1. Home
  2. Travel insurance
  3. USA travel insurance

USA travel insurance

The U.S. of A! What a place to visit. From the sprawling mountains and parks to the bright city lights of Sin City (A.K.A Las Vegas). You might want to immerse yourself in nostalgia and fun with a family trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Or maybe you fancy a solo hiking trip to the Grand Canyon. Whatever you want to do, there's a good chance you can scratch the itch in the USA.

If you're packed and ready, you can get a travel insurance quote with us - it only takes a few minutes. If you're still planning your big American trip, then keep reading.

Landmarks in the USA

Do I need travel insurance for the USA?

No, you don't need travel insurance if you're travelling to the USA. It's not a legal requirement.

But consider this - if you lost all your luggage or needed urgent medical care, would you be able to cover the cost yourself? Remember, your GHIC doesn't cover you for medical care outside of Europe or the Schengen Area.

Also, the longer flight times to the USA means that there's more to lose if your flights are disrupted.

How much is USA travel insurance?

Costs vary depending on your destination and your personal circumstances, like medical conditions and age. But at a glance, here's how much it could cost to buy travel insurance to America:

2The cheapest price for single-trip travel insurance. Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling in the USA for 1 week. Confused.com data, October 2024.
3The cheapest price for annual multi-trip worldwide travel insurance (including the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean). Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions. Confused.com data, October 2024.

What does USA travel insurance cover?

This depends on your insurer and the policy you choose. But here's what's typically covered on a travel insurance policy:

Tick

Most travel insurance policies cover:

  • Medical expenses: Medical care in America isn't cheap. Some hospitals ask tourists to pay a deposit when they're admitted. Your travel insurance can help cover the cost of this.
  • Repatriation cover: If you need to be flown back to the UK for medical treatment, by air ambulance or emergency flight, your travel insurance can help cover the cost.
  • Cancellation and curtailment cover: If you have to cut your trip short or it gets cancelled, you should have cover for missed trips and accommodation costs.
  • Travel disruption cover: If your flight gets disrupted by bad weather or mechanical issues, your insurance can help cover the costs.
  • Baggage cover: No one wants to be left staring at an empty luggage carousel. While this can't replace your baggage, travel insurance can help to replace your belongings.
Cross

Most policies exclude cover for:

  • Travelling against FCDO advice: If you ignore FCDO advice for the USA, your insurance won't cover you.
  • Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions: You should declare all your medical conditions when you're buying travel insurance. If you don't, you won't be covered for the medical care you get.
  • Malicious or illegal behaviour/activity: Your insurance won't cover you if you break the law or if you're involved in any illegal activity.
  • Incidents that occur under the influence of drugs/alcohol: If you're drunk or on drugs and you get injured or ill, your insurer won't cover you.
  • Natural disasters, extreme weather and terrorism: In some cases, your travel insurance might not cover you for these things.
  • Dangerous sports and activities: Some high-risk sports like skiing and snowboarding aren't covered by standard insurance. If something happens to you while you're doing a dangerous activity that's not covered by your insurance, you won't be covered.

Important information

All insurance products exclude cover for known events. These are global events that can put you in danger and/or disrupt travel. The Covid-19 pandemic is an example of this. This exclusion applies if the event was declared as a ‘known event’ when you bought your insurance.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice or fail to comply with your destination’s entry requirements, you won’t be covered by any travel insurance you buy.

There are no current travel advisories or restrictions for the USA4. So, you should be able to buy a travel insurance policy.

4Correct as of October 2024

What additional cover can I get with my travel insurance for the USA?

You can do loads of stuff in America, from skiing to cruises. So make sure you have the right cover for the activities you're doing.

Skiing travel icon

Winter sports travel insurance

If you're hitting the slopes in Wyoming or Aspen, for example, then you could get winter sports travel insurance. This covers you for injuries and your winter sports equipment.

Mobile insurance icon

Travel gadget insurance

What would we do without our precious gadgets? You might have some level of gadget cover included as standard in your policy, but if not, you could choose a gadget insurance add-on.

Travel business icon

Business travel insurance

If you're heading to the USA on a business trip, try business travel insurance. It'll cover company cash and any expensive business equipment.

Travel cruise icon

Cruise insurance

This is a specific travel insurance policy for cruises. So it covers things like missed ports, cabin confinement, and unused excursions to name a few.

Can I get USA travel insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, you can get travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions. Your choice might be limited and could cost more, particularly if your condition is serious. That's because treatment could be more expensive if you need it abroad.

Some pre-existing conditions include:

If you can't find travel insurance that covers your condition, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has a directory of insurers that offer cover for people with medical conditions through the brand MoneyHelper. They also offer free, impartial advice over the phone at 0800 138 7777.

Do I need a visa to travel to the USA?

No, if you're travelling from the UK you don't generally need a visa for the USA. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) means British passport holders can travel in the USA for up to 90 days without a visa.

But, to travel to the USA, you will need to apply via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). This essentially gives you permission to enter America for up to 90 days and is valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires, whichever occurs first). It costs about £17 to apply for an ESTA5, so make sure you factor this into your holiday budget.

It's recommended that you apply for an ESTA as soon as you book your trip to the USA, and at least 72 hours before you head off. You may be denied boarding or entry into America if you arrive at the airport without applying.

5Correct as of October 2024

Medical care in the USA

Health care in the USA is notoriously expensive, so if you need medical care, speak to your insurer first. You should do this before you make any payments.

It's also worth having some money set aside just in case you need medical care. This can help to cover the cost of your medical treatment while your insurer processes your claim and also for anything it might not cover.

