Plan the flights to the United States So be sure not to forget to take out travel insurance! Read on to know the best and most in-price travel insurance for travel, backpacking, active travel and more… In addition, we have selected two FREE options of travel insurance that you probably never heard of!
Rescue of staff trekking in South Korea
A trip to the United States can be great, but also stressful!
You have to deal with your plane tickets, book your hotel, schedule your activities and your itinerary, as well as prepare yourself for a possible jet lag…
And in addition to all that you have to deal with before the trip to the United States, there is another important detail that many travelers forget: to hire travel insurance.
If you identify yourself, don’t worry! Just keep reading to learn all about taking out travel insurance for the United States (including a list of the best and cheapest options!).
But before…
Do I need travel insurance to go to the United States?
In short, yes!
Good travel insurance is really important, especially if you travel like me, doing activities where the chance to get hurt (and have to deal with medical expenses!) it’s high.
During my trips I am always walking in mountains and climbing things, jumping here, throwing myself there, swimming where I should not, diving… Basically doing everything I consider part of a perfect trip!
Imagine that you are practicing Snowboarding in Switzerland without travel insurance, get injured in the middle of the mountain and have to evacuate by helicopter. The medical bill you will receive, while in the hospital bed, will have so many zeros that you will stay longer in the hospital due to heart problems!
Having travel insurance is a good idea no matter where you go!
In addition, I asked the accounts of how many backpackers I found on my travels with the famous “Thai Tattoo”, that is, giant scars on their burn legs from the exhaust fan of a motorcycle in Thailand!
And will you really want to go to the public hospital in the middle of Bangkok?!? With travel insurance you can go to a private hospital where they will probably be more careful with you.
Do I really need travel insurance? I don’t practice sports or extreme activities!
Here’s the point: Even if you’re just going to a mall in Miami, you’ll want travel insurance.
In addition, there is always some kind of risk on a trip. Even walking on the road and banging your head or just getting sick.
And using the American health care system (and many others) without any kind of insurance is like asking for personal bankruptcy.
In addition, there are many countries that require you to have some kind of health insurance or travel to enter the country, including the United States.
And remember, travel insurance doesn’t just cover health or medical problems. Depending on the plan you may have, it can help pay for lost luggage, flight delays, bad weather, and even your evacuation from a country if a civil unrest occurs.
Update on Travel Insurance and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
We all know that Covid is not totally gone. Therefore, you may be wondering if your travel insurance will cover you if you get sick.
By this time, almost all existing travel insurance plans cover diseases caused by COVID-19. However, I recommend checking your policy again for details before buying.
(OO which for more details, you can also take a look at our article here: International Health and Travel Insurance covers the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?)
How does the U.S. health care system work?
Unlike other developed countries, the U.S. does not have universal medical care. Instead, it relies heavily on private insurance options.
Millions of Americans don’t have insurance or have insufficient insurance, and health care costs in the U.S. can be very expensive.
Although the quality of care can be great… to give you an idea, medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcies in the United States!
In other words, it is definitely a country for which you want to secure travel insurance.
Note: these options below are travel insurance designed for tourists. If you are going to the United States to study, you will need an international health insurance plan for international students. If you are going to the U.S. as a worker or immigrant, you will need a health insurance policy for expats. You can see some options for these cases at the bottom of the article here.
What are the best travel insurance for the United States?
If you search for online travel insurance, you will find numerous options.
But over the years, I’ve done a LOT of Travel Insurance Companies (just like I’ve tried a lot of them!). And the list below includes the travel insurance options that I always end up coming back.
However, keep in mind that your final options will depend on where you are from and how much type of coverage you want for your trip.
I recommend taking the time to get a quote from each of these companies for your trip. I know it might take a while. But the money you can save at the end of the day is worth it!
Travel insurance aggregators that allow you to compare and buy different plans.
1. The largest and cheapest travel insurance portal in Brazil to compare and guarantee the best price:
Promo Insurance (cupom 5% discount OUTCOMF5)
Promo Insurance is not an insurance company itself. She is an aggregator that offers and sells insurance via the internet. Through the tool available on their website, the traveler compares coverage and prices of various companies, and hires their travel insurance of choice. In addition, Promo Insurance provides assistance in case of claims, intermediating the customer’s contact with the insurer.
