Coronavirus Coverage in Visitors Insurance

Covid-19 Visitors Insurance Coverage

Popular Visitors Insurance Plans Covering Coronavirus

What visitor insurance plans can cover Coronavirus?

There are many visitor insurance plans available in the US market. Many of them may have exclusions related to CDC travel warnings and/or US Department of State travel warnings in the future, just as they have in the past. Therefore, those plans would not cover any medical expenses related to COVID-19 treatment or testing.

However, many plans can cover coronavirus testing or treatment just like any other new medical condition that occurs after the effective date of the policy.  

FAQs About Coronavirus Coverage in Visitors Insurance

I looked through the certificate wording for the above listed plans and it does not list Coronavirus or COVID-19 as the covered expense. Are you sure?

Is COVID-19 testing or vaccination covered?

Many visitors insurance plans don’t provide any COVID-19 coverage. Among the plans that do listed above, testing is covered only if it is a new illness after the effective date of the policy, it is medically necessary, and a physician prescribes it. These plans do not cover COVID-19 vaccination costs.

My parents are preparing to return to their home country. However, their government is requiring a negative result of the COVID-19 test. Is that covered?

No. This is not something that would be covered by visitors insurance. 

I had COVID-19 symptoms. A physician prescribed the test and it came back negative. Is that covered?

As long as you purchased a visitor health insurance plan that covers COVID-19 and you contracted it after the effective date of the policy, the cost of the test would be covered even if it came back negative, as the physician decided it was medically necessary.

I purchased travel insurance from my home country and it has expired. Can I purchase additional insurance from you?

Yes. You can do that even if you are already in the US. Additionally, the next time you are planning to visit the US, consider purchasing it again from us, as most of the travel medical insurance plans and visitor health insurance plans we have available are extendable.

My parents brought enough prescription medication for their planned stay of four months. If new travel restrictions are put in place and they are unable to return home, are their medication refills covered?

No. Most visitors insurance plans are not meant to cover the routine maintenance of pre-existing conditions. They generally cover any new medical conditions, injuries or accidents that occur after the effective date of the policy. Additionally, some of visitor health insurance plans may also cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions, which may be an emergency that occurs after the effective date of the policy where you need treatment within the next 24 hours. However, routine expenses related to pre-existing conditions are not typically covered by visitors insurance.

In this situation, the only option your parent would have would be to make an appointment with a physician in the USA and receive a new prescription for the medication from them. Unfortunately, visitor health insurance cannot cover the cost of the doctor's visit or the new prescription.

Can the insurance company make an exception to cover prescription refill for my medication due to unavoidable circumstances?

Unfortunately, USA visitor insurance simply does not cover these types of expenses. 

Can the insurance company make an exception to cover the trip delay and flight cancellations due to COVID-19 travel restrictions?

Each insurance plans will pay for the eligible expenses according to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. There are not specific exceptions. Please read the terms and conditions of any visitor health insurance policy thoroughly prior to purchasing it. 

My country has arranged repatriation flights. However, I would have to pay again and my existing ticket with the same or different airline would not work. Is that covered by visitors insurance?

Unfortunately, visitor health insurance does not cover these types of expenses.

I have a visitors insurance plan that can cover COVID-19. If I need to be put on a ventilator, would that be covered?

If it is an eligible claim where COVID-19 is covered, whatever treatment is medically necessary would be covered by your visitors insurance as per the terms and conditions of the policy.

I feel perfectly fine, but if I submit for COVID-19 testing and the results are positive would the testing and treatment be covered?

No, voluntary testing is not covered.

I have medical problems completely unrelated to COVID-19. If I go to the hospital and they want to do COVID-19 testing will that be covered?

Visitor health insurance will cover any eligible medically necessary medical procedures per the terms and conditions of the policy you have purchased. If the test is ordered by a medical professional, it would be deemed medically necessary. 

Are antibody tests covered?

Antibody tests are not covered. 

If COVID-19 causes complications with pre-existing conditions, how will that be treated?

It will be treated as any other illness. COVID-19 does not negate the usual coverage conditions that must be met for pre-existing conditions or acute onset of pre-existing condition coverage.