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If you’re an international visitor planning a trip to California, you’ll want to secure health insurance before you go to save yourself from expensive medical bills. California has some of the most costly healthcare services in the U.S.
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Are you planning a visit to California soon? A top destination for international visitors, California has a lot to offer foreigners. This article from Pacific Prime is a short guide that can help you learn all there is to know about visitor insurance for California.
In this article, we’ll discuss the key features of health insurance for California and the U.S., and recommend popular insurance providers and their plans. We’ll also share tips on how to choose the right insurance for your needs. Keep reading to learn more!
Why Visitors in California Need Health Insurance
Visitors in California need health insurance because of the high healthcare costs in the state. Visitors who travel to California without health insurance run the risk of paying costly medical bills if they receive medical treatment for an unexpected injury or illness.
California has a high cost of healthcare due to factors like expensive medical technology, higher medical professional salaries, and higher prices for medical services. Most surgeries in California will be above ten grand, with knee-replacement surgery costing USD $35,000 on average.
Emergency care can be just as expensive as well, with most emergency room trips costing in the thousands. To protect yourself from these high medical fees, the best thing you can do is secure insurance that will cover you in California.
Key Features of California-Specific Visitor Insurance
Some key features visitors should look for in their insurance plans for California are medical emergency coverage, medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, and more. With the right health insurance coverage benefits, you can be protected against high medical bills while you travel.
Here are some key features to look for in health insurance plans for California:
- Emergency Medical Treatment
- Hospitalization and Surgery
- Repatriation and Evacuation
With these benefits, you can be protected against unexpected illness and injury.
Another important feature of health insurance plans is language support provided through customer service lines. If you don’t speak English fluently, your insurance company’s customer service hotline can help you find a provider that can speak your language.
Popular Providers Offering Insurance for Visitors to California
Some of the most popular providers that offer insurance in California for visitors are IMG Global, Allianz, AXA, and Cigna. Each of these leading insurance providers offers comprehensive plans, with a variety of coverage lengths to ensure you are covered for as long as you need while in the U.S.
IMG Global Health Insurance for Visitors
IMG Global is a leading international health insurance provider that offers travel insurance plans to their members visiting the U.S. through their Patriot plans. These plans are available in three different categories: Patriot Lite America, Patriot Plus America, and Patriot Platinum America.
The Patriot America plans were created to provide temporary medical insurance for those traveling to the United States for business or pleasure. These plans are available for individuals, families, and groups of five or more travelers.
These plans come in a variety of plan maximum limits and deductible options and can be bought for a trip as short as five days or extended as long as two years.
The table below will illustrate the benefits offered by the Patriot plans (all dollar amounts are listed in USD):
IMG Global Patriot America Plan Benefits |
|||
| Patriot Lite | Patriot Plus | Patriot Platinum | |
| Maximum Limit | Up to $1,000,000 | Up to $1,000,000 | Up to $8,000,000 |
| Emergency Medical Evacuation | Covered Up to Limit | Covered Up to Limit | Covered Up to Limit |
| Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions | Not Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Hospitalization | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| X-Ray & Diagnostics | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Return of Mortal Remains | Covered | Covered | Covered |
Allianz Health Insurance for Visitors
Allianz offers both travel insurance and short-term health insurance to visitors in the U.S. and California. They offer single-trip and annual/multi-trip travel insurance plans, and a short-term health insurance plan called Flexicare.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Allianz’s most popular travel insurance plan, OneTrip Prime, has the following benefits:
- Trip Cancellation Coverage Up To USD $100,000
- Trip Interruption Coverage Up To USD $150,000
- Trip Change Protector Coverage Up To USD $500
- Emergency Medical Up To USD $50,000
- Emergency Medical Transportation Up To USD $500,000
- Lost/Damaged Baggage USD $1000
- Baggage Delay USD $300
- Travel Delay USD $800 (daily limit $200)
- 24-Hour Hotline Assistance
Allianz Short-Term Health Insurance
Their short-term health insurance plan, Flexicare, focuses more on medical coverage than travel benefits. This plan was designed for individuals and families working abroad for less than a year, with the Flexicare plan offered in 3, 6, or 9-month policies.
Here are some of the benefits of the Flexicare plan:
- Maximum Plan Limit of USD $202,500
- Prescription Drug Coverage
- Day-care Treatment
- Medical Evacuation
- Physician and Therapist Visits
- CT and MRI Scans
In addition to this foundational coverage, Allianz offers two additional plans that can be added to the Flexicare plan: the Medical Repatriation Plan and the Outpatient Plan. These plans can extend the coverage of the Flexicare plan and offer the valuable benefits of repatriation and outpatient care.
