Travel Insurance USA

People planning trips to the USA must do well to carefully compare and buy the best travel insurance for USA that suits their purpose of travel. For example, Senior Citizens traveling must ensure buying Senior Citizen Travel Insurance Plan to ensure hassle-free sojourn to the USA. Likewise, students travelling for admission in one of the prestigious universities in the USA must invest in one of the best Student Travel Insurance plans that provide for a worry free travel opportunities for a specified duration.

USA travel insurance plans provide comprehensive coverage against medical and non-medical emergencies. And that’s not all: these travel insurance plans are easily available online and often require no medical tests for travellers up to 85 years of age!

The United States of America is a potpourri of various cultures from worldwide and never fails to impress one and all with its astonishing range of world-class tourist hotspots. Quite expectedly, millions of tourists travel to this Land of Opportunities, every year.

Whether travelling for leisure or business, it makes sense to buy overseas travel insurance plan as it ensure comprehensive protection against unanticipated expenses and travel-related emergencies when travelling to a foreign country. Remember, the USA is an expensive destination and running into a medical or travel-related emergency when travelling to the country may easily make a dent in your savings. USA travel insurance plans offer a wide range of value-added benefits to help you make your trip an experience of a lifetime.

USA Travel Insurance Overview

Nevertheless, travelling to the USA means spring in your step and unlimited exposures to satisfy your itchy feet; you can’t deny the risks you may be exposed to when in the country. Here comes USA travel insurance into the picture, which help you protect your trip. Most importantly, while medical expenses are quite exorbitant in USA, a single hospitalisation can make a dent in your savings. USA ravel insurance plans available in India offer comprehensive emergency coverage while travelling.

Remember, travelling to the USA is all about exploring the exotic landscapes, extra-ordinary trails, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Statue of Liberty everything is overwhelming to restore an astounding experience. And international travel insurance helps you make this trip a delightful one without having to worry about the odds.

Fast Facts

Entry Essentials

The USA is a strict disciplinarian when it comes to entry essentials and stipulates intricate entry requirements for visa and passport. Those planning to travel from India to the USA must get well acquainted with the different aspects of visa and passport policies beforehand to ensure hassle-free trip to the USA.

• Passport Information - Travellers to the USA must ensure that they have a valid passport with at least 2 blank pages for the stamping. Also, it is important to ensure that the passport for valid for a period for 6 months beyond the intended stay in the USA.
• Visa Information - Those planning to travel from India to the USA need to obtain a valid visa beforehand. Travellers need to apply for different type of visa depending upon their purpose of travel to the USA. Here are the 2 most sought-after and most important visa types for the USA:
  • Business Visa (B1) - The B1 Visa is offered to those travelling for business meetings, conferences, attending of scientific, professional or educational conventions, etc. This visa is generally offered for a short period of time.
  • Tourist Visa (B2) - B2 Visa is offered to those travelling to the USA for tourism, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatments, etc. This visa is generally offered for a time period ranging between 1 year and 10 years. However, the maximum period of stay during one trip is limited to 6 months and multiple entries to the country are allowed.  

Here’s a list of other different types of Visas that travellers can apply for when travelling to the USA depending upon their purpose of travel:

Visa Procedure - In order to apply for visa, it makes sense to get acquainted with the different types of visas available for travelling to the USA. After selecting the suitable Visa type, you must complete the Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

Once you’re done filling the DS-160 form, pay the visa fee. After paying the visa fee, keep your receipt number and proceed to book your visa appointment. Create a profile for booking Visa appointment, login and schedule an appointment with Visa Application Centre and US Embassy or Consulate. Do well to carry the required documents and your proof of identity when going for your visa appointment.

Here is a list of locations of the US Embassy and Consulates in India:

3. Travel Insurance - Though it is not mandatory to buy a travel insurance plan when travelling to the USA, it makes sense to buy one as it helps you take care of any unforeseen expenses and travel-related emergencies. Typically, medical costs in the USA are much higher as compared to India and may easily dent your finances substantially in case you run into any medical problems while travelling to the USA. Here are some of the many benefits of travel insurance plans for people travelling to the USA:

*Data culled from TATA AIG Travel Guard policy brochure. The coverage may vary from insurer to insurer.