So I recommend that after searching WorldNomads further down, you take a look at the Insurance Promo website to see other business options and travel insurance plans specific to Brazilians.
At Promo Insurance you can find several travel insurance options with very good prices! Even some of the cheapest travel insurance for the United States I found it in Promo Insurance.
However, pay attention to the value of the coverage of these insurances. For example, the health care system in the United States is very expensive. So $30,000 would be very little coverage for travel to the U.S. At the same time, the minimum coverage of travel insurance for the Schengen area in Europe is 30,000 Euros, which today gives around US$ 33,000. So it depends a lot on your destiny.
Sports: In addition, as I mention in the case of WorldNomads, it is necessary to check if the insurance you are hiring offers coverage according to your need (sports, adventure, total coverage amount etc…).
One detail: Insurance Promo also offers worldwide insurance! That is, if you are going to visit more than one continent during your trip, you can take out one insurance. Just select “international” at the destination. For example, going to Asia and Europe, you can take out insurance for both one and the other, as long as he has a coverage above 30,000 euros or $50,000 (minimum value for the Schengen area). It covers the two continents. Same thing for three or more continents.
Oh, and don’t forget to see if you want coverage in your dental travel insurance or not. Some plans dentists are included, others are not.
Payment: Insurance Promo also lets you divide into 12 X on the credit card without interest or give 5% discount on the purchase with the boleto or PIX.
And on top of that 5% of the ticket, there is still a 5% discount Coupon to use in Promo Insurance. Discount code: OUTCOMF5.
Therefore, take a search in Promo Insurance just to take the proof and, finding a cheaper price, hire with themselves!
Some of the insurance offered by Promo Insurance:
Promo Insurance Travel Insurance and COVID-19 coverage
Promo Insurance is only an insurance comparator, so it does not cover any occurrence. Of all the insurers that Promo Insurance offers only Assist Card, Travel Ace, and Intermac offer emergency care in cases of suspected Coronavirus. All other companies offer coverage only until the disease is diagnosed.
Meet the Brazilian Travel Insurance that Cobre COVID-19 here.
2. 2. The other Brazilian travel insurance portal option with great prices:
Real Travel Insurance (link with 17% discount on Real Seguro17)
It has another Brazilian travel insurance sales site that is very similar to Promo Insurance: Real Travel Insurance. Like Promo Insurance, they do not offer their own travel insurance, but are a platform to sell travel insurance from other companies.
In addition to having a good travel insurance availability, they also have a very competitive price! I found travel insurance there equal to Insurance Promo, but with a lower price. Or, the same travel insurance offered by Promo Insurance at the same price, but with higher coverage. So I think it costs nothing to waste 5 minutes to get a quote at Real Seguros and see if you don’t find something better there.
Note: The tips on the value of coverage, sports, dentist and payment in Real Seguros are similar to Promo Insurance.
Travel Insurance Insurance and Coronavirus coverage
All necessary medical assistance is covered by the partner insurers of Real Seguros until the moment of diagnosis of COVID-19. If the patient is diagnosed, their treatment will no longer be covered by companies, since a pandemic enters into excluded risks.
3. The option of well-known insurance company and average price:
IMG Global (accepted citizens of all countries!)
MG, or International Medical Group, is a well-known U.S. insurance that provides travel insurance for travelers from more than 190 countries.
That is, no matter where you are from, it is a great option to search for a travel insurance for the United States!
They have a travel insurance plan available only to Americans (Patriot Travel Medical Insurance) and another one available to non-U.S. travelers (Patriot America Plus).
You have the option to select the desired coverage level ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 and deductibles ranging from $0 to $2,500.
Prices are generally competitive. But, like some of the other options on this list, there are some activities they don’t cover. Therefore, I recommend reading your policy carefully to ensure that it includes everything you need before you buy.
