Where can a US Citizen living abroad get short-term health insurance for trips to the US?
February 13, 2012 5:21 AM Subscribe
Short-term Health Insurance in the US for US citizen living abroad?
I am a US Citizen living abroad (UK). I'm covered under national insurance in the UK, but I return back to the US for short trips to visit family, etc., and I'm having trouble finding short-term health insurance in the States (i.e. for a week or so).
General travel insurance does not appear to cover me since I am a US Citizen (correct me if I'm wrong!) Other short-term insurance also seems to cover people only for month long increments, and seems very expensive. (Also correct me if I'm wrong!)
Does anyone have any ideas for how I can cover myself for these short term visits? Specific companies would be highly appreciated -- it's hard to tell which companies are legitimate providers, and which are not.
Thanks!
I am a US Citizen living abroad (UK). I'm covered under national insurance in the UK, but I return back to the US for short trips to visit family, etc., and I'm having trouble finding short-term health insurance in the States (i.e. for a week or so).
General travel insurance does not appear to cover me since I am a US Citizen (correct me if I'm wrong!) Other short-term insurance also seems to cover people only for month long increments, and seems very expensive. (Also correct me if I'm wrong!)
Does anyone have any ideas for how I can cover myself for these short term visits? Specific companies would be highly appreciated -- it's hard to tell which companies are legitimate providers, and which are not.
Thanks!
I'm a US citizen living in the UK.
I just use travel insurance when traveling to the US to visit my family. I wasn't aware of travel insurance not covering me because I was a US citizen. Looking at my policy documents, the only clause I could find is that I have been residing in the UK for the past year - which I have. Can you elaborate on why you believe general travel insurance will not cover you?
posted by vacapinta at 7:36 AM on February 13, 2012
I just use travel insurance when traveling to the US to visit my family. I wasn't aware of travel insurance not covering me because I was a US citizen. Looking at my policy documents, the only clause I could find is that I have been residing in the UK for the past year - which I have. Can you elaborate on why you believe general travel insurance will not cover you?
posted by vacapinta at 7:36 AM on February 13, 2012
I'm a dual Canadian-US citizen and when I travel in the US I purchase regular off-the-shelf travel insurance through CAA (aka AAA). There is absolutely no issue with being a US citizen- maybe there would be if the US had some sort of national health care and you were obligated as a US citizen to partake of it when you return "home," but that's absolutely not the case.
I don't get what the issue is. Buy travel health insurance.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:16 AM on February 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't get what the issue is. Buy travel health insurance.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:16 AM on February 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Ok, looks like I may have been mistaken about the US Citizen thing -- which is good news! I'll just get regular travel insurance then. Thanks!
posted by caoimhe at 9:22 AM on February 13, 2012
posted by caoimhe at 9:22 AM on February 13, 2012
Since you also asked about specific providers, I have an annual policy from Virgin. I can't specifically recommend them as I have never had to use them but I'm sure they're legitimate.
They cover the rest of the world too and Europe. Although, for Europe, make sure you get your EHIC if you don't already have one.
posted by vacapinta at 10:28 AM on February 13, 2012
They cover the rest of the world too and Europe. Although, for Europe, make sure you get your EHIC if you don't already have one.
posted by vacapinta at 10:28 AM on February 13, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by melizabeth at 6:16 AM on February 13, 2012