The United States has some of the highest healthcare costs in the world.1 Visitor insurance for parents can help you avoid high out-of-pocket expenses and provide necessary medical care if you have parents visiting from another country. 

Visitor insurance covers new and unexpected illnesses and injuries for non-U.S. citizens visiting the United States for an extended time. In this guide, you’ll learn how visitor insurance works, what it covers, and how to buy it.

What is visitor medical insurance?

Visitor insurance is a temporary medical insurance policy that covers medical costs for non-citizens visiting the U.S. from a foreign country. It protects against unexpected or emergency medical situations, injuries, and certain medical treatments. Sometimes, it also covers the acute onset of pre-existing conditions.3

While a visit to the U.S. may include travel coverage, visitor insurance differs from traditional travel insurance policies, which typically cover travelers in case of a delay or cancellation.

Not all insurance companies offer visitor insurance. Instead, this type of policy is often available through insurance companies specializing in medical insurance for travelers or travel insurance. Insurers may refer to visitor insurance as travel medical insurance or visitor health insurance, but they’re all the same policy type.

Visitor medical insurance vs. travel medical insurance

It’s important to understand the difference between travel medical insurance and visitor insurance. Visitor insurance is for people visiting the U.S. Travel medical insurance is for Americans traveling outside the country.

For example, if your parents are visiting you in Boston from India, you’ll need to buy visitor medical insurance. If your parents from Boston are flying to visit friends in Brazil, you’ll want to get them travel medical insurance.

Types of visitor insurance for parents

Visitor insurance policies can be fixed-benefit or comprehensive.

Fixed-benefit policies cap the payout amount, and you’ll be responsible for any expenses that exceed the cap. They’re generally cheaper than comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive plans offer full insurance coverage up to the policy’s maximum. Because they offer more protection, they tend to cost more.

What visitor insurance for parents covers

Specific coverage included with visitor insurance for parents depends on your policy. These are common coverages included with most visitor insurance policies:

• Medical: Most policies cover eligible new illnesses and injuries sustained while visiting. But visitor health insurance plans don’t cover regular doctor’s visits and treatment of ongoing medical conditions.

• Prescription medications: Visitor insurance policies cover prescription medications. Pharmacies may require you to pay up front and submit a claim with your insurance.

• PPO network: Many visitor insurance plans use a PPO network. They may cover a higher percentage of medical costs when you use a preferred medical provider for reimbursement.

• Emergency service: Coverage may include emergency medical procedures, emergency room and hospital visits, hospital room and board, laboratory tests, X-rays, and other emergency services and supplies.

• Pre-existing conditions: Some comprehensive coverage plans include the acute onset of pre-existing medical conditions, but they aren’t always included.

• Dental: Visitor insurance policies typically only cover dental emergencies and acute onset of pre-existing conditions — not regular checkups.

• Emergency medical evacuation: This coverage provides evacuation to an eligible nearby medical facility, including transportation costs.

• Repatriation: Coverage may include repatriation of remains, which is the transportation of the insured person’s deceased body back to their home country. In some cases, this requires a separate add-on policy.

• Accidental death: Some comprehensive plans cover accidental death and dismemberment.

• COVID-19: Some visitor insurance policies cover related medical expenses if you contract COVID-19 after the policy start date.

What visitor insurance for parents won’t cover

Like all insurance plans, visitor medical insurance doesn’t cover everything. It typically won’t pay for routine checkups, eye exams, vaccinations, or dental checkups.

Visitor insurance usually won’t cover regular prescriptions either, although it can reimburse you for medications for new injuries or illnesses. It’s a good idea for your parents to bring any medications they routinely take with them and to have enough for their entire visit.

How visitor insurance for parents works

You typically purchase a visitor insurance policy before you travel from a foreign country, but you can still get coverage if you’re already in the U.S. Visitor health insurance coverage starts as early as the day after applying with an insurance company. Policies typically range from five days to a full year. Some insurers allow you to extend or cancel your policy under certain conditions.4

Like other insurance types, visitor insurance is there to help, if needed, for new and unexpected illnesses and injuries while traveling. It doesn’t extend to routine medical treatments, like regular doctor’s visits, eye exams, vaccines, or dental checkups.5

Visitor insurance is considered secondary coverage, meaning it doesn’t kick in until after filing a claim through your primary medical insurance provider. Also, visitor health insurance may cover a higher percentage of medical bill costs when you use providers within the insurance company’s PPO network.

Coverage policies and procedures may vary between insurance companies. Generally, there are no copays involved with visitor health insurance, but some companies may charge one. Your policy may include co-insurance, which requires you to cover a specific percentage of medical costs. 

Medical providers may work with the insurance company or require payment up front for medical costs. In that case, parents must file a claim through the insurance company to get reimbursed for those out-of-pocket medical costs.

Types of visitors travel insurance for parents

No one travel insurance plan will be best for all parents visiting the U.S. But certain types of visitor insurance can be especially beneficial for seniors.

• Fixed-cost: Seniors who are in good health and want to save on visitor insurance may find a fixed-cost plan to be a good fit. These plans are generally less expensive than comprehensive plans and provide coverage for unexpected illnesses or injuries.

• Low- or no-deductible: Just like a health insurance plan, visitor insurance can have deductibles. Older travelers looking for the lowest out-of-pocket costs should consider a plan that offers a low or even no deductible. Just keep in mind that the lower the deductible, the higher the total cost is likely to be.

• Pre-existing condition waiver: Some plans offer waivers that allow your policy to cover pre-existing conditions. You’ll typically need to meet certain purchase requirements in order to qualify for this type of coverage.

• High-limit plan: Healthcare in the U.S. is very expensive. Visiting parents who want to cover most or all of their potential emergency medical costs can consider a high-limit plan. Some insurers offer plans with limits as high as $2 million.

• Dental/vision rider: Most visitor insurance plans don’t cover dental or vision care. But some comprehensive policies may offer a rider that covers certain dental or vision needs.

• Repatriation/return to home country: If an accident or sudden illness requires you to return to your home country for further care, this type of rider can help cover your transportation costs.