7 Most Common Myths About Visitor Insurance – Debunked

Like many types of insurance, visitor insurance, also called travel insurance, can be confusing. It seems simple when you’re logging on to buy coverage for as little as a few dollars a day, but once you get to the fine print it gets a lot more complex.

Despite this complexity, insurance companies aren’t actively trying to deceive you. Many common clauses and terms of agreements can be interpreted incorrectly or misconstrued by the average person. This confusion can often lead to buyers picking insurance that isn’t right for their needs.

7 Common Myths about Health Insurance for Foreign Visitors

To make sure you’re ready for your next trip or vacation abroad, let’s take a look at some of the most popular myths about travel and visitor insurance. We’ll explain why the myth has spread so widely, then debunk them so you can buy your next insurance policy with confidence. 

1.     It’s not for healthy people

Despite our best-laid plans, accidents or illness can happen at any time. It’s important to be prepared for the worst. If you need to see a doctor, you should be able to do it freely, without worrying about a huge medical bill to follow.

2.     Domestic health insurance will cover international incidents

If you have medical insurance at home, this typically won’t protect you from incidents that occur out of that jurisdiction. Even if your coverage is good, there may be gaps that you aren’t aware of until you read the fine print. Travel or visitor insurance can cover these gaps.

3.     You need to buy new visitor medical insurance every trip you take

If you travel often, it can be annoying to have to log in and purchase insurance before every trip. Thankfully, that’s not the only option.

Many different insurance companies offer a yearly, multi-trip plan, which only needs to be purchased once. After you fill in your details and make the purchase, the plan will cover any destination you decide to visit during that term.

4.     People can’t be refused treatment, so insurance is unnecessary

While it’s true that emergency rooms in the United States (and many other destinations around the world) are obliged to treat whoever comes through their door, this doesn’t mean that they’ll treat you until you’re well again. They have the obligation to treat you until you’re stable, not for the entirety of any treatment you require.

Additionally, if your treatment is not life-threatening, medical practitioners can refuse to see you if you are unable to pay. Insurance is vital to ensure that any illness or accident, whether it’s life-threatening or not, can be treated.

5.     Visitor medical insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions

There are a variety of visitor insurance plans available, depending on your needs and your budget. Some of these cover for an acute onset of a pre-existing conditions, while others do not. Before you make a purchase, make sure that your coverage will accommodate an acute onset of pre-existing conditions you have, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket for any related treatment.

6.     Insurance companies never pay out claims

Although it’s not uncommon to hear stories to the contrary, the truth is that insurance companies in the United States and around the world pay out hundreds of millions or even billions in insurance claims every year. As long as you read the details of your plan carefully, you’ll be able to ensure that you get one that fits your needs, so you won’t be forced to pay anything out of pocket.

7.     It will take me too long to buy travel insurance

Instead of purchasing travel or visitor insurance from an agent, sites like Visitor Guard® make it easy to shop for insurance online. Once you find the plan that’s right for you, all you’ll need to do is put in your details, then make a payment. It can take as little as 5 minutes.

Shop for Visitor Medical Insurance at Visitor Guard®

Heading on a trip and need coverage? Shopping for insurance at Visitor Guard® makes it easy to find a variety of plans that fit your needs, so you can get coverage in just a few minutes.

Whether you’re buying for yourself or a family member, you can find plans for short-term, long-term, or flexible departure dates at Visitor Guard®. Contact us today to get started.