You are visiting the United States, which is an expensive visit. But a medical emergency during the stay can upset the entire planning and hike up the expenses for the stay. One way of ensuring that this does not happen is to buy a visitor medical insurance plan.

You can buy a visitors health insurance plan, which offers medical insurance for a limited period wherever you are visiting from. The typical period for which the insurance is valid is 12 months. However, if your stay is extended, then you can extend the insurance for up to 36 months.

You can eligible for the visitors insurance plan if you are an employee on deputation, coming to U.S. for training, going to a university to study, seeking new business opportunities, or just a tourist. If you are planning to migrate to the United States, the visitors insurance can be useful until you make more permanent arrangements.

US visitors insurance can be bought online even before traveling to the U.S. However, it is advisable to purchase the insurance only after receiving the visa and buying the ticket. Insurance coverage begins on the date indicated on the visitor medical insurance card, and cannot be earlier than the date of arrival in the U.S.

If the family members of the visitor are also accompanying the visitor, the insurance plan can include them, or can be added on when they join the traveler. A variety of plan periods are available and all these can be renewed.

Your visitors insurance plan covers medical treatment for the following categories: injuries during the stay, sickness, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. If you have a pre-existing condition, then that is not covered. Other conditions not covered are medical treatment for testing medicines and childbirth.

You have a choice between two types of visitors insurance plans: scheduled benefit plans and comprehensive benefit plans. Scheduled benefit plans place a limit for each type of treatment covered, and are typically cheaper than comprehensive benefit plans. For example, if you purchase a plan with a $50,000 maximum limit, then this may include a maximum limit of $2,000 for surgery and another $500 for diagnostic services. Some of the plans of this type are Inbound USA and Visitors Care Insurance.

A comprehensive benefits plan usually does not feature any limits, other than customary charges. Once you pay the deductible and the co-insurance, the visitors insurance plan covers the expenses up to the maximum policy limit. Some examples of this type are the Diplomat America, Atlas America, and Liaison International plans.

Ray Sandeo frequently writes about visitor insurance