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Visitor Insurance: Comprehensive vs. Fixed Benefit Plans

Comprehensive vs. Fixed Benefit Visitor Insurance Plans

VISOA.com offers a wide choice of visitors insurance, visitor health insurance, or visitor medical insurance plans from top-rated providers. Quote, compare, review, and buy the best travel medical insurance coverage instantly online – no proof of health check-up is required, no need to furnish medical record paperwork.

Visitors Insurance Types - Understanding How They Work

If you live outside the United States, you’re not a U.S. resident or citizen, and you and/or your parents/relatives are planning a trip to the USA,  understand the two broad types of visitors insurance plans is important. The biggest difference between them is how benefits for medical treatment are paid — with comprehensive coverage plans or with fixed benefit or scheduled benefit plans — in the event of the insured person become sick (illness) or hurt (injury) while traveling in America. This is very important to understand as because it directly determines the premium cost you pay to to purchase the visitors coverage and also the the level of covered benefits offered by the plan purchased.

When it comes to visitor insurance for travel to the United States, there are two main types of plans – comprehensive coverage and fixed/limited benefit coverage. Here are the key differences between them:

Comprehensive Coverage Plans

  • Provide more extensive medical coverage up to the policy maximum
  • Pay a percentage of medical costs after the deductible is met (e.g. 80% covered by insurance, 20% coinsurance paid by insured)
  • Usually have a PPO network of doctors/hospitals for lower negotiated rates
  • Cover a wider range of services like doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency medical evacuation, etc.
  • More expensive premiums but lower out-of-pocket risk
  • Recommended for higher risk travelers, parents visiting, or those wanting maximum coverage

Fixed/Limited/Scheduled Benefit Plans

  • Provide fixed basic, limited, scheduled or restricted medical coverage benefits
  • Pay a pre-determined fixed amount for each type of medical service (e.g. $500 for an ER visit, $100 for a doctor visit, etc.)
  • No PPO network, so medical providers can charge any amount
  • Cover limited services like hospitalization, accidents, acute onset of pre-existing conditions (limited)
  • Lower premium costs to purchase policy, but higher potential out-of-pocket costs during use
  • Suitable for younger, healthier travelers on a tight budget looking for basic coverage

The main trade-off is the premium cost amount vs coverage benefits offered. Comprehensive visitor health insurance plans cost more upfront but protect you better against high medical bills. Fixed benefit visitor medical insurance plans are cheaper but cap the coverage amounts, leaving you exposed to out-of-pocket costs for major medical events. For most visitors to the US, especially those over 50 years of age or with pre-existing medical conditions or other health concerns, comprehensive coverage is highly recommended to avoid potentially avoiding out-of-pocket medical bills for emergency care expenses. But for short trips by young, healthy individuals, a fixed benefit plan can provide basic coverage at a much lower cost.

Advantages of Comprehensive Plan Over Fixed Benefit Plan

The main advantages of choosing a comprehensive visitor insurance plan over a fixed/limited/scheduled benefit plan are:

  • More extensive medical coverage: Comprehensive plans cover a higher percentage of medical costs up to the policy maximum, while fixed benefit plans have pre-defined limits for each type of medical service (e.g. $500 for an ER visit). This leaves you exposed to potentially high out-of-pocket costs with fixed plans.
  • Lower out-of-pocket risk: With comprehensive plans, your maximum out-of-pocket expense is typically just the deductible and coinsurance amounts. Fixed plans require paying any costs exceeding the fixed benefit amounts.
  • Access to PPO networks: Comprehensive plans provide access to a network of doctors/hospitals with pre-negotiated rates, lowering your costs. Fixed plans have no network, so providers can charge any amount.
  • One-time deductible: With comprehensive plans, you pay the deductible only once per policy period, even if you need multiple treatments. Fixed plans have a deductible for each illness/injury.
  • Travel benefits included: Many comprehensive plans bundle travel benefits like trip cancellation, baggage loss, etc. which are usually not included in fixed benefit plans.
  • Better coverage for pre-existing conditions: Comprehensive plans often cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions to some extent, while fixed plans provide very limited coverage for pre-existing illnesses.

