Currently, medicine in the United States of America is one of the leading in the world and the most expensive. Even Americans are having difficulty obtaining medical ancillary health insurance and medical care.

Only children under 19 can receive free medical care. To save on healthcare costs, many Americans go to Mexico.

Tourists who arrived in the United States without insurance, with a sudden illness, are not to be envied at all.

Traveling to the United States, medical insurance must be obtained, as this country is one of the five countries in which medical services are the most expensive.

Having taken out travel insurance for travel and a visa, a Russian is obliged to receive absolutely all medical services, whether it is a consultation with doctors, tests, medicine, or hospitalization.

What is health insurance?

Health insurance is a deal with an insurance company that requires you to pay a certain amount to that company every month. In the event of your illness, the insurance company pays part of the costs of health care services.

Health care in America is actually quite expensive, so insurance is a must.

Who needs health insurance?

Today, any legal representatives of the country, whether they are citizens of the United States of America, refugees, green card holders, etc., must have ancillary health insurance.

This condition is non-negotiable and is part of the ACA law.

If a resident of the United States does not have health insurance, in addition to his own costs for medical services, he will have to pay a fine to the state.

How do you get health insurance?

There are several ways to get health insurance:

1. Insurance is paid in full by the state if a person is unemployed, poor, or disabled;
2. If the employer does not pay insurance, and the income is small, the state will pay part of the costs;
3. If a person is working, then the employer must pay for the ancillary health insurance in full or in part;
4. If a person works and the income is high enough, or average, then he fully acquires insurance at his own expense;
5. If a person is over 65 years old, then he receives state-funded insurance.

Travel insurance to America

It would be better if you take out insurance before you travel to your own country.

When making a deal with an insurance company, it is important to make sure that the insurance company is accredited in the United States. And also has an insurance program suitable for America, and also has a service program in the USA.

When choosing an insurance program, you should take into account the covered risks necessary for your stay in the states.

Suppose you need a consultation with a specialist of a non-emergency nature.

Any visit to a US hospital is subject to a fee. Therefore, it is worthwhile to find out in advance whether the chosen travel health insurance will cover such costs.

When applying for a policy, you need to clarify why you are going to America – just to enjoy a beach holiday, or engage in active recreation.

Insurance will turn out to be more expensive, but you will have the opportunity to add all the necessary circumstances to the contract.

Having an insurance policy, you can be sure that all costs for medical services are borne by the insurance company.

An exception may be the purchase of a prescription drug. But having spent your own funds and keep the receipt, you can get the money back in your country.

Simply put, an insured person will protect himself from any emergency situation.

You can also take out ancillary health insurance upon arrival in the United States. In such a case, there are many special firms. However, such insurance will be more expensive than the one that can be issued in your own country.

Types of health insurance

There are three main types of insurance in the United States:

1. HMO – this category of insurance in the United States is the cheapest.
2. In this case, you will have to visit doctors and health care buildings of the same network. In addition, you will opt for one doctor who prescribes subsequent referrals to other doctors.
3. PPO – This category of insurance covers both in-network and out-of-network treatment.
4. The network may have the most favorable conditions. When contacting specialists outside the network, there may be some additional payment and the conditions may not be so favorable for you. A referral to the doctor from the therapist is not required, the doctor will admit them to the appointment without her presence. Buying health insurance in the United States of America in this category will be more expensive than everyone else.
5. EPO is the same type of insurance as HMO.
6. The only difference is the lack of a primary doctor and the required referrals to doctors.

Types of insurance plans and their cost

Five main insurance plans, determined by the height of coverage of medical expenses in percentage:

• Platinum – 90% is paid by insurance;
• Gold – 80% is paid by insurance;
• Silver – 70% is paid by insurance;
• Bronze – 60% is paid by insurance.

Catastrophic – such an insurance plan is designed for people under 30 years of age and in emergency cases.

You can also take out ancillary health insurance upon arrival in the United States. In such a case, there are many special firms. However, such insurance will be more expensive than the one that can be issued in your own country.

It should be noted that insurance plans are distinguished by an abundance of important factors :

1. Co-pay – a set amount that you pay for any health care service, and the insurance company pays the rest of the amount
2. Deductible – funds that must be spent before insurance coverage begins
3. Co-insurance – you pay some percentage, the rest is the insurance company.
4. Out-of-pocket maximum – the maximum amount, after spending you will start accepting a 100% refund from the insurance company.