Travel insurance for seniors (65+): One thing that makes IMG unique is that they offer a tailor-made travel insurance plan for travelers 65 and older, called GlobeHopper Senior.
IMGlobal travel insurance and coverage for COVID-19
In most cases, all IMG plans will cover any Covid-19 care you may need, including treatment, hospitalizations or even medical evacuations. Just make sure you carefully read your policy before buying to see if there have been any changes.
4. 4. The best and most comprehensive travel insurance for backpackers and adventurous travellers:
(5% discount coupon: comfort5comfort5)
I truly believe that World Nomads is the best backpacker travel insurance company there is.
Whenever I am traveling in an area where I have some more “risky” adventures or activities planned (snowboarding, canyoning, hiking, glacier hiking, forgoing, deep water diving, skiing, climbing, etc.), I can certify me with a policy with World Nomads.
They really cover almost everything. And I’m still about to find another company that offers a better deal for ALL activities covered by World Nomad policies. (But if you have, please let me know in the comments area below!)
If you have a specific activity in mind and want to know if it will be covered by World Nomads or not, you can take a look at this page here.
Essentially, there are two types of World Nomads policies that you can choose from. The first is the “Standard” policy. Even if you have some adventure activities planned, the “Standard” option can still be enough, as it still offers emergency medical coverage for activities such as alpine skiing or hiking of up to 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 feet)!
Otherwise, you also have the “Explorer” plan, perfect for more radical travelers. This plan will cover almost any other activity imaginable. (Although, of course, make sure to double check your plan before you buy, if you have something specific in mind that you want to cover.)
Another interesting feature of World Nomads is that you can add optional coverage to “high-value specific items like iPhones and digital cameras.” If you are traveling with a lot of electronic equipment or in areas where theft is common (such as my home country, Brazil, for example), this can be a smart complement.
I can also add that, at least based on my personal experience seeking reimbursement after falling ill in Thailand, the customer service team is very attentive and easy to handle.
One more thing to know: with World Nomads, you can buy your travel insurance even if you have already started your trip. You do not need to be in your country of residence to buy or extend a policy.
You can get a 5% discount code on your World Nomads travel insurance policy using the coupon code “comfort5.”
(P.S. If you are like me and you are also addicted to sports and adventure activities and wish to have good travel insurance that covers them, here are two other items you might like: 3 Best International Travel Insurance for Extreme Sports and Adventure Activities and 9 tips to stay in shape during your travels.)
WorldNomads travel insurance and COVID-19 coverage
At the time of writing, World Nomads does not explicitly address whether or not its insurance plans cover the treatment of COVID-19. However, you can find the most up-to-date position on the coronavirus on your site here.
5. . 5. One of the cheapest travel insurance companies you will find out there:
WorldTrips (formerly Atlas Travel)
In my experience, WorldTrips’ travel insurance plans tend to be some of the cheapest in the market. But remember that probably due to the price, they may not cover as many things as a company like World Nomads can!
So I like to use WorldTrips when I’m traveling to a “safe” place where I plan to visit mainly cities, such as the United States or Europe.
Although I have already purchased WorldTrips travel insurance plans before, fortunately I never had to ask for a refund. So honestly, I’m not sure how smooth the refund process is.
But I found some comments from other people who did and made things work. Therefore, it definitely seems that WorldTrips is a great option for those traveling on a tight budget and looking for cheap travel insurance.
In general, WorldTrips accepts citizens from all over the world, although there are some exceptions. You can find plans of all sizes and types, from a 1-year round-world backpack trip to a short study abroad trip for a college student.
One cool thing about WorldTrips is that you can buy your policy even if you have already started your trip. It’s okay if you’re already abroad and want to buy or extend a plan.
Finally, unlike many other insurance companies, there is NO age limit for WorldTrips! Of course, the price of the plan will increase with increasing age. And when you’re over 70 and then 80, the coverage limits decrease.
So yes, you will pay more than a young person for the same coverage amount.
However, few travel insurance companies cover seniors, so WorldTrips is really a solid choice for travel insurance for seniors!
