This article was last updated and fact checked on January 28, 2023 by Mani Karthik.
So, On October 4, 2019, a new Presidential proclamation was made from the White House, which states that new immigrants to the USA will need to prove that they can afford medical costs in the USA. Here are the details.
Starting on November 3, 2019, immigrants applying for visas to the United States will be required to either show proof of insurance in the U.S. or prove they can pay for health care, within 30 days of entering the country, as a condition of eligibility for a green card in the U.S.
What does this mean?
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Is medical insurance mandatory for USA?
From what we understand, for all immigrant visas to the US, you need to be able to show proof for health care and/or that you can afford medical costs. This means that you need to either have the money to cover any medical costs, or medical insurance from the US that can cover it.
When traveling to USA, travel insurance is much recommended.
Two great plans are, Atlas America and Safe Travels USA.
However there are other choices like these, as well.
Is Medical/Health Insurance mandatory for visit visas to US?
As per the proclamation, it is not clear as to whether all types of visas need medical insurance (it says immigrant visas), but personally I’d recommend anyone traveling to the USA to get medical insurance because it is so cheap and easy to get and covers against major health issues.
How to prove that you have health insurance when traveling to USA?
Two ways you can prove that you can afford health insurance when traveling to USA. One, you could show your bank balance and claim that you have enough money in the account to cover any type of medical emergency. But the problem here is that the medical cost in USA is very high and run into thousands of dollars even for small medical treatment.
So the other safer and smart way is to get temporary medical insurance before you travel to USA. There are many cheaper options to get medical insurance to USA, I’d recommend getting one of those plans.
What medical insurance policies should I get for US travel?
From what it seems, not all medical insurance plans will qualify as adequate proof of medical coverage, but a few might.
Things to keep in mind when choosing a short term medical insurance..
- The policy should be effective for a minimum of 364 days or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside of the United States.
- The policy should provide adequate coverage for medical care for a minimum of 364 days, or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside of the United States.
- The health plan should provide adequate coverage for medical care as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his designee.
The proclamation states that it’s going to be in effect since November 3, 2019. Read the full proclamation here.
