When planning a trip abroad, there are probably a number of things you put on your packing list and a travel medical insurance policy should always be one of them. However, shopping for the right plan can be a bit overwhelming as there are various products to choose from. Two plans that you will likely come across while shopping for a policy that best fits your individual needs are ChoiceAmerica and Seven Corners Travel Medical USA Visitor Basic. While both of these plans do possess many similarities, they are also very different and the first step to making a well-informed purchase begins with identifying the components that set them apart.
ChoiceAmerica and Seven Corners Travel Medical USA Visitor Basic are both limited coverage or budget plans, meaning they pay a fixed, pre-defined amount for each treatment or service after the deductible is satisfied. Both plans are suitable for travelers visiting the U.S., especially elderly travelers like parents, traveling from the Indian sub-continent to the U.S. and can be renewed for up to 12 months. For more information on the key differences between the two plans, refer to the comparison chart below:
- Administered by IMG
- Coverage in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
- Coverage for border entry denial
- Coverage for loss of passport and essential travel documents
- Optional riders available for pre-existing conditions, adventure sports and dental & vision
- Covers Influenza Vaccination
- Covers COVID-19
- If no claims have been filed, policy can be cancelled and refunded for a $20 cancellation fee
- Not available for purchase for residents in Maryland or New York
- Policy maximum up to $150,000
- Available up to age 79
- Administered by Seven Corners
- USA coverage only, no international
- No coverage for border entry denial
- No coverage available for loss of passport and essential travel documents
- No optional rider available for extreme sport and amusement park injuries
- If no claims have been filed, policy can be cancelled and refunded for a $35 cancellation fee
- Coverage up to $50,000 for acute onset of pre-existing conditions for ages 70 and under
- Not available for purchase to residents of Maryland, Washington, New York, and North Dakota
- Policy maximum up to $150,000
- Available up to age 99
COMMON EXCLUSIONS (What's not covered)
- Preventative care (immunizations, routine medical exams)
- Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
- Terrorism coverage
- Trip interruption coverage
- Pregnancy and maternity care
BEWARE: Risk of Limited Plans
Limited coverage insurance plans may be less expensive, but come with higher liability risks. Since limited travel insurance policies only cover a fixed, pre-defined amount for each benefit, you pay for any costs that exceed the pre-defined amount for any given medical treatment or service, and those medical costs could potentially run up to thousands of dollars.
Example: If you have a limited coverage policy with a limit of $400 for ambulance services, which costs about $2,000, then you have to pay the difference – a liability of $1,600.