Short term health insurance for Expats going back to the States for a month

[yoga*bird]

I hate that the USA has such messed up health care. I have used and like the public health care in both Argentina and Brazil and thankfully I've never had to go for anything very serious. Faced with going back to the States for a month I have to find catastrophic health insurance to cover me while in the States. I own a home in the USA and if I were in a horrible car crash I would loose my house to medical bills. Does anyone have any tips for short term health insurance or travel insurance that works for US citizens inside their country? Normally travel insurance is for those who travel outside of their country. I would appreciate any tips. Thanks.

 

[DontMindMe]

Agreed; our system is an abomination. And every time someone tries to do something about it, people cry socialism. Ridiculous and tragic.

I found this page with some tips: http://www.usatourist.com/english/traveltips/travel-insurance-tips.html

Do I understand correctly that you don't have any private insurance coverage here (OSDE, Swiss Medical, etc.)? Because depending on which plan you have, you can get coverage at certain hospitals in larger U.S. cities--cobertura en el exterior. For example, with my OSDE 210 plan I can go to certain hospitals in Houston, Miami, and I believe a couple other places. It might be worth looking into signing up for a private plan here if that is the case for you, and then cancelling when you get back. But keep in mind some benefits of these plans don't go into effect until you've had them for a certain number of months. Hopefully someone else will have more detailed and helpful information for you. Good luck!

 

[steveinbsas]

There are a number of kiosks at the airport that sell travlers' insurance. I think it's the same company that Medicus uses for their policy holders traveling abroad.

If anyone can confirm or dispute this please do so.

 

[marksoc]

I travelled ONE YEAR with comprehensive coverage from ISSTA. It was something like 2,5 USD per day. More expensive than the same thing in Europe or Israel, but still very affordable (and I think cheaper than Universal and Assist Card). They have offices in the Microcenter.

 

[lwfh]

www.worldnomads.com is where I usually buy health insurance if I am leaving Argentina. Definitely cheaper than Assist card and Allianz but I have to admit I mostly searched in English so you might find a better deal if you search in Spanish

Some people with better plans here are covered when abroad, so worth checking.

Some Argentine credit cards also give a (small amount) of coverage when abroad

 

[yoga*bird]

Hi,
Don't have health insurance in Argentina so that will not work nor do I have Argentine credit cards. I think I will go with worldnomads I used it once before. I just want to have something in case of an emergency.
Side note:
In the mean time I hope the US will learn to stop waging and spending money on war and take care of its own citizens. It is a shame for the whole world, not only for those in the rest of the world who die during invasions...of sorry "liberation", but for those who die or become homeless b/c they don't have health care in one of the world's most wealthy countries. I am ashamed...(sorry I had to get that off my chest...hope it doesn't open a can of worms on this thread...)but I deeply hate this point about the USA.

 

[El Duderino]

One weird thing I noticed on worldnomads, it says "Worldwide or Domestic trip over 100 miles from home". So if I go home to the states and get injured near my house, I won't be covered?

 

[marksoc]

To buy insurance from ISSTA yo don´t need a local credit card. I paid in cash. You need to buy insurance from the country that you are going out (so, Argentina). I think that you will be covered if you buy the insurance here (if you buy it from the Internet with your American card could be a problem if the insurance does not specify that you are starting from Argentina).

 

[yoga*bird]

Good point I will take that into consideration...thanks

 

[jez]

Interturis which is part of OSDE do travel insurance, not sure what coverage you need, they do medical up to u$s 20,000 + baggage etc...

http://www.interturis.com.ar/asistencias.do