WorldTrips Travel Insurance and Coverage for COVID-19
In most cases, any medical expenses incurred by COVID-19 disease will be covered by your WorldTrips policy. However, recheck the details of your policy before purchasing the updated coverage.
6. . 6. One of Brazil’s Best International Travel Insurance
Allianz Assistance / Mondial Travel
I’m also indicating here the Allianz/Mondial because many readers have commented that they like this travel insurance. Allianz Brazil’s international travel insurance website is customized for Brazilians. All in Portuguese and with customer service in Brazil.
So if you get a little uncomfortable using English sites from foreign companies, Allianz is ideal, as well as having very good prices.
They also offer multi-destination annual travel insurance!
Prices are usually very competitive, although they don’t cover some activities. So check the “general conditions” to see if this is the ideal insurance for you.
They make installment in 6 x on the credit card for purchases over R$ 120.00.
Allianz Travel Insurance and COVID-19 coverage
The insurer does not cover the treatment of COVID-19. Your expenses will only be paid until the time of diagnosis of the disease.
7. 7. The new international travel insurance company for digital nomads and adventure sports and extremes:
Safety Wing
Safety Wing has earned a lot of name in the insurance world with its variety of travel insurance options for students, digital nomads, expats and, of course, travelers in general.
One of the differentials of Safety Wing is the focus on insurance plans covering adventure sports and radical activities. (Like World Nomads!)
In addition, their website is fun and allows you to get a quote easily and quickly.
Safety Wing travel insurance and coverage for COVID-19
In most cases, any medical expenses incurred by COVID-19 sickness will be covered by your Safety Wing policy. However, recheck the details of your policy before purchasing the updated coverage.
International sites to compare and buy travel insurance from different carriers
8. The best place to find and compare cheap travel insurance:
VisitorsCoverage
Unlike the other options on this list, VisitorsCoverage is not an insurance company itself. Instead, it is a platform that allows you to see and compare travel insurance plans from several different companies at the same time.
It is a bit like Momondo, which allows you to compare airline tickets from different companies. Or Rentalcar.com, which does the same car rental.
That is, it is much easier to view all your travel insurance plans options. And finally, compare, choose and buy the best option for your trip.
In VisitorsCoverage, you’ll find everything from business travel insurance plans to student insurance plans.
The site has been around for 10 years and covers citizens from more than 175 countries. And, at least based on analytics, they seem to have pretty solid customer service, available online 7 days a week.
VisitorsCoverage travel insurance and COVID-19 coverage
On the VisitorsCoverage platform, you can see what each specific plan of your quest has to say about Covid-19 coverage. But, as with most of the companies I mentioned above, nowadays most travel insurance plans include some kind of Covid-19 coverage.
9. . . . . Another great site for research and compare cheap travel insurance:
TravelInsurance.com
Like VisitorsCoverage, TravelInsurance.com is another travel insurance “portal” that allows you to view and compare travel insurance plans from several different companies at the same time.
To do a search, simply enter your personal information and some details about your trip. From there, the platform will give you a comparison of the plans available to you, which you can filter by rating and by price.
An interesting feature of TravelInsurance.com is that in addition to travel insurance, they also offer insurance plans for immigrants, international students and expats.
TravelInsurance.com travel insurance and coverage for COVID-19
During your research on TravelInsurance.com, you can see what each partner insurer has to say about Covid-19 coverage. But, as with most of the companies I mentioned above, nowadays most travel insurance plans include some kind of Covid-19 coverage.
2 bonus options to find and compare different travel insurance plans at once:
AARDY
AARDY is a last “aggregator” of travel insurance that you can use to see the options of travel insurance plans from several different companies at the same time. As they describe themselves, they are the “Amazon” of travel insurance.
One thing that highlights AARDY is its excellent customer service. (That, as you can see on TrustPilot, it has a very high score!)
In addition to the easy-to-use search portal (which allows you to compare plans quickly and easily), you can also contact them at any time by email, support or live chat. This way, you can take all of your questions and concerns before buying your insurance policy.
One last thing to know: AARDY donates 10% of its annual revenue to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides financial assistance to the children of military personnel killed in combat.