• Coverage for trip delays, cancellations and interruptions
• Coverage for immediate medical assistance and hospitalization
• Coverage for medical evacuation
• Coverage for loss of baggage and/or delayed baggage
• Coverage for missed flights
• Coverage for loss of passport and travel documents

Best Time to Visit USA

Typically, the USA witnesses a torrent of visitors throughout the year. However, Spring months between April and June make for the best time to visit the country. Spring months of April to June make for a great time for outdoor sightseeing, partaking in exciting adventure sports, indulging in shopping spree or diving headfirst into the festival mania of the country. Summer months of June to August also make for a good time to visit the country. Winter months are usually not too conducive for outdoor sightseeing and can be avoided. No matter what season do you choose to travel to the country, don’t forget to buy one of the best USA travel insurance plans as sudden change of weather may prove cumbersome resulting in uncalled for medical expenses. 

USA Transportation

All major cities in the USA are well connected via rail, road and air transport medium. Typically, air travel is the most common mode of travelling within the country. Rental cars and transcontinental buses make for some other popular and economical modes of transportation within the country. Hitchhiking is not permitted in most parts of the USA.

Here’s a list of 5 popular airports in the USA for those travelling from India:

List of International Airports in USA for Direct Flights from India

Except for a few direct flights that travel to the aforementioned international airports in the USA, all other flights from India to the USA are connecting flights with short/long layovers. A survey by Capital One reveals that one out of every 7 travellers miss their connecting flights. Missing connecting flights, especially when travelling to the USA, may prove to be a daunting experience. This is where travel insurance for USA comes to your rescue. With missed connection coverage provided by USA travel insurance plans, you can easily take another connecting flight, without having to pay for the travel changes.

But that’s not all: according to a report, number one reason for lost luggage is missed connection. In fact, nearly half of the luggage that is lost is because it was unable to make a transfer between connecting flights. If your checked bag gets lost or misplaced between connecting flights to the USA, you will left in a lurch without your essential items. So it makes sense to buy international travel insurance for the USA beforehand to ensure adequate coverage for loss or delayed baggage.

USA Weather

The USA is comparatively larger country as compared to India. Owing to the diverse geographical setting of the country, the weather pattern and climate varies dramatically depending upon the location within the country. Typically, there are 4 major seasons in the USA:

• Summer - June to August
• Fall - September to November
• Winter - December to February
• Spring - March to May

Top Tourist Spots in the USA

The USA is exceedingly rich when it comes to tourist delights and sightseeing opportunities. It is perhaps one country that actually inspires tourists to wander around. You may choose to take a walk down the memory lanes at one of the many historic edifices. Discover picturesque neighbourhoods and explore serene corners that continue to tempt travellers from all over the world. Here’s a list of just some of the many top tourist spots in the USA.

• Grand Canyon
• Niagara Falls
• Statue of Liberty
• White House
• Yellowstone National Park
• Walt Disney World Resort
• Times Square
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Waikiki
• Las Vegas Strip
• Boston Harbor Islands

Shopping Attractions in the USA

It surely won’t be an exaggeration to say that the USA is the hub for shopping. The country is a shopper’s paradise and attracts heaps of tourists from around the world who believe in retail therapy. Whether it is fashion, antiques, furniture, jewellery or accessories - the USA is guaranteed to provide each and every holiday maker a variety of options. Shopping here is quick and easy! Let’s check out some of the top shopping attractions in the USA: 

• Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
• Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas
• North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
• Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles
• M Street NW, Washington, D.C.
• Fillmore Street, San Francisco
• Newbury Street, Boston
• Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu
• King Street, Charleston
• Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Eating out In the USA

The USA is awash with superb and thrilling places to eat out, with a broad variety of every kind of food conceivable. Loads of modish locations and mammoth variety of admirable, mouth-watering menus provide nothing short of culinary nirvana. For those who like a touch a distinctiveness, there are numerous lunch or dinner cruises available. Here are just some of the many top dining attractions in the USA:

• Daniel - New York City
• Victoria & Albert’s - Orlando
• Charleston Grill - Charleston
• Alinea - Chicago
• Chef and the Farmer - Kinston
• Halls Chophouse - Charleston
• Geronimo - Santa Fe
• Mama’s Fish House - Paia
• Restaurant Gary Danko - San Francisco
• Merriman’s - Kapalua

Top Hotels in The USA

The USA is a popular tourist destination and this has ensured the presence of countless accommodation options across all categories. Hotels in the USA are relatively expensive, and most hotels in the USA do not provide refund upon cancellation, especially during the high travel season. Many travellers to the USA forgo travel insurance as they believe that it is a waste of money. On the contrary, travel insurance could be a lifesaver in the case of sudden trip cancellation to cover hotel costs. 