Comprehensive plans offer significantly higher coverage limits, lower financial risk, and more benefits compared to fixed benefit plans, making them the recommended choice for most visitors despite being more expensive upfront. Comprehensive visitor insurance plans offer superior financial protection against the risks of high medical costs in case of a serious injury or illness compared to fixed/limited benefit plans.

Here are the key ways comprehensive plans safeguard against financial risks:

  • Higher coverage limits: Comprehensive plans provide much higher medical coverage limits, typically up to $100,000 or more. This protects you from the massive costs of hospitalization, surgery, or treatment for major medical events.
  • Percentage-based coverage: Instead of fixed benefit amounts, comprehensive plans cover a percentage (e.g. 80-100%) of actual medical expenses after the deductible. This ensures your out-of-pocket costs remain limited even for expensive treatments.
  • Access to PPO networks: Comprehensive plans give access to preferred provider networks with pre-negotiated lower rates for medical services. This helps control costs compared to out-of-network providers.
  • One-time deductible: You only pay the deductible once per policy period, even if multiple treatments are needed for the same illness/injury. Fixed plans have per-incident deductibles.
  • Coverage for pre-existing conditions: Many comprehensive plans provide at least limited coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions, protecting you financially if a pre-existing illness is exacerbated.
  • Additional benefits: Comprehensive plans often bundle useful benefits like emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, travel delay coverage etc. protecting you financially beyond just medical expenses.

The higher limits, cost-sharing model, provider networks, and bundled benefits of comprehensive visitor plans significantly reduce your financial exposure and out-of-pocket risk in the event of a major medical emergency during your travels. This financial risk protection makes comprehensive coverage the recommended choice for most visitors.

Best Visitors Insurance USA – Top-Rated Comprehensive Plans

Review and buy the best visitor insurance plans for visiting USA, featuring the most popular plans and offering a wide choice of featured benefits or top-rated comprehensive visitors insurance coverage at affordable premiums.
Policies that include coverage for the global COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease pandemic are marked: COVID-19 

Atlas America

Popular Plan for USA Visitors  COVID-19 

Popular plan includes acute-onset of pre-existing condition coverage for ages below 80 years. For ages 65-79 years, maximum coverage limited to $50K or $100K USD.

Brochure →        Review

Patriot America Plus

Top Plan for Visitors to the USA  COVID-19 

Excellent policy for visitors to USA, has sudden relapse with acute-onset pre-existing condition benefits for ages below 70 years.

Brochure →        Review

Safe Travels USA Comprehensive

Plan for Travel to USA or Intl.  COVID-19 

Comprehensive plan for visiting USA or intl. travel, acute-onset pre-ex condition covered, for up to age 89 and 364 days max duration.

Brochure →        Review

Travel Medical Choice – USA

Popular Plan for Visiting USA  COVID-19 

Popular comprehensive plan for non-US citizens/residents visiting the USA and traveling elsewhere outside home country.

Brochure →        Review

Atlas Premium

Best Plan for Travel to USA or Intl.  COVID-19 

High-end comprehensive plan for visiting USA or intl. travel, see any doctor as no coinsurance to meet, liability coverage benefits, higher maximum limits for 80+ age w/ 20K max.

Brochure →        Review

Patriot Platinum

Best Plan for Travel to USA or Intl.  COVID-19 

Best comprehensive plan for visitors to USA or other nations, includes higher max. limits and liability coverage also.

Brochure →        Review

Atlas Essential

Budget Comprehensive Coverage  COVID-19 

Basic comprehensive plan for visiting USA or intl. travel, lower maximum limits with affordable costs.

Brochure →        Review

Patriot America Lite

Plan for Travel to USA or Intl.

Value plan w/ no pre-existing benefits included, suits healthy parents ages 70-79 years w/ maximum coverage limited to $50K USD.

Brochure →        Review

Safe Travels USA Cost Saver

Budget Travel to USA or Intl.  COVID-19 

Comprehensive budget primary policy for up to age 89 years, covers unexpected recurrence of pre-ex condition up to USD1000, max duration of 1 year, renew up to 24 months.