AARDY travel insurance and coverage for COVID-19
As AARDY itself is not a travel insurance provider and is just a portal that allows you to compare insurance from various companies, you will have to consult the individual insurer before buying your plan to see what their position is on Covid-19 coverage.
InsureMy Trip
Like the other “portals” or “aggregators” of travel insurance I mentioned above, InsureMyTrip offers an easy and quick way to compare travel insurance plans from several different companies at the same time.
It is very similar to the Momondo, which is an aggregator of air tickets, or Rentalcar.com, which is a car rental aggregator.
One thing that makes InsureMyTrip different is your commitment to quality. If a plan or insurer receives less than 4 stars, it will be removed from the site.
InsureMyTrip is strictly focused on travel insurance. Therefore, unlike some of the other options on today’s list, you won’t find any insurance plan for expatriates, immigrants or international students here.
But if you are looking for a plan like this to supplement your travel insurance, I can find out my article on the 5 best and best health insurance for international students or 5 best international health insurance for expatriates and immigrants.
InsureMyTrip Travel Insurance and COVID-19 Coverage
Since InsureMyTrip itself is not a travel insurance provider and is just an aggregator that allows you to compare insurance from multiple companies, you will have to search the individual insurer before buying your plan to see what their position is in Covid-19 coverage.
But wait… Maybe you don’t have to pay for travel insurance!
Here are two sneaky ways to get “free” travel insurance 
1. Buy your ticket back with a credit card to (maybe) earn travel insurance.
Depending on the type of credit card you have, if you buy the return flight with that card, you may have a free basic travel insurance plan included in your purchase.
Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners have cards that can include this. However, you will have to contact the card provider or check the website to see if or not your card has this benefit and how it works.
If you are traveling to Europe (which I know you do not, since you are reading this article about traveling to the United States… but it is good to keep this in mind for the future!) this free basic insurance plan will be enough to cover your mandatory Schengen insurance.
But here’s one important thing to keep in mind: the plan your card offers you will be more of an international health insurance plan than a travel insurance plan.
That means two things. The first is that they will likely only cover emergency medical care (and also will not cover the necessary treatment for most sports or any type of “risky” activity).
And the second is that, unlike normal travel insurance, you will not have coverage or you can receive payment if you have delays in travel, loss of luggage, canceled flights or any other travel-related problems.
Also remember that this will not work if you are using miles to buy your ticket. And that the maximum insurance period of these types of credit cards is only 31 days. Therefore, if you are still traveling, you will have to buy a regular travel insurance policy to keep covered.
According to the reader of the blog Alex, if you have a Visa Platinum credit card and use the miles you purchased with this card (and then pay the taxes and fees of the ticket with this same card), you will be entitled to your worldwide travel insurance.
However, I recommend that you confirm this information with your credit card operator, as the same credit cards usually have different benefits based on the countries in which they are issued. Thanks for the information, Alex!
And thanks to a comment from the reader Ana Luisa, I learned that Visa Platinum insurance is usually valid for 60 days, and not just 30 like most other credit cards. But if your trip is longer than that, be sure to supplement the rest of your trip by purchasing a normal travel insurance policy. But at least you can save some money in those first 2 months
2. 2. Use your country of residence health insurance.
Before we go, I have one last potential option for you. And that’s checking with your health plan provider in your home country and see if they offer any international travel insurance options.
Since you are already insured with them, you can usually get cheap coverage (or even free!) Outside. Just be sure to check that the insurance covers the destinations you will travel to, as well as all the activities you plan to do.
3. Take the free CDAM (PI4 and BI2) to have free access to the health system in Portugal, Italy, or Cape Verde
The Certificate of Right to Medical Assistance (CDAM) is a document issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Health that allows you to have free access to the public health system of some countries abroad.
CDAM PI4 serves for Portugal and Cape Verde and CDAM BI2 for Italy.
To learn how to take CDAM and the necessary documents, take a look at this page of the Ministry of Health here.
A quick note about cruise travel insurance:
Someone recently contacted him asking if any of these travel insurance plans could be used for cruise travel, so I did some research.