AXA Health Insurance for Visitors
AXA is a leading international insurance provider that offers short-term health insurance to visitors in California and the U.S. through their Foundation and Standard plans. These plans are similar to their international health insurance plans, but the coverage length is shortened to 3 to 11 months.
The benefits included in these plans are listed in the table below:
AXA Short-Term Health Insurance Plan Benefits |
||
| Foundation | Standard | |
| Annual Plan Maximum Limit | USD$160,000 | USD$1,600,000 |
| Hospitalization & Surgery | Covered | Covered |
| Emergency Coverage | Covered | Covered |
| Medical Evacuation and Repatriation | Covered | Covered |
| Non-Routine Dental Care | Not Covered | Covered |
| CT, PET, and MRI Scans | Covered | Covered |
Visitors who would like to customize their short-term health insurance plans further can purchase additional outpatient coverage. This coverage will offer outpatient treatment, tests and vaccinations, and prescription drugs.
Cigna Health Insurance for Visitors
The largest international insurance provider on the market, Cigna, offers short-term health insurance plans through their Close Care Flexi plan. This plan was designed for visitors and expats who need comprehensive and customizable coverage for less than a year.
The benefits included with a Close Care Flexi plan are:
- Maximum Annual Limit of USD $500,000
- Inpatient Treatments
- Mental Health Care up to USD $3,000
- Cancer Care
- Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
To further customize and extend your coverage, Cigna gives the option to add optional modules to the Close Care Flexi plan. These optional modules are the Outpatient and Wellness Care module, and Dental Care and Treatment module.
The Close Care Flexi plan only offers coverage in your country of residence, and your home country. This makes it a perfect option for those who don’t plan to travel frequently to neighboring countries and want to save on their deductible because of it.
How to Choose the Right Visitor Insurance Plan in California
Visitors can choose the right visitor insurance plan for their trip to California by first determining the length of the trip, their budget, their healthcare needs, and their travel plans. By understanding these factors first, they will be better equipped to find the perfect plan for them.
The length of your trip will determine how long you will need to purchase coverage, while your budget will also determine how much you can afford in coverage. That doesn’t mean you should try to find the cheapest coverage possible. You should ensure that your health will be protected through the coverage limit you purchase.
You should also be aware of your travel plans. Do you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing in national parks? You’ll likely want to purchase coverage that will protect you against any accidents you may face while hiking.
Common Exclusions and Limitations in California-Specific Visitor Insurance
Some common exclusions or limitations in your visitor insurance policy for the U.S. and California are pre-existing conditions, elective treatments, and specific activities such as adventure sports. We will discuss more of these below.
- Pre-Existing Conditions: A pre-existing condition is a health problem that the policyholder had before their new health insurance started, which can include conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and others. Some insurance providers will not cover these conditions in their policy.
- Elective Treatments: Treatments and surgeries that are considered elective are not usually covered by insurance. This can include cosmetic surgeries, or really any treatment that is determined not to have a medical necessity.
- Adventure Sports: There are certain high-risk sports that won’t be covered by insurance providers. This can include sports like water skiing, mountain trekking, sky-diving, and more.
To make sure that you are aware of all the exclusions or limitations in your policy, make sure to double-check the fine print of your policy. If you need help better understanding your policy, you can always contact an insurance expert for help.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can a visitor get health insurance for their trip to California?
Visitors planning to travel to California can secure health insurance for their trip through travel insurance plans or short-term health insurance plans. They can purchase health insurance through an insurance agent or an insurance broker like Pacific Prime.
Is visitor health insurance worth it?
Health insurance for visitors is well worth the investment as it can protect you from staggering medical bills. This is especially true for expensive areas like California which has some of the highest medical service costs in the U.S.
Conclusion
With visitor health insurance, you and your loved ones can be protected against the high healthcare costs in California. Comprehensive health insurance plans can grant you access to a worldwide network of coverage and customizable benefits for your time abroad.
Whether you’re looking for travel insurance or short-term health insurance for your trip to California, Pacific Prime can help you get the coverage you need. As an insurance broker, we can give our clients free and unbiased advice and help compare a wide variety of plans.
You can contact us online, or call us toll-free at 1-800-868-1451. If you’d like to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers, use our free quote tool!
If you enjoyed this article, check out our others with similar topics like U.S. Health Insurance for Visitors and Temporary Health Insurance Options.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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