Coronavirus Coverage in Visitors Insurance

^{Last Updated: April 11, 2022}

Since first being identified in late 2019, COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus, has infected hundreds of millions of people, and caused millions of deaths worldwide. Thankfully, the development of vaccines and boosters has led to international travel reopening and entry restrictions ending all over the world throughout 2023. However, new variants of the virus remain a possibility, making coronavirus an ever-present concern for those visiting the United States.

Healthcare expenses in the US are among the highest in the world, and coronavirus treatment can cost a lot. If someone were to get sick and need to be hospitalized, they could end up spending weeks or months in a hospital before recovering. The healthcare bills for such patients could easily be several hundred thousand dollars. Healthcare is not free in the US, and neither is COVID-19 treatment.

What visitors insurance plans can cover Coronavirus?

There are many visitors insurance plans available in the US market. Many of them have exclusions related to CDC travel warnings and/or US Department of State travel warnings. Therefore, those plans won’t cover any medical expenses related to COVID-19 treatment or testing.

However, the following plans can cover Coronavirus testing or treatment just like any other new medical condition that occurs after the effective date of the policy:

• Atlas America
• Atlas America Group
• Atlas Essential America
• Atlas Essential International
• Atlas International
• Atlas International Group
• Atlas MultiTrip
• Atlas Premium America
• Atlas Premium International
• Beacon America
  Beacon America provides COVID-19 coverage up to $100,000 maximum, or the policy maximum (whichever is lower).
• Patriot America Plus
• Patriot America Platinum
• Safe Travels USA Comprehensive
• Safe Travels USA
• Safe Travels Elite
• VisitorSecure
• Visitors Protect

I looked through the certificate wording for the above listed plans and it does not list Coronavirus or COVID-19 as the covered expense. Are you sure?

In some plans, coverage for Coronavirus or COVID-19 is explicitly mentioned in the certificate wording or in the confirmation of coverage letter (visa letter). Additionally, in some plans, there are no exclusions related to CDC Warnings, US Department of State Warnings, or any specific exclusions related to COVID-19. Therefore, COVID-19 is covered just like any other new medical condition that occurs after the effective date of the policy. Regular terms and conditions as listed in the certificate wording apply.

If you still have doubts, please contact us and we will be able to provide you further information.

Please note that if you already have symptoms, or if you are already infected and still in the incubation period, or even asymptomatic initially, if you contracted COVID-19 before the effective date of the policy, it will NOT be covered.

Therefore, it is the best to purchase the insurance as soon as possible and not wait until you feel the need for the same.

Is COVID-19 testing or vaccination covered?

Many visitors insurance plans don’t provide any COVID-19 coverage. Among the plans that do listed above, testing is covered only if it is a new sickness after the effective date of the policy, it is medically necessary, and a physician prescribes it. These plans do not cover COVID-19 vaccination costs. 

My parents are preparing to return to their home country. However, their government is requiring a negative result of the COVID-19 test. Is that covered?

No. This is not something that would be covered by visitors insurance.

I had COVID-19 symptoms. A physician prescribed the test and it came back negative. Is that covered?

As long as you have purchased a visitors insurance plan that covers COVID-19 and you contracted it after the effective date of the policy, the cost of the test would be covered even if it came back as negative, as the physician decided that it was medically necessary.

I purchased travel insurance from my home country and it has expired. Can I purchase additional insurance from you?

Yes. You can do that even if you are already in the US. Additionally, the next time you are planning to visit the US, consider purchasing it again from us, as most of the travel medical insurance plans we have available are extendable.

My parents brought enough prescription medication for their planned stay of four months. If new travel restrictions are put in place and they are unable to return home, are their medication refills covered?

No. Most visitors insurance plans are not meant to cover routine maintenance of pre-existing conditions. They generally cover any new medical conditions, injuries or accidents that occur after the effective date of the policy. Additionally, some of the insurance plans may also cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions, which may be an unexpected emergency that occurs after the effective date of the policy where you need to take the treatment within the next 24 hours. However, routine expenses related to pre-existing conditions are not typically covered by visitors insurance.

You will have to make an appointment with the US-based physician. They may either see them in person or they may schedule a virtual visit. Depending upon the situation, they may be ordered certain tests. After that, the physician may be able to prescribe appropriate medicines. Using that order, you would be able to get prescription medicines from your local pharmacy. Of course, you will have to pay out of your pocket for the physician appointment, any lab tests, and for the actual medicines, which could cost at least a few hundred dollars. No visitors insurance can pay for any of that.

It is unfortunate  to incur such expenses for this situation. We understand that you may be unable to get the medicines couriered from your home country. We understand that such medicines in the US are expensive. We understand that it is frustrating if they are unable to return to their home country as scheduled. However, visitors insurance would not pay for routine maintenance of pre-existing conditions.

The only current exception to this Visitors Protect insurance, which can provide coverage for pre-existing conditions with certain restrictions.

Can the insurance company make an exception to cover prescription refill for my medication due to unavoidable circumstances?

Unfortunately, no.

Can the insurance company make an exception to cover the trip delay and flight cancellations due to COVID-19 travel restrictions?

Each insurance plans will pay for the eligible expenses according to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. There are not specific exceptions.

My country has arranged repatriation flights. However, I would have to pay again and my existing ticket with the same or different airline would not work. Is that covered by visitors insurance?

No. You will have to pay out of your pocket for the same.

I have a visitors insurance plan that can cover COVID-19. If I need to be put on a ventilator, would that be covered?

As long as it is an eligible claim where COVID-19 is covered, whatever treatment is medically necessary, including being on ventilator would be covered as per the terms and conditions of the policy. Please note that if you are in ICU and/or on ventilator for an extended period of time, you might exceed your policy maximum. After that, there will be no coverage.

I feel perfectly fine, but if I go for COVID-19 testing and the results are positive would the testing and treatment be covered?

No, voluntary testing is not covered.

I have medical problems completed unrelated to COVID-19, if I go to the hospital and they want to do COVID-19 testing will that be covered?

If COVID-19 testing is ordered while getting treatment for something else, it is covered.

Are antibodies tests covered?

No.

If COVID-19 causes complications with pre-existing conditions, how will that be treated?

It will be treated as any other illness. COVID-19 does not negate the usual coverage conditions that must be met for pre-existing conditions or acute onset of pre-existing condition coverage.