The USA is the land of unlimited possibilities. And also of sky-high healthcare costs. A hospital stay in the US can easily cost CHF 8,000 – per day. For that reason, international health insurance is essential on any US trip. We have summarised the three most important points for you.
Guide
Health insurance for US travel. Three tips for your next trip.
Why is international health insurance important in the US?
The US has the most expensive healthcare system in the world. Why is that the case? Chronic illnesses, expensive medications and high administration costs are just some of the reasons.
- Litigation: Americans are known for taking others to court, frequently and often – and that includes doctors. The doctors therefore have to protect themselves against litigation by taking out expensive liability insurance policies. The costs of this are often passed on to patients.
- Research and development: A lot of money is invested in researching and developing medicines and medical devices. This helps to prevent lawsuits being brought against the manufacturers, who often have to pay out large sums in compensation if the treatment does not work as planned.
- No market regulation: Unlike in other countries, there is no market regulation for healthcare costs in the US. Doctors are free to charge what they want for treatments. Which is why an appendix operation, for example, can easily cost CHF 40,000 – seven times more than in Switzerland!
If you have an accident or fall ill during your trip to the States, your basic health insurance will only cover part of the sky-high costs. We therefore recommend, as a matter of urgency, that you take out travel health insurance with international cover.
Good to know:
Most health insurers will only pay twice as much as the same treatment would cost in Switzerland. In the case of the aforementioned appendix surgery, for example, you would end up having to pay almost CHF 30,000 yourself without international health insurance.
What do I have to pay attention to when taking out international health insurance for the US?
There are a few things to bear in mind with regard to international health insurance. Pay attention to the scope of validity and the sum insured, for example. This way, you can ensure that your dream holiday in the US does not turn into a financial nightmare.
What does an international health insurance policy have to cover?
If you have to go into hospital during your holiday in the US, it can very quickly become very expensive.
- It is therefore crucial that the international health insurance pays all medical expenses in full. Unlimited cover is recommended, if possible.
- Transportation costs should also be covered – including the return flight to Switzerland.
- Furthermore, it is important for travel to the US that the scope of the travel health insurance is worldwide and not just Europe-wide.
How can I take out travel health insurance for the US?
Simply ask your health insurer whether they offer international health insurance for the US. International cover is included in many supplementary insurance policies. If you have travel insurance, some providers will enable you to include an additional component for illness and accident. In any case it is important to clarify exactly which benefits are covered. Check your policy or ask for advice from your insurer.
Good to know:
What if you suffer a medical emergency on your US trip but do not have international health insurance? Contact your health insurer as quickly as possible. They will tell you what to do next, refer you to local specialists if necessary and check which costs are covered – thus ensuring that you do not suffer any nasty surprises.
Travel insurance, travel health insurance, health insurance – what is the difference?
Travel insurance is intended for general incidents while you are travelling and will cover the costs if you have to cancel your trip, for example. You can also add luggage insurance to protect you against the loss of luggage items if you want.
Medical expenses – i.e. costs of emergency inpatient and outpatient treatment abroad – are generally not covered. This is where travel health insurance or international health insurance comes in. This supplementary insurance policy can fill any gaps in the cover provided by your compulsory health insurance.
Health insurance in Switzerland
Everyone who lives in Switzerland needs health insurance. Basic insurance is compulsory and covers the costs of medical treatment and medicines. You can also take out optional supplementary insurance policies – covering, for instance, stays in a one-bed room in hospital or gym membership costs.
Don't have any health insurance in Switzerland yet? Or would you like to change your basic or supplementary insurance? You can do this easily with online health insurance from Sanitas, for example. Sanitas is one of our partner health insurers. It is among the largest health insurers in Switzerland and offers a multitude of suitable products to meet your needs – some of which include worldwide medical expenses cover for your next trip to the US.
Travel insurance for minor incidents
Minor incidents can always occur on a trip. For example, you might miss your flight, or you might not be able to set off at all. Travel insurance offers cover in both cases. Online travel insurance from ELVIA can be adapted to your needs easily and conveniently – offering Europe-wide or worldwide cover and a range of flexible supplementary components.
Good to know:
Spending a semester abroad or going on a language stay in another country? If you have to come home early due to illness or accident, your travel insurance will organise your return journey and reimburse the costs to you.
Conclusion
- Travel health insurance is essential on every trip to the US.
- This supplementary insurance policy fills gaps in your compulsory health insurance abroad and protects you against incurring high costs.
- For the US, it is important that the international cover is valid worldwide and the sum insured is unlimited.
- You can take out travel health insurance either via your health insurer or via your travel insurance provider.
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