And based on what I could find, both WorldNomads and WorldTrips will cover you on a cruise.
Worldtrips has confirmed with me by email that your Atlas plan will cover up to the ship’s medical evacuation if necessary, depending on the situation.
It seems that all travel insurance plans with WorldNomads will cover the cruises. Remember that there is an age limit of 66 years! For WorldTrips, there is no age limit!
I have not received confirmation from other companies.
Fraud alert! As I wrote above, both WorldNomads and WorldTrips can be purchased AFTER you start your journey. But if you do, be careful with possible fraud!
This does NOT mean that you can travel without travel insurance and acquire a policy only after you get sick or have an accident for coverage.
Insurers know that this is the kind of trick that people would try, so most companies have an “anti-fraud” clause. With this clause, you can only use your insurance policy 48 hours after purchase.
In other words, if you get very sick during the trip and want to buy travel insurance immediately to have coverage for your treatment… you will have to wait 48 hours until you can go to the hospital or doctor in order to qualify for the reimbursement of insurance. In addition, you would also have to prove to your insurance provider that you only got sick AFTER acquiring your policy.
If you have suffered an accident, you can use your insurance within this 48-hour window. But you can prove that your accident happened AFTER acquiring your plan.
That is, if you have a car or motorcycle accident, you can not get hurt or injure yourself, by an insurance policy, and then receive treatment 48 hours later so that it is covered by your insurance. Insurance companies are not stupid. If they notice that someone bought travel insurance and tried to use it soon after (even if the first 48 hours have passed), they will definitely investigate the situation to ensure that the person is not trying to fool them.
Can I use travel insurance while living abroad as an expatriate or immigrant?
If you are living abroad or traveling in a country for a short period, it may be good only with travel insurance.
But you are looking for more complete coverage (travel insurance usually covers only medical emergencies), whether you will live abroad for the long term or if you need proof of health insurance for immigration purposes, then what you really need is an international health insurance plan for expatriates or immigrants.
If you want to know more about the differences between travel insurance and international health insurance, see our article on the 3 best international health insurance for expatriates and immigrants.
Or, you can directly check the price with some of the insurers for expatriates and immigrants here:
Cigna
IMGlobal
Now Health International
Can I use my travel insurance during my exchange or while studying abroad?
In short, it depends! I recommend checking with your school or university first. But normally, if your course or program is less than 3 months old and you will only study with a tourist visa, then travel insurance is enough.
However, if you need a student visa, you will need a health insurance plan designed only for international students or exchanges.
This is especially true if you are going to the United States with a J1, J2 or F1 visa… or to Europe on a Schengen student visa.
If you are an international student and think you may need one of these special medical insurance plans, take a look at my page with The 3 best and cheapest health insurance for international students and exchanges to learn more.
Once again, you can directly check the price with some of the insurance companies for international students here:
IMGlobal
Cigna for International Students
Now Health International
Travel insurance and its coverage for terrorism
I received some comments both in the article in English and in Portuguese asking if travel insurance covers acts of terrorism.
I researched a bit and here’s what I found:
Although WorldTrip’s basic travel insurance plan does not cover terrorism, the Atlas Premium plan covers “treatment of injuries and illnesses related to an act of terrorism, to the limit set out in the benefits table and limits.” So yes, they seem to have terrorism coverage.
Which means that if you are traveling and have the misfortune of hurting yourself in a terrorist event, you must be covered if you have the WorldTrip Premium Atlas plan.
Not to mention that most WorldTrip plans include a “Crisis Response Coverage,” which will give you protection in the event of civil or political unrest, natural disasters, or other crises that travelers may encounter abroad. It even includes “expressed) crises, as it covers costs of response, redemption and delivery of personal belongings.
However, some countries are not covered by this “Cree Response” feature, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea (although in most of these countries, their regular travel insurance is still valid….only not the “crisis” part of the cover).
General tips to help you recover a travel insurance refund
All the travel insurance companies I have recommended above have a large network of hospitals, clinics and doctors. The best scenario is that you seek treatment from one of these network providers.
