Travel Insurance Direct

Travel Insurance for the USA

Before you head to the States, consider travel insurance with TID.

Visiting America is always going to be an experience whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned traveller to the land of the stars and stripes. You have the glitz of Las Vegas, the laid-back lifestyle of Hawaii, and the mix of cultures, nightlife and music of New Orleans.

With so much to explore, you may want to consider taking out TID travel insurance as it could come in handy if that boys road trip along Route 66 hits the brakes, you have an injury while exploring the great outdoors trying to get that perfect selfie, or if your flight is delayed or cancelled and your stuck in an airport indefinitely (not on our to do list when visiting the US!).

Why should I consider travel insurance in the USA?

From the dramatic cityscapes of New York to the gnarly waves of Maui – you can pack a lot into a trip from Australia to America. Aside from the accent, the currency and driving on the wrong side of the road, the culture is not too dissimilar from ours. Except there's one big difference: America is more than 15,000km away and there are plenty of places to visit that are not New York City, Las Vegas and LA. If something were to go wrong, it would be hard for you to get home quickly.

When you consider travel insurance for America, you're not just covering yourself against things like huge medical bills and theft, you also gain access to a global network which can offer you guidance and support if things go wrong. Travel insurance offers optional extras to tailor cover to suit your needs.

Get a quote to get your next domestic or international adventure underway today.

Do I need a visa to get into the USA from Down Under?

If you are an Aussie planning a trip to the US, you’re probably asking yourself if you need a visa to travel to the USA. If you plan to remain in the USA for less than 90 days, you may not need a visa, but will need to apply for a US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). It takes about 15- 20 minutes to complete, and according to US Customs and Border Patrol, the ESTA will usually return an application status within 72 hours.

Note: Always check the travel requirements and restrictions for the countries you are planning to visit as rules and restrictions are subject to change.

Hit the road with rental vehicle excess cover

One of the best ways to discover and explore the USA is by road. You may need some extra days for some of the longer road trips, but it will be worth every penny as there are some incredible road trips to choose from, some of these include:

  • S. Route 66
  • Great River Road
  • The Loneliest Road in America
  • Vermont Route 100

You can rest assured knowing that TID policies automatically include rental vehicle insurance excess coverage if your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen while it's in your care.  Check out our Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess Cover article to find out more information around coverage.

Travel safe in the USA

Despite some scary news headlines, travelling to the USA is safe. Spread across 50 states, some parts of the country are more secure than others, with most crime occurring in more urban areas. If you’re travelling to America, take precautions and keep your wits about you. Some things to look out for are:

  • Customs: While Australian citizens can buy an ESTA quite easily, be wary when entering the US as there are strict customs laws. Read up on border protection’s restricted items and be prepared to have your fingerprints taken.
  • Crime: Petty theft and pickpocketing do occur in some areas of America. Stay vigilant, keep your belongings secure and report any items stolen immediately.
  • Tickets: America isn’t short of concerts, sports games and shows to go to. If you’re planning on buying tickets, watch out for scammers who sell fakes or use the transaction to steal your card details.
  • Car theft: Reports of thieves stealing cars are still rife in the States, so if you’re hiring a car, park it in a safe lot and don’t leave any valuables inside.

Learn more

What do I do if I need urgent assistance?

Anything can happen when you travel to the US. The last thing you want is your USA holiday to turn into a nightmare because you didn’t consider travel insurance for medical emergencies, and other types of emergencies.

If your trip to the USA gets trumped by sudden illness or serious injury, our Emergency Assistance Team are on call to help get you back on your feet and exploring ‘the city that never sleeps’ or hiking the trails of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The EA team are here to help in any kind of medical emergency, and ready to answer urgent questions as they arise.

Best time to travel to the USA

Deciding when to travel to America really depends on the type of holiday you want and how much budget you must spend.

  • Weather: The USA is a vast country, with diverse seasons across all four corners
  • North: Comfortable summers and snowy winters
  • East: Hot summers and cold winters
  • South: Humid summers and mild winters
  • West: Year-round warmth with hotter summers
  • Busy times: High season in the US is in June, July and August, so most places will be busier during these months.
  • Best flight deals: The cheapest month to fly to America is usually February but watch out! Some places can get cold at that time of year.

Always refer to the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website for current travel alerts affecting the USA before you buy a policy, before you leave Australia, and during your travels. TID’s Travel Alerts page is also an important page to keep bookmarked.

USA travel insurance FAQs

Am I covered for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

All international plans include cover for overseas medical expenses. Depending on the plan you choose, there may also be cover available for some other Coronavirus related events. Cover is explained in detail here

Does travel insurance cover me for tornados, earthquakes, and hurricanes?

Cover may be available if you have to cancel your holiday due to a natural disaster such as a tornado, earthquake or hurricane. You may be covered for the cost of any lost pre-paid arrangements such as airfares and accommodation. You can also choose to re arrange your trip – so long as it's less than the cost of cancellation. You need to ensure you purchased your policy before the natural disaster became a known event and foreseeable. Natural disasters you may be covered for include flood, cyclone, typhoon, wildfire, tsunami, landslide, avalanche, volcanic eruption. 

 

Note: Our definition of ‘Natural disaster’ does not include outbreak of disease, epidemic, pandemic, or any other event that is not specifically included in this definition.

Am I covered for skiing in the USA?

If you plan on going skiing or snowboarding, you will need to select and purchase the ‘Snow sports’ option when purchasing your policy. This will cover you for your time on the snow.

Will travel insurance cover my cruise to the Caribbean that departs from the USA?

Yes, it can. You just need to ensure you select ‘Caribbean Cruise’ and ‘United States’ as destinations when your purchase a TID policy as well as all other countries you plan to visit. You can always select ‘Worldwide’ if you’re usure which countries and regions you will be visiting or cruising around. For more information on TID’s coverage for cruising check out our Cruise Travel Insurance article.

What should I do if I need help understanding my policy?

Our Customer Service team is just a phone call away, ready and able to help you navigate your policy, what you may be covered for and any documentation you need to pick up along the way. TID’s travel safety team work to keep customers informed and publish information on major travel events on our website.

This is a brief summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement.