USA travel insurance: the essential guide to worry-free travel

Travelling to the USA is a dream come true: wide open spaces, mythical cities, national parks… But it’s also one of the countries with the highest medical costs in the world. A simple visit to the emergency room can exceed €1,000, and hospitalization can cost several tens of thousands of euros. As a result, for a successful trip across the Atlantic, USA travel insurance is not an option, but an absolute must.
In this article, find out everything you need to know to choose the right insurance for your stay in the USA.

Why is travel insurance essential in the U.S.?

Unlike France, the United States has no universal public healthcare system. Care is billed at full price, and it’s common for facilities to ask for a guarantee of payment before accepting patients. Without travel insurance, you risk :

very high medical costs ;
a refusal of coverage in the absence of a guarantee ;
a huge debt in the event of an accident or hospitalization;
no repatriation if the situation requires an early return.

The right travel insurance protects you financially… and saves you major stress in the event of the unexpected.

Essential coverage for a trip to the United States

When choosing travel insurance for the USA, check that the following coverages are included.

1. High medical costs

This is the most important benefit. Opt for coverage of at least €300,000, ideally around €500,000 to €1 million to cover hospitalization, consultations, medication and emergencies.

2. Assistance and repatriation

In the event of serious illness, accident or inability to continue your trip, repatriation can be very expensive. Insurance must cover the entire procedure.

3. Civil liability abroad

It covers property damage or bodily injury you may cause to a third party. In the USA, litigation can be very costly, so it’s best to be protected.

4. Luggage insurance

This covers loss, theft or damage to your luggage. This can be a handy way to get reimbursed if your luggage disappears during a flight or transfer.

5. Cancellation guarantee

This guarantee is optional, but can be useful if you’ve booked an expensive trip. It covers serious unforeseen events: illness, accident, professional reasons…

Credit card insurance or dedicated insurance: what should you choose for the USA?

If you have a premium bank card (such as Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold), travel insurance is already included in your package. While this coverage may be sufficient for certain countries, it is not recommended for travel to the USA.

Credit card insurance

Premium bank cards already include travel insurance in their cover. They generally offer basic coverage, but this is often insufficient for a stay in the USA because :

the ceilings are too low for the United States;
exclusions are frequent;
obligation to have paid for the trip with the card;
no personalized support.

Dedicated travel insurance: what's recommended

Dedicated travel insurance is the best option for worry-free travel to the United States. Comprehensive and tailor-made, it offers :

high coverage limits ;
24/7 assistance;
faster care ;
fewer exclusions.

How to choose the best travel insurance for the United States?

The United States has an extremely expensive healthcare system. To be properly protected, it’s essential to compare offers carefully and check several key criteria. This table summarizes the elements you need to analyze to make the right choice for your stay.

Criteria	Why is it important?	What to check in concrete terms
Health coverage ceiling	Medical expenses are extremely high in the USA (a simple x-ray can cost several hundred dollars).	Choose a minimum of €300,000, ideally €500,000 to €1 million.
Policy exclusions	Some insurance policies exclude sports, pre-existing illnesses or accidents related to certain activities.	Read the exclusions line by line: water sports, trekking, pregnancy, professional activities, etc.
Advance payment of medical expenses	Most American hospitals require immediate payment before treatment.	Check whether your insurance company will advance payment without waiting for your return to France.
Refund times	Some insurers reimburse quickly, while others take several weeks.	A clear timeframe is preferable: 10 to 15 days maximum.
24/7 French-speaking assistance	In the event of a medical emergency, being able to explain the situation in French is a real plus.	Make sure that the assistance service can be reached at any time, from the USA, and in French.
Prior call required	Some insurances require you to call before going to the emergency room, otherwise coverage may be reduced.	Check whether a prior call is required, and in what cases (accident, consultation, hospitalization…).
Repatriation and early return	Repatriation from the United States can cost tens of thousands of euros.	Check the conditions for repatriation, early return and logistical support.
Travel documents	Hospitals often ask for written proof of your coverage.	Print out your contract + download it to your phone before you leave.

Practical advice before setting off for the United States

Good preparation avoids many complications once on site.

Here are the essential reflexes before taking off:

Take along a hard copy of your travel insurance: in the event of battery or connection problems, you’ll always have valid proof on hand. American hospitals are quick to ask for an official document.
Download your insurance documents to your phone: drag and drop them into an offline folder or into a dedicated application. It’s the fastest way to access your coverage in an emergency.
Save emergency numbers to your favorites: medical assistance, international insurance number, local contact number. In stressful situations, saving time makes all the difference.
Keep a bank card available for security deposits: even if your insurance covers the cost, some establishments may ask for a bank imprint as a precaution.
Check that your coverage is valid in all U.S. destinations: Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Some insurances cover automatically, others require an option.
Inform your family and friends of the name of your insurance company and how to proceed: useful if a third party needs to contact you on your behalf.

These simple precautions will allow you to travel with a light mind and be perfectly prepared should the unexpected occur.

Travel insurance + local connection = the perfect combo for a worry-free trip to the USA

Good travel insurance is the best way to enjoy the United States without fear of extremely high medical costs. But to be able to contact your assistance rapidly, receive medical documents or access your policy information, it’s also important to have a reliable Internet connection on site.

That’s why many travelers opt for a SIM card or eSIM card during their stay in the USA: it enables them to use Google Maps, call emergency assistance, or send documents without depending on WiFi. You can find out which options are right for your stay directly at SIM USA, with simple, practical packages for staying connected anywhere in the USA.