That way, you won’t have to pay a penny because the treatment bill goes straight to the insurer. (Unless the treatment is more expensive than the maximum value of your coverage.)
Therefore, if something happens (you get sick, you suffer an accident, etc.), it is always better to call as soon as possible for your travel insurance, so that he can indicate which doctor or network hospital should look for treatment.
Alternatively, if you are unable to reach a network provider, you will have to pay for treatment out of pocket and request reimbursement from the insurance company later.
But you know how it is.
Insurers – whether for cars, homes, health or travel in general – can be difficult to get paid. And it won’t give you your money unless all the documentation is correct.
In this case, here is a list of all the documents that travel insurers usually ask for when you make a claim to receive reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during the trip.
But first, some terms of insurance to understand:
making a claim: asking an insurer for reimbursement of medical expenses
Insurance company: the travel insurance company
“beneficiary” complainant – the insured person (you) who is requesting money/refund from the insurer
List of documents normally required by travel insurance policies when you request reimbursement of medical expenses (if you have been treated by an out-of-network provider):
- Copy of the national identity of the complainant (driver’s license or other identity issued by the state);
- Copy of the proof of residence (any current proof – from the last 3 months – with the name of the applicant). If you do not have, send a completed residence declaration, signed and with a recognized name by the insurance company;
- For minors, a declaration of residence must be completed, signed and recognized by the respective legal guardian (form provided by the insurer);
- Copy of proof of the complainant;
- Original registration information form, signed by the beneficiary (form provided by the insurer);
- Copy of the passport (identity page + page with stamps of entry and departure from the country where the accident occurred) or other documentation showing that the beneficiary was away from the usual domicile when the accident occurred (also known as your country of origin) – for example: air tickets (in fact, you must always keep your boarding pass until the end of the trip, not only for a possible claim but also to request your miles!);
- Presentation of the original medical report with a description of the procedures, provided by the health professional or medical centre with a clear indication of the diagnosis, clinical history and admission form, in the case of hospitalization;
- Original recipe (if the pharmacy still has the prescription, send your x-ray or document proving that you have taken the medicine in exchange for the prescription);
- Invoicing of medical procedures or receipt of the pharmacy with the prescribed medicines, corresponding to the quality and quantity of the prescription provided;
- Medical care report (explaining the reason, what happened and how was the treatment – both from the travel insurance team and from the health care staff), written by the beneficiary;
- a list of completed expenditure (form provided by the insurer);
- Your contact phone number, address and email;
- Proof of bank information (copy of the header of the bank statement, check or debit card).
And worst of all? You will probably have to send all of these documents physically by mail!
Yeah, I know. It is a huge pain. Therefore, it is actually much easier if you can seek treatment from a doctor who is inside your insurance company’s network. That way, you can skip all the wasted time and headaches preparing this paperwork.
However, if you really have no alternative, going through this refund process is not the end of the world.
With a little organization and making sure you have all these documents in order, your chances of successfully registering your complaint and getting your refund quickly are quite solid!
If you have ever had to make a complaint, tell us your experience and tips in the comments area below to help other readers.
To summarize, these are the best travel insurance companies for the United States:
- Insurance Promo
- Real Travel Insurance
- IMG Global
- World Nomads Travel Insurance
- WorldTrips
- Allianz Assistance / Mondial Travel
- Safety Wing
- VisitorsCoverage
- TravelInsurance.com
- AARDY
- InsureMy Trip
My final advice: Seriously, buy travel insurance before your trip! Or if you have forgotten and are already traveling, buy as soon as possible! Or if you have already purchased a policy and need to extend your policy (which both WorldNomads and WorldTrips allow), make sure to do this before your policy expires!
This way, you have the peace of mind that you are covered throughout your trip to the United States.
Now it’s your turn. What has been your experience with travel insurance? Have you ever had to use your policy? Which company did you use and how was the refund process? Or have you still had any questions about insurance travel in general?
Let me know in the comments area below, and I will get back to you!
Happy travel! (And I hope you never need to use the travel insurance plan you just bought!)
