You’re organizing a trip to the United States: you’ve booked your flight and found your accommodation, but there’s one last thing to do before departure: take out US travel insurance. In fact, medical expenses on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean are paid and particularly expensive. Leaving with a policy in your pocket will allow you to face the journey in absolute serenity.
USA: why health insurance matters
Taking out US travel insurance is important to protect yourself from possible inconveniences that can occur in the States, especially from a medical point of view.
The United States, in fact, have excellent facilities but their health system is exclusively paid for and with very high costs. So even the treatment of fairly trivial injuries, such as a sprained foot or broken wrist, can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars; that’s why it’s important to take out health insurance that includes 24-hour care and coverage of medical expenses.
The guarantees of the travel policy can also be extended to other risks, such as theft or loss of luggage, flight delay or cancellation, forced extension of the trip, and theft of electronic devices or cameras.
How to choose the best US travel insurance
The insurance must be chosen according to the type of trip and the length of stay. Generally, the companies offer three types of solutions, flexible based on the duration and coverage provided:
- Short-term stay (usually up to 15 days): provides for the most common guarantees, from medical assistance to cash advances in case of need. It is perfect for a simple holiday.
- Medium-term stay (up to 100 days): it is suitable not only for tourists but also for those who travel to the USA for study or work. Compared to the previous one, it includes greater coverage and provides for higher ceilings.
- Stays for work (over 100 days): against a rather high premium, it covers any risk, including any help to family members left at home.
When to insure
Travel insurance for the USA must be made before leaving. Usually, when booking through an agency in the all-inclusive packages, the travel policy of an affiliated company is also included.
How much does it cost to insure
The cost of travel insurance in the USA is subject to numerous variables: from the type and number of covers to the length of stay, from the maximum coverage to the deductible. The “minimum” policy (which, however, must never lack healthcare) can cost from 30 to 70 euros a week, the “maximum” one can go much further. Also, in this case, online comparators are a very valuable aid in choosing the most convenient travel insurance quote.
I want to rent a car in the USA: what should I do?
The United States is famous for coast-to-coast, so what to do if you want to rent a car to travel the famous Route 66? First of all, it is mandatory to take out car insurance, which is usually activated together with the rental agreement. At a minimum, your policy should contain LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) coverage, which covers damage to your car in the event of an accident, and LIS (Liability Insurance Supplement), for third-party claims. Just like in Europe, car insurance can be extended to other guarantees.
In the event of an unfortunate accident with a car rented in the USA, you must immediately contact the agency from which the car was rented, which will provide all the details on the procedure to follow. To request an ambulance in case of injuries, you must call the police on 911, while roadside assistance is always included in the rental price (unless expressly stated otherwise). Finally, to activate the car insurance taken out at the time of rental, a police report is required.
