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The cheapest short term medical insurance for international travel depends on which direction you are traveling. For United States residents going abroad, IMG Patriot International Lite starts at about $55 a month. For visitors coming to the United States, IMG Visitors Care starts at less than $1 a day. Both are travel medical plans, which pay for emergency medical care abroad and nothing else. They do not cover trip cancellation, lost luggage, or routine care. This guide names the cheapest plans with their prices, shows what the cheapest plan leaves out, and works through what a 30-day trip costs at different ages, so you can buy the lowest price that still covers the risk.
What is short term medical insurance for international travel?
Short term medical insurance for international travel is a temporary health plan that covers emergency medical care while you are outside your home country. It is also called travel medical insurance. A typical plan covers emergency treatment, hospital stays, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, for trips from 5 days to 12 months, renewable up to 2 or 3 years depending on the plan. It does not cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, or lost luggage. Those belong to comprehensive travel insurance, which costs more because it insures the trip itself as well as your health. It also does not cover routine care, checkups, or ongoing treatment of a condition you already have. It is not a substitute for domestic health insurance, and it is not the same as a domestic short-term health plan, which covers care inside the United States for people between regular health plans. The distinction matters because the prices are not comparable: a domestic short-term health plan can run several hundred dollars a month, while a travel medical plan for a healthy young adult abroad can run under $2 a day. Our travel medical insurance costs and coverage guide explains the general pricing, and our best international travel insurance guide compares comprehensive plans that include trip cancellation.
Which plans are the cheapest, and what do they cost?
The table below lists IMG Patriot plans, the most widely quoted travel medical range, with starting monthly prices published by a licensed IMG broker at write time. The prices are starting points for a younger adult traveler; your own quote depends on age, destination, trip length, medical maximum, and deductible. The “direction” column matters more than the price: a plan built for travel to the United States does not cover a United States resident traveling abroad, and the reverse.
| Plan | Direction | From | Medical maximum | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMG Visitors Care | Visitors traveling to the United States | Less than $1 a day | $25,000 to $100,000, fixed benefits | Varies by tier |
| IMG Patriot International Lite | United States residents traveling abroad | $55 a month | $50,000 | $250 |
| IMG Patriot America Lite | Visitors traveling to the United States | $72 a month | $50,000 | $250 |
| IMG Patriot America Plus | Visitors traveling to the United States | $77 a month | $50,000 | $250 |
| IMG Patriot Platinum International | United States residents traveling abroad | $116 a month | $2,000,000 | $250 |
| IMG Patriot Platinum America | Visitors traveling to the United States | $146 a month | $2,000,000 | $250 |
The cheapest plan in each direction is also the thinnest. Visitors Care is a fixed-benefit plan, which means it pays a set amount for each service rather than a percentage of the bill. A fixed-benefit plan can leave a large balance on a big hospital bill, which is why it costs under $1 a day. Patriot International Lite is a comprehensive-benefit plan at the $50,000 maximum, which is the lowest maximum IMG sells in that range. The jump to Patriot Platinum International, at $116 a month, buys a $2,000,000 maximum and a UnitedHealthcare Options network, which matters in the United States where a few days of inpatient care can exceed $50,000. For a trip to a country with cheap hospital care, the Lite plan is a reasonable buy. For a trip that includes the United States, Japan, or Western Europe, the higher maximum is worth the extra $61 a month. A common planning benchmark for international trips is at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 to $1,000,000 in evacuation coverage, which puts the Lite plan’s $50,000 maximum below the benchmark. If your destination has expensive hospitals, buy the higher maximum even when the trip is short.
What does the cheapest plan leave out?
The cheapest travel medical plans save money by excluding the same five things, and each one can turn into a large bill. Pre-existing conditions are the first. Most cheap plans exclude them entirely, or cover only an acute onset, a sudden and unexpected recurrence that needs immediate treatment, and only for travelers under age 70 on some plans. Routine treatment and ongoing management of a known condition are not covered. Routine care is the second. Checkups, prescriptions refills, dental work, and vision care are excluded. The plan pays for emergencies, not maintenance. Fixed benefits are the third. On a fixed-benefit plan such as Visitors Care, the plan pays a scheduled amount per service, and you owe the rest. On a comprehensive plan, the plan pays a percentage of the bill up to the maximum. The difference only shows on a large claim, which is exactly when it matters. Low medical maximums are the fourth. A $25,000 or $50,000 maximum can be exhausted by a single hospital admission in the United States. Evacuation limits are the fifth. A plan with a $25,000 evacuation limit may not cover a medical flight home from a remote location, which can cost far more. Read the evacuation limit alongside the medical maximum before you buy. If you travel with a condition that needs a waiver, our pre-existing conditions and travel insurance guide explains how waivers work, and seniors should read our travel insurance for seniors guide before buying on price alone.
What does a 30-day trip cost at 50, 60, 70, and 80?
