# Temporary health insurance for foreign visitors to the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249 "2025-06-06T01:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/21 "2025-06-06T22:02:24Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > She had purchased travel insurance, but they denied the claim on her $950,000 hospital bill. Yeah, kinda a dick move, however she had the baby in December, but they had let their travel insurance expire on Nov 9. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/22 "2025-06-07T19:22:57Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > For what it’s worth, it generally works the same the other way, too. If a U.S. citizen is traveling abroad, it’s a very good idea for them to purchase travel health insurance, as well. I have traveled to 17 countries without even thinking of getting health insurance. Either I or someone in my family has required medical attention in China, Spain and the UK. In China and Spain the costs were under $50 for things that would cost hundreds in the US with “good” insurance. In the UK they basically said screw it, it’s too hard to figure out how to charge you ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/23 "2025-06-07T19:33:09Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > In China and Spain the costs were under $50 for things that would cost hundreds in the US with “good” insurance. Without knowing the details, but based on the costs you describe, it sounds like those were relatively minor (probably outpatient) situations. One wonders what the cost to you/your family would have been for a more significant health issue. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/24 "2025-06-07T20:45:55Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Of course, €50 doesn’t even cover the cost of turning the doorknob to enter a US doctor’s office, so anything above that is your problem. Maybe - my NYC family practice doctor charges $70 for self-pay. I know that because his practice didn’t take my insurance for a short time. > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I have traveled to 17 countries without even thinking of getting health insurance. Either I or someone in my family has required medical attention in China, Spain and the UK. I always get travel insurance but it’s mostly for the non doctor/hospital benefits (trip cancellation, airlift etc). My regular health insurance covers doctors and hospitals anywhere and has network providers (doctors and hospitals) in something like 150 countries. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/25 "2025-06-07T21:09:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@HeyHomie](#): > > > > Literally every other first world nation, and most second- and maybe a third- or two provides it at government expense. > > Most, but let us make this very clear- **TAXPAYER expense.** That’s a distinction without a difference. Everything governments do is at taxpayer expense. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/26 "2025-06-07T22:35:26Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > In the UK they basically said screw it, it’s too hard to figure out how to charge you When was that, and what was done? The UK tightened up a few years ago, with the NHS (England) clawing back from the health services the amounts they didn’t recover from foreign patents. Which had the hoped-for salutory effect on the health services. But ‘medical tourism’ had become a problem – I don’t know if it affected simple procedures like a broken arm. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/27 "2025-06-07T23:00:42Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Maybe - my NYC family practice doctor charges $70 for self-pay. I know that because his practice didn’t take my insurance for a short time. Wow! The self pay doctor’s visit at my PCP is ~$250. The negotiated rate under my employer is $192. I pay the first $3000 each year and thankfully I have not hit that number yet. And I know the rates we pay in New York are higher than in Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/28 "2025-06-07T23:13:44Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > > > In the UK they basically said screw it, it’s too hard to figure out how to charge you > > When was that, and what was done? A friend of mine from Canada had a similar experience about 10 years ago. Was hiking in Scotland, fell and broke her leg. Fortunately, it was a simple fracture, no surgery required, just setting and a cast. No charge. They told her it would be too complicated and would cost more to process than the amount they would recover. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/29 "2025-06-07T23:45:04Z")
My experience was in 2013. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/30 "2025-06-08T00:42:34Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > They told her it would be too complicated and would cost more to process than the amount they would recover. That makes complete sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![redpoint5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@redpoint5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redpoint5)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/31 "2025-06-09T09:15:19Z")
The US system of healthcare leverages the worst aspects of free markets (capitalism) and the worst aspects of socialism. All that said, the government has zero money except a portion of the sweat of the brow of citizens. Any “charity” granted by “government funds” is simply you paying for it. If you want to pay for foreigner medical bills, you’re completely free to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/32 "2025-06-09T13:10:13Z")
[Moderating] > [@redpoint5](#): > > The US system of healthcare leverages the worst aspects of free markets (capitalism) and the worst aspects of socialism. This is an opinion, not a fact. The forum we’re in is “Factual questions”, which means that responses should stick to the facts, here. If you wish to discuss opinions on the US healthcare system (or any other topics), you are more than welcome to do so, in one of our more appropriate forums, such as In My Humble Opinion or Politics and Elections. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/33 "2025-06-09T17:06:24Z")
> [@Nightaudit](#): > > Are US healthcare providers able to collect on the debt if the foreigner just leaves the United States without paying the bills? Just do what the poor or uninsured do here and not pay… what are they going to do send debt collectors to the UK or EU? Not sure how it works in Europe, but in North America, typically for “difficult” debts, a business not in the habit of chasing debtors sells those obligations (often at a steep discount) to a company that specializes in collections, who then uses more aggressive means to collect. Presumably a US company could sell this forward to a Canadian company/partner and try to enforce the debt. If you have nothing (the kamikaze defence) then it doesn’t matter, but if you have assets they could be at risk. Plus, it hangs over you for several years depending on local laws. Knowing the USA, there are probably companies that specialize (with foreign partners?) in international collections. Just because the hospital isn’t going to fly someone over there to chase you does not mean you could be home free. > [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@hogarth](#): > > > > She had purchased travel insurance, but they denied the claim on her $950,000 hospital bill. > > Yeah, kinda a dick move, however she had the baby in December, but they had let their travel insurance expire on Nov 9. Quite often, the clauses include “pre-existing conditions” so travelling while close to due date is rarely covered. I’ve never had the need to see what the premature birth coverage would be, but I’d assume any travel at 7 months or later would be prohibitively expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/34 "2025-06-09T17:34:48Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Presumably a US company could sell this forward to a Canadian company/partner and try to enforce the debt. If you have nothing (the kamikaze defence) then it doesn’t matter, but if you have assets they could be at risk. Supreme Court of Canada has said that if a Canadian gets sued in a US court, fails to appear, and the plaintiff gets a default judgment, the Canadian courts will enforce it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249/35 "2025-06-09T19:36:00Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Quite often, the clauses include “pre-existing conditions” so travelling while close to due date is rarely covered. I’ve never had the need to see what the premature birth coverage would be, but I’d assume any travel at 7 months or later would be prohibitively expensive? Interesting point. Still, it does show that the Insurance company certainly had a leg to stand on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temporary-health-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-to-the-united-states/1019249.md?page=1)