One of the most frequently asked questions from Danish travelers planning to visit the US is whether travel insurance is required to enter the country. Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travelers have started to believe that travel insurance may be mandatory.
That is not the case. The short answer is that it’s not mandatory for tourists traveling on an ESTA or a B1/B2 visa to prove they have a travel insurance package. As such, there are currently no US travel insurance requirements for tourists.
This is one of the biggest differences with Schengen countries, as the Schengen visa requires visitors to have travel insurance when they enter Europe.
Nonetheless, travel insurance is essential to your trip to the US, and it’s one of the first things you should look into when you start planning your trip. Why is that? It’s simple: healthcare in the United States is mostly private. You’ll seldom encounter state healthcare facilities where treatment is free. In fact, even for US citizens and residents, health insurance is vital, and they must be able to provide it year-round.
That’s why a comprehensive travel insurance package is a must for visitors to the US: your home insurance will likely not cover expenses in the US, nor will the US government provide free healthcare to you as a tourist. Therefore, choosing the right travel insurance for you as a Danish traveler is key.
Moreover, you will want travel insurance because healthcare in America is very expensive. Routine visits to the emergency room can be north of $2000. It’s wise to accept that during an international trip, you may have to face the unexpected, and not having coverage could affect your finances significantly.
What is covered by travel insurance to the US?
A policy of insurance that covers travel to the USA should provide the same protection as a European or Worldwide one (excluding the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean).
It’s wise to search for policies that offer generous coverage because of the potential higher costs involved if you need medical treatment or cancel your trip.
You should be aware of the following types of protection:
- Cancellation and curtailment cover you in the event that you need to cancel or return to your holiday early because of illness or injury.
- Medical treatment: This covers emergency medical care while you are away as well as repatriation back to the UK if necessary
- You are covered for disruptions and delays if your flight is canceled.
- You can get replacement costs for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage. However, you might need extra coverage for more expensive items.
- Personal and legal liability coverage. Which protects you against any legal costs arising from an incident while you are in the USA.
You should also make sure that they cover for activities such as skiing, hiking, and scuba diving.
What is not covered by travel insurance in the USA?
Like all types of travel insurance, policies that cover trips to the USA won’t pay if the your foreign affairs office is issuing a warning of not traveling to the country.
It’s also unlikely that you’ll be able make a claim if there’s been civil unrest, terrorist acts, or drunkenness.
Because most insurance policies do not cover claims. For instances where you break the law in the destination area, it is worth learning about the various areas in the USA that you are planning to visit.
There are many laws that vary from one state to the next, so be sure you understand what you can and cannot do in each.
You will likely need separate insurance if you plan to take a road trip. This will cover road accidents and damage to your vehicle.
What is the cost of travel insurance in the USA?
Travel insurance is expensive in the USA. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to save money by comparing different types of policies.
Like other types of travel insurance, the cost of your coverage for the USA can affect factors such as:
- Your age: The older you are, the more expensive your travel insurance will be.
- Your medical history: A pre-existing condition could increase the cost of coverage, especially for trips to the USA.
- Your planned activities: You’ll need extra coverage for sports like snowboarding.
- Your trip duration: If choosing a single-trip policy, travel insurance can cover trips of up to 31 days by an annual policy.
After you have your travel insurance in place, you will need to pay the fee for an ESTA. This is a type of electronic visa that you can apply for online and that you should receive within 72 hours.
Learn About ESTA Application Denmark | Learn About USA ESTA | Learn About ESTA | Learn About ESTA Visa Waiver Program