Is the GHIC valid in the USA?

The GHIC card isn't valid in the USA - it's only valid in parts of Europe and a few countries outside of the EU. That means you'll have to pay for medical care yourself in the USA if you don't have travel insurance. Luckily, travel insurance can help cover some of your medical bills if you need treatment.

Do I need any vaccinations before my holiday to America?

Not really, but Travel Health Pro recommends that you're up-to-date with your MMR vaccines, and you could consider getting a tetanus vaccine. If you're thinking of working with wild animals, then it's a good idea to get a rabies vaccine.

Popular US destinations for British tourists

Florida

Did someone say Walt Disney World? If you're heading to Florida with your family there's loads to do. From theme parks to cruising around Miami in an open-top-car. Or maybe you're feeling more adventurous and considering snorkelling or scuba diving in the Florida Keys. You can get travel insurance for Florida specifically if you're buying single-trip cover - just enter Florida as your destination. You could consider family travel insurance if you're going with them or individual worldwide travel insurance if you're going by yourself.

New York

Hoping for a spot of ice skating at the Rockefeller Center? Then New York is the city for you. It's a popular city for a city break, and we probably don't need to tell you why because it's so iconic. But you can have a mooch around the busy streets, see the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. You can get travel insurance for New York, getting a quote with us might take just over a New York minute though.

Las Vegas

They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas - that applies to lost luggage too. Luckily, having travel insurance for Las Vegas can cover you for these kinds of circumstances. But it's not called Sin City for nothing. It's worth remembering that your travel insurance won't cover you for any incidents that could happen because you were drunk or on drugs or because of illegal or malicious behaviour.

Travel insurance for popular activities in America

If you're getting a taste for adventure in America, that's great! But they're not usually covered under standard travel insurance policies and come at an added cost. Let's take a look at what you could add to your policy:

Trekking and hiking insurance

Is the Grand Canyon on your bucket list? If you're going trekking or hiking in America then you can get a special trekking and hiking insurance add-on.

Snowboarding insurance

Taking to the slopes of Jackson Hole or Aspen are a must if you're a snowboarder. Make sure you look into a snowboarding policy that covers you.

Scuba diving insurance

There's about 277 dive sites in the USA. Some are reef dives and others are more ocean based. Whatever you plan on seeing while you dive, you might want scuba diving insurance.

Can I include other people on my travel insurance for the USA?

You can add your fellow travellers to your policy, that's no problem. You can choose from:

  • Individual cover - This just covers you and could be a good choice if you're travelling solo. You'll have the flexibility to choose the best policy for your trip. For example, backpackers travel insurance.
  • Couples travel insurance - For you and your significant other, that could be another friend too. If there's two of you going to the US, this policy can cover you both and could work out cheaper than buying individual policies.
  • Family travel insurance - For you, and yes you guessed it, your family. This works well as it's just one set of policy documents for your family to remember. And if you decide to go on a break without the kids, you should still be covered by this policy.
  • Group travel insurance - For the team of Las Vegas lovers, you can insure a group of friends on this policy. It could even work out cheaper than several individual policies.

For all group policies it's worth remembering that if you have a pre-existing medical condition, it could bump up everyone's premium price. You could try getting an individual policy if this is the case.

How can I compare USA travel insurance quotes?

Compare travel insurance quotes easily. It just takes a few minutes. All you have to do is follow these steps:

Number 1 icon

Tell us about yourself

We need to know the cover you need, and whether you're travelling solo or with a family or group.

Number 2 icon

Choose your level of cover

Tell us if there's any additional cover you need or whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Number 3 icon

We'll do the hard work

We'll show you quotes from up to 441 different travel insurance companies. Choose the policy that best suits your needs.

1Correct as of October 2024

What our travel insurance expert says

"The USA is an exciting place. It's easy to get swept up in the excitement and buy the wrong travel insurance or forget it entirely. And while it isn't a legal requirement in the USA, it's worth noting that healthcare is expensive. Travel insurance can cover the cost of medical bills. It can also cover lost baggage, travel disruption both before and during your trip. Use our guide to find out what travel insurance you can get for your American adventure."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

USA travel tips

  • Money: The currency is the US dollar. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted. But it’s best to take a combination of cards and cash. Remember to contact your bank before you travel to avoid any restrictions or blocks on payments while you’re in the USA.
  • Safety: The FCDO warns that there’s a high risk of terrorism in the USA and suggests being vigilant in crowded places, such as transport or public events4. They also recommend reading the US Department of Homeland Security’s advice on what to do in an active shooter incident.
  • British embassy: The British embassy is in Washington D.C. There are also consular services available in major cities such as: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco.
  • Climate: The climate in the USA varies greatly depending on where you’re travelling to. It can range from tropical weather in states like Hawaii and Florida, to arctic conditions in Alaska. There’s a high risk of extreme weather, including extreme heat, snowstorms, and hurricanes. There’s also a risk of earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires.
  • Time difference: There are 4 time zones in mainland USA: Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST). There’s also the Alaska Time Zone and Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone outside of the mainland.
  • Other information: The national legal age for buying alcohol is 21 in the USA. You should always carry a form of personal ID proving you have permission to enter or remain in the USA.

Travel insurance guides

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Page last reviewed: 20 November 2024

Reviewed by: Alvaro Iturmendi

Confused.com’s Travel Insurance solution is provided by theIdol.com. theidol.com is a trading style of Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office; Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Registered in England no: 04231834. theidol.com is part of the Legal & General group.

Our service is free and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website which is based on a percentage of the total annual premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.