, and the US state(s) you'll be visiting. Your US arrival date becomes the coverage start date.
- →Buy before you travel — coverage cannot start before the purchase date
- →Include buffer days for delays or trip extensions
- →Note all states you'll visit
Know Each Traveler's Age
Visitors insurance is priced per person by age. Have every traveler's exact age ready. Senior visitors (65+) have different plan availability and pricing.
- →Age 80+ limits options to select plans only
- →Spouses can be on the same application
- →Children under 18 often have lower premiums
Choose a Coverage Maximum
Select the maximum amount the plan will pay — $50K, $100K, $150K, $250K, or $1M. For visitors to the USA, we recommend at least $100,000 due to high US medical costs.
- →A single day in US ICU averages $11,700
- →$50K is rarely enough for a serious emergency
- →$100K–$250K is the sweet spot for most visitors
Select a Deductible
Your deductible is what you pay first before insurance kicks in. Common options: $0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500. A higher deductible lowers your premium.
- →$250–$500 is the most popular choice
- →$0 deductible adds ~15-25% to the premium
- →Higher deductibles make sense for healthy, younger visitors
Compare Plans and Buy
Review 3–4 plans side by side — compare coverage limits, networks, pre-existing condition clauses, and total premium. Buy directly and you'll receive your policy documents by email instantly.
- →Look for PPO network access (not just out-of-network only)
- →Confirm the plan covers the US specifically
- →Coverage starts next day when purchased before midnight
What You Get After Buying
Policy by Email
PDF certificate of insurance with your certificate number, coverage dates, and plan details — arrives within minutes.
Insurance ID Card
A printable ID card showing your plan name, insurer name, and 24/7 claims/assistance number.
24/7 Assistance
International SOS line for emergency medical coordination, hospital pre-certification, and evacuation assistance.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't: Buying too late — Buy before you board your flight. Coverage can't start before purchase date.
- Don't: Choosing too-low coverage ($25K–$50K) — US hospital bills can exceed $50K for a 2-day stay. Choose at least $100K.
- Don't: Not reading the pre-existing conditions exclusion — Understand the 'acute onset' clause — it's emergency-only, not ongoing treatment.
- Don't: Forgetting to include all travel dates including return — Cover until you're actually back home, not just the planned date. Buffer days are cheap.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I buy visitors insurance?+
Can I buy visitors insurance after I've already arrived in the USA?+
What documents do I need to buy visitors insurance?+
How is the policy delivered?+
Can I extend my visitors insurance if my trip is extended?+
What if I need to cancel my policy?+
Written by Ty Taylor · TX #2608479TX · Tower Hill Travel Insurance · May 2026
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