Travel insurance for the USA

Whether planning a road trip between Montana and Manitowoc or channelling your inner wild by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, you may wonder whether you need travel insurance for the USA.

With the USA spanning nearly 3.8 million square miles, and climates ranging from tropical (South Florida) to nearly arctic (across the Rocky Mountains), its diversity could make travelling around rather exciting.

While you hope that a fast heart rate comes from excitement and adventure, rather than losing your passport , the reality is that travel isn’t always what we expect.

While airlines and security agents will check your passport, having travel insurance provides protection against unexpected medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other challenges that could arise during your travels. However, it’s important to note that there are always exclusions and limits, and not everything can be covered.

And although you could still board the plane without travel insurance, there are several good reasons to get it anyway.

If you’ve already spent a chunk of money on transportation, accommodation, and events (like golf or scuba diving), then having protection in case something unexpected happens may help you focus on enjoying your trip than worrying about the what if's.

From someone stealing your wallet on a busy subway to accidentally dropping your passport at Niagara Falls or getting injured while hiking in the Grand Canyon, having insurance can be very useful. Especially for medical emergencies, treatment could come at a hefty price in the USA.

It’s crucial to declare any existing medical conditions when arranging your insurance. This ensures you’re fully covered and can receive the necessary care without unexpected costs. At Aviva, we believe in providing peace of mind, so you can focus on enjoying your travels, knowing you’re protected.

Travel insurance is essential for unexpected situations, much like packing extra pants and socks. You hope you won’t need it, but it’s invaluable when things go wrong.

Whether you’re planning one trip to the USA or a few throughout the year, it's worth knowing what's covered:

Emergency medical expenses up to £10M per person per incident for

• emergency medical treatment 
• dental treatment for emergency pain relief, up to £1,000
• bringing you back to the UK in a medical emergency.

When arranging your insurance, it’s essential to declare any existing medical conditions to ensure you’re fully covered and can receive the necessary care without unexpected costs.

Cancelling or abandoning your trip, with a £5,000 limit per person, because of

• illness or injury to you or your travel companion 
• being made redundant
• fire, storm or severe weather damage to your home, making it unliveable.

Cover for your travel documents and money per person, including

• emergency travel document expenses up to £750
• cash and bank notes up to £400
• delayed baggage up to £150.

Single trip travel insurance and annual multi trip travel insurance may cover your main concerns, but there are also optional extras to address the specifics of your trip. This could include cover for:

• travel disruption 
• airspace closure
• winter sports
• scuba diving up to 30 metres
• baggage
• golf cover.

Before entering the USA for a holiday or business trip (up to 90 days), you’ll need to complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) online which comes at a fee. This is an automatic visa waiver programme for those who are a citizen or a national from the UK and travelling from the UK. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to fill out and receive the ESTA because although they can come back instantly, they can also take up to 72 hours or longer if rejected.

The most common reasons for rejection of ESTA applications include having a serious criminal record in the past, overstaying a visit in the USA, or mistakes on the application. If your ESTA is rejected, you’ll need to apply for a travel visa.

Please note that this policy does not cover issues with your travel documents before departure. For more information on ESTA requirements, refer to the foreign travel advice provided by the UK government or the United States Department of State.