USA Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for America is a worldwide policy that includes the United States, with medical limits high enough for American hospital bills. The FCDO says medical treatment in the US is expensive and there are no special arrangements for British visitors.

Which policy fits your trip to America?

The type of trip changes the extras you need from USA travel insurance. Find the row closest to your plans.

Why medical limits matter on travel insurance for America

Medical cover is the main reason to choose holiday insurance for the USA with care. The FCDO estimates that treating a stomach bug or infection in a US hospital could cost £150,000 or more without insurance. That allows for possible medical evacuation or repatriation (FCDO foreign travel insurance guidance, updated August 2024).

• A UK GHIC does not work in the USA, so there is no state healthcare to fall back on.
• Some hospitals ask for a deposit when you are admitted. Send that request to your insurer first.
• UK prescriptions are not valid in the US, according to the FCDO USA health page.
• Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the US, which matters for mountain trips.

ESTA, visas and entry checks for the USA

You need either an ESTA or a visa to enter or pass through the US, the FCDO says (FCDO USA entry requirements). Sort this out before you pay for extras you cannot get back.

• An approved ESTA does not promise entry. Border officers can still refuse you.
• Your passport must be valid for the whole length of your stay.
• You cannot get an ESTA if you have travelled to or been in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.
• Children aged 17 and under need their own ESTA or visa, and a consent letter if travelling with one parent or another adult.

If a document problem could stop the trip, buy your policy early and read the cancellation section, as cover only applies to the reasons it lists.

Driving and activities on a USA holiday

USA holiday insurance covers you, not the car, so motoring needs its own cover. The FCDO suggests checking what the hire company includes before you sign the rental agreement.

• Car hire excess cover can pay back the excess if the rental car is damaged or stolen.
• Helicopter tours, scuba diving and skiing may need an activity add-on, so list them when you get a quote.
• Theme park rides are part of an ordinary holiday, but check any limits on cover for injuries.
• Keep your insurer’s 24-hour assistance number with you on long drives through remote areas.

Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk, says: “For a US trip, check the medical limit and the country list first. Price comes after that.”

What you need for a USA quote

• Your travel dates and every state you plan to visit.
• Any stopovers in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
• Medical conditions for everyone travelling, including tests under investigation.
• Activities such as skiing, diving or a helicopter tour.
• Your total trip cost, for the cancellation limit.

Tiger.co.uk compares quotes from up to 15 travel insurance providers. Compare the prices, then check each policy includes the USA and has a medical limit you are comfortable with.

Does a GHIC work in the USA?

No. The NHS lists the places where a UK GHIC can be used, and the USA is not one of them. You pay for treatment there unless your travel insurance covers it.

What happens if a US hospital asks me for a deposit?

The FCDO says some US hospitals ask non-US residents for a deposit on admission. Send any request for money to your insurer first, and only pay the hospital if your insurer tells you to.

Compare travel insurance for the USA with Tiger.co.uk and make sure America is in your cover area. You can also go back to the travel insurance hub or read about backpacker travel insurance for longer trips. Taking a laptop or camera? Look at gadget insurance. Policies vary, so check the wording or ask the insurer.