Age is the biggest price lever in travel medical insurance, and the jump past 70 is steep. The table below shows broker-published quotes for a 30-day trip with $25,000 of medical coverage and a $0 deductible, read at write time. The ranges reflect the plan tier and deductible options inside each quote.
| Plan | Age 50, 30 days | Age 60, 30 days | Age 70, 30 days | Age 80, 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMG Visitors Care | $39 to $85 | $51 to $92 | $69 to $153 | $151 |
| IMG Patriot America Lite | $118 to $202 | $166 to $320 | $283 and up | $404 |
| IMG Patriot America Plus | $128 to $243 | $164 to $311 | $289 to $434 | $790 |
A 30-day trip at age 50 on Visitors Care can cost as little as $39, about $1.30 a day. The same trip at age 80 costs $151 on the same plan, nearly four times as much, and $790 on Patriot America Plus. The lesson is that the cheapest plan for a 30-year-old is rarely the cheapest plan for a 70-year-old, because the ranking changes with age. Older travelers should also check the age cutoff on acute onset pre-existing condition cover, which on some IMG plans ends at 70, and confirm the plan is still sold at their age. Some travel medical plans stop at 79 or 89. Annual plans can beat single-trip pricing for frequent travelers, and our best annual travel insurance plans for seniors guide compares those for older travelers specifically. For a Schengen visa trip, remember the visa itself requires at least 30,000 euros of medical coverage, which the cheapest fixed-benefit plans may not meet. Our Schengen travel insurance guide covers that requirement and its cost.
How do I buy the cheapest cover without a bad surprise?
Buy in this order, and check each item before you pay. First, confirm the direction. A plan for visitors to the United States does not cover a United States resident going abroad, and the reverse. Buying the wrong direction is the most expensive mistake in this market, because the plan pays nothing. Second, pick comprehensive benefits over fixed benefits when the destination has expensive hospitals. The price difference is small next to a hospital bill. Third, set the medical maximum against the cost of care where you are going. One hundred thousand dollars is a reasonable floor for most destinations, and $250,000 or more for the United States. Fourth, check the evacuation limit against the remoteness of your trip. A beach resort near a city hospital needs less evacuation cover than a trekking trip. Fifth, read the pre-existing condition language in full, including the acute onset definition and any age cutoff, and do not rely on a sales summary. Sixth, get the quote for your exact age, trip length, and destination, since starting prices assume a young traveler. Finally, buy before you travel. Travel medical plans do not cover a trip that has already started, and buying at the airport usually means paying more for less cover.
Key takeaways
For United States residents going abroad, IMG Patriot International Lite is the cheapest comprehensive travel medical plan at about $55 a month. For visitors to the United States, IMG Visitors Care starts at less than $1 a day but pays fixed benefits. The cheapest plan in each direction is also the thinnest, with a low maximum or fixed benefits, so match the maximum to the cost of care at your destination and check the evacuation limit. Age moves the price sharply: a 30-day trip costs $39 to $85 at age 50 on Visitors Care and $151 at age 80. Confirm the direction, the benefit type, and the pre-existing condition language before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest travel medical insurance for international travel?
For United States residents traveling abroad, IMG Patriot International Lite starts at about $55 a month. For visitors traveling to the United States, IMG Visitors Care starts at less than $1 a day. Both are starting prices for younger travelers; your own quote depends on age, destination, trip length, and deductible.
How much does short term medical insurance for international travel cost per day?
Travel medical insurance typically runs about $1.50 to $5 a day depending on age and destination. The cheapest fixed-benefit plans start under $1 a day, while comprehensive plans with high maximums run $2 to $5 a day for younger travelers and considerably more past age 65.
Does short term travel medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. Most cheap travel medical plans exclude pre-existing conditions entirely. Some IMG plans cover an acute onset, a sudden and unexpected recurrence needing immediate treatment, for travelers under age 70. Routine treatment and ongoing management of a known condition are not covered.
What is the difference between travel medical and trip cancellation insurance?
Travel medical insurance pays for emergency medical care abroad. Trip cancellation insurance pays back prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason. Comprehensive travel insurance combines both. A medical-only plan is much cheaper and fits trips where the prepaid cost is low or refundable.
How much medical coverage do I need for international travel?
A common benchmark is at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 to $1,000,000 in evacuation coverage. A few days of inpatient care in the United States, Japan, or Western Europe can exceed $50,000, which is more than the cheapest plans’ maximums.
Can I buy travel medical insurance after my trip starts?
Generally no. Travel medical plans must be bought before departure, and most require purchase before the trip begins. Buying at the airport or after arrival usually means fewer options at higher prices, and some plans will not cover a trip already in progress.
Sources: IMG Patriot plan pricing published by American Visitor Insurance (Patriot International Lite from $55 a month; 30-day senior quotes), IMG plan descriptions for Visitors Care, Patriot America Lite and Plus, and Patriot Platinum (coverage periods 5 days to 12 months, maximums to $8,000,000).