Here is a list of some of the top hotels in the USA:

• Ace Hotel, New Orleans
• Amangiri, Utah
• The Asbury, New Jersey
• The Chequit, New York
• Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago
• Cliff House, Maine
• Colony Hotel, Florida
• The Gramercy Park Hotel, New York
• Hotel Emma, Texas
• Palace Hotel San Francisco

Things to Do:

The Unites States of America promises something to every traveller from India, be it a culture vulture, a food fanatic, a shopping enthusiast, or an adventure seeker. From the glittering skyscrapers of the New York city to the rustic enigma of the Grand Canyon, the USA packs in everything and much more to bewitch all and sundry. Here’s a list of just some of the many must-have experiences for those travelling to the USA: 

• Spend a day at a theme park - The United States of America is replete with theme parks that promise a day full of fun and frolics. Disneyland and Universal Studios are two of the most famous theme parks located in California and Orlando.
• Try out some mouth-watering cuisines - From street food to Michelin-starred dining, the USA is home to some of the world’s best restaurants and eateries. Whatever your dining style, the USA will leave you spoilt for choices with its diverse flavours and tastes.
• Get the first-hand Hollywood experience - Hollywood is one of the biggest attractions in the USA and a large number of tourists from across the globe throng Los Angeles to breathe the same air as their favourite Hollywood actors. It is a must-have experience for anyone travelling to the USA.
• Gamble the day out - With some of the world’s best casinos, Las Vegas invites people from worldwide to spend a day or two betting tokens on BlackJack, roulettes, or the slot machines.
• Go surfing - Lastly, it’s difficult not to talk to surfing in Hawaii when talking about the must-have experiences in the USA. And Hawaii doesn’t just offer great surfing; it also offers parasailing, hiking, helicopter tours and much more. A lot of USA travel insurance plans cover adventure sports.

These are just some of the many must-have experiences for those travelling to the USA from India. Golden Gate Bridge, Times Square, and Grand Canyon are among some other exciting pursuits in the USA. 

Top Hospitals in the USA

The USA is home to some of the best hospitals and medical facilities in the world. Quite obviously, a large number of patients from India travel to the USA for medical treatment. And this figure has only been increasing over the years. Here’s a list of some of the top hospitals in the USA: 

Typical Costs

• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Cleveland Clinic
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Mount Sinai Hospital
• UCSF Medical Center
• Hospital for Special Surgery
• Mclean Hospital
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell

Typical Medical Costs in the USA

Average cost of medical treatment in the USA is costly. If you get unwell during your trip to the USA and need emergency care, you’ll need to spend a fortune. An ambulance to drop you to a hospital will cost around $400. If tests are required, you would need to spend an additional $100-$500. In case you’re advised hospital stay, you will need to shell out $1,000-$5000 from your pocket. Add to this this cost of medicines, and you’ll realize that you may end up losing over $7,000 or more. That’s why you must do well to buy the best overseas travel insurance plan. Remember, USA travel insurance plans provide you coverage for medical expenses while on trip to the country.

Local law and Etiquette in the USA

• Buying/Drinking Age - The average buying/drinking age in the USA is 21. You may be required to furnish proper ID in order to buy or be served alcohol.
• Smoking Age - The legal smoking age in most states in the USA is 18 years. Be advised that you may be required to furnish id proof in order to buy cigarettes. Remember, smoking is banned in all indoor public places tnhroughout the country, including bars, clubs and restaurants.
• Emergency Contact- The nationwide emergency number in the USA is 911.

Money Saving Tips to USA Travellers

• Live in Budget Hostels/Dorms - Hotels in the USA are too pricey and that is why it makes sense for budget travellers to look for rooms in one of the many budget hotels or dorms.
• Eating out - Like hotels, most restaurants in the USA too are pricey. Therefore, students and budget travellers looking to save money must choose to eat at local eateries.
• Transportation - In most American cities, Uber and Lyft are way cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around. You may even hop aboard local buses if you aren’t looking to pay for hefty taxi fares.
• Staying fit in the USA- Medical expenses are too steep in the USA and that’s why it makes sense for students and budget travellers to take care of their health at all times. In addition, travellers must also ensure buying an international travel insurance plan to ensure adequate coverage for emergency medical expenses when travelling to the USA.

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