Brochure →        Review

Travel Medical Basic – USA

Reliable and economical plan for USA  COVID-19 

Reliable and economical comprehensive plan for non-US citizens/residents visiting the USA and traveling elsewhere outside home country.

Brochure →        Review

Visitor Insurance for Visiting USA

Review, quote and purchase a Visitor Medical Insurance plan from a US-based provider that offers Visitor Health Insurance coverage for non-US citizens visiting USA and are traveling outside their home country.

Review the Visitors Insurance Brochure page with information details that provides links to Insurance Plan Brochure for visitors insurance, visitor health insurance, visitor medical insurance, travel medical insurance, international student insurance, international health insurance, global health insurance, and more. It should be noted that you should carefully review the insurance plan brochure before making any purchase. Also, the insurance provider has the right to change coverage benefits and plan details and update the brochure at any time, in such instances, the updated insurance plan brochure of the plan provider holds good. To compare insurance plans for any similarities and/or differences between plans using our visitors insurance review and comparison page. Please always refer to individual insurance policy brochures and/or policy/certificates of insurance for complete details about each insurance plan.

Insurance Plan Brochure page with information details that provides links to insurance plan brochures for visitors insurance, visitor health insurance, travel medical insurance, international student insurance, global health insurance, and more. It should be noted that you should carefully review the plan brochure before making any purchase. Also, the insurance provider has the right to change coverage benefits and plan details and update the brochure at any time, in such instances, the updated plan brochures of the insurance plan provider holds good. To compare insurance plans for any similarities and/or differences between plans using our insurance comparison tool. Please always refer to individual insurance policy brochures and/or policy/certificates of insurance for complete details about the best suited visitors insurance plan.

Comprehensive Coverage Plans for Visiting USA

Fixed or Scheduled Benefit Plans for Visiting USA

Travel Medical Insurance

Coverage for Travel Outside America

Travel Medical Insurance plans cover US citizens traveling outside America, or foreign nationals visiting outside their home country, excluding the United States.

Group Travel Medical Insurance

Coverage for Groups of 5 ore more Traveling Outside Home Country

Group Travel Medical Insurance provides health coverage for groups of 5 or more visiting USA or other nations.

International Health Insurance

for expatriates, global citizens and worldwide residents

Global Health Insurance offering major medical benefits for expatriates and global residents.

International Student Insurance

for foreign students studying in USA or outside home country

Immigrant Insurance

for US green card holders and new immigrants

J1 Visa Insurance

for US J1 exchange visa program visitors and scholars

Europe Travel Insurance

for business, holiday, and Schengen Visa Insurance

Missionary Health Insurance

for missionaries traveling abroad on mission trips

Missionary health insurance coverage for international mission trips, both long-term and short-term mission trip plans.

Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

annual coverage for frequent travelers on multiple trips

Multiple Trip Insurance offering annual travel medical coverage for multiple trips visiting another country, for business or pleasure.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

for short trips, holidays, vacationers and cruise travel

Trip Cancellation Insurance for trip loss or travel delay benefits with travel insurance.

Visitor Insurance Plans & Coverage

Need info on other international travel medical and health insurance plans, please contact us.

Visitor Insurance Services Review

  • 7 day/week professional customer service
  • Free online immigrant, travel medical and visitors insurance quotes
  • Best price assured! Lowest price guaranteed for all policies
  • Compare plans and rates from different insurance providers
  • Plans for all nationalities, dependents, and visiting parents or relatives
  • Absolute privacy of insurance subscriber information
  • View and download immigrant and visitors insurance plan brochure
  • No medical exam required to purchase visitor insurance policy
  • Underwritten by top US insurance companies

Contact Information:

Toll-Free (USA): 1-877-778-4562
Worldwide: +1-407-669-6400
Email:

Address:

Visitor Insurance Services of America LLC
1073 Willa Springs Drive, Suite 1009
Winter Springs, Florida 32708, USA

Did you know that the premium costs are mandated by law, and you cannot find a lower quoted cost for any given policy and the same plan options selected, whether you purchase directly or through any agent/agency.

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