In the United States, a hospital stay can exceed $200,000. French social security reimburses nothing outside Europe. To travel without financial risk, check the medical limit, direct billing and the cancellation cover. We compare 45 policies to find the one that fits your situation.
Traveling to the United States without insurance is the riskiest bet you can make on your health. A night in intensive care runs between $15,000 and $30,000. French social security reimburses nothing outside Europe. At admission, the hospital asks you for proof of solvency: cash, card, or proof of insurance.
Four points are non-negotiable before you sign. A medical limit of at least €1M, ideally €2.5M. The hospital direct billing so that the insurer settles with the hospital without you having to pay anything upfront. Repatriation at actual cost, because an air ambulance flight often exceeds €80,000. And solid personal liability, in a country where a simple accident can turn into a lawsuit worth several million.
On the budget side, serious coverage runs between €3 and €8/day, or €30 to €60 for a week. All-inclusive policies with cancellation, luggage and €2.5M in medical cover start closer to €80/week. We compare 45 policies to help you find the one that fits your situation.
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50+ offers compared · best matches for this profile · Updated July 10, 2026
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Antoine F., Short leisure trip? Secure Silver keeps it simple: €1,500,000 in medical cover with direct billing at US hospitals — no advance payment, no paperwork while you travel.
Indicative rates for 1 adult · leisure trip · 1 week · no pre-existing condition · HelloSafe is paid by insurers when a policy is purchased through our links. This does not influence our ranking.
Some risks depend on the season: tornadoes in spring, hurricanes in fall, tensions on transatlantic routes. Others are present year-round : medical costs with no regulated cap, a litigious civil-lawsuit culture, and a total absence of public coverage for foreigners. A single incident without insurance can expose you to several hundred thousand euros in costs.
Regardless of the season or current events, three risks weigh on every stay in the United States. They are structural: they will not go away.
The United States is one of the few countries where a week in intensive care can exceed €230,000. French social security reimburses little to nothing beyond its base rates: a few hundred euros on a bill that runs into tens of thousands. What few travelers anticipate: American hospitals (NewYork-Presbyterian, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Medical Center) require proof of solvency before any treatment. Without insurance that includes hospital direct billing, you pay the costs upfront and wait for reimbursement, sometimes for several months. The minimum limit recommended for the United States is €300,000. The best plans go up to €2,500,000, which remains justified given the real rates charged in American hospitals.
Covers to prioritize: Medical expenses limit of at least €300,000 (ideally €1,000,000 or more for the USA); hospital direct billing included from the first euro; medical repatriation at actual cost, with no cap.
The United States is the most litigious jurisdiction in the world. A trivial incident in Europe (a fall in a hotel hallway, a fender-bender in a parking lot, accidental damage to a third party) can lead there to a civil jury trial and very high damages. The limits recorded for personal liability regularly exceed €4,100,000. Premium bank cards sometimes cover personal liability, but their limits often stay below €100,000, where an American judgment can exceed that sum tenfold. A policy with private personal liability abroad, with a limit of at least €1,000,000, is the minimum protection to require for any stay in the United States.
Covers to prioritize: Private personal liability abroad, minimum limit €1,000,000 (ideally €4,500,000); cover for bodily injury and property damage caused to third parties; legal assistance included.
A transatlantic ticket Paris–New York or Paris–Los Angeles costs on average €1,850 round trip. The most competitive fares are non-refundable and non-changeable. Hurricane season officially runs from June to November, but disruptions affect flights to Miami, Houston or New York as early as May. On top of that is the medical risk: a sick leave the day before departure, a family hospitalization. The cancellation terms of American airlines (Delta, American Airlines, United) are often more restrictive than in Europe. Without cancellation cover, you lose the entire ticket and the prepaid accommodation, a dead loss often greater than €3,000 for a standard trip.
Covers to prioritize: All-cause cancellation (medical reasons and natural disasters included); trip interruption with reimbursement of unused nights; transport delay over 4h (accommodation and meals covered).
American hospitals require proof of solvency before any treatment: a bank card with sufficient funds, proof of insurance, or a cash deposit. Without proof, you can be refused or delayed for non-urgent care.
For the United States, direct billing is not a comfort feature. It is what spares you from advancing $30,000 to the hospital and then waiting weeks for a reimbursement. Before you sign, also check whether the assistance has an American number (+1). It makes a real difference when you need help at 3 a.m. from Los Angeles.
Not all covers are equal, and not all are necessary. The table below ranks the ones that truly matter for the United States, with the minimum thresholds to look for in your policy.
Require coverage from the first euro, with no advance payment (direct billing). Some offers go up to €2.5M for the USA.
In the United States, every medical procedure is billed individually, with no regulated rate. Hospitals can make access to non-urgent care conditional on a payment guarantee. Hospital direct billing means the insurer guarantees payment directly to the facility: you pay nothing upfront and you don't wait for a reimbursement after the fact.
A medical repatriation USA → France can exceed €60,000. Make sure a dedicated +1 emergency number for the USA is available.
A medical repatriation by air ambulance between the United States and France generally costs between €40,000 and €80,000. The cover must include actual costs, with no cap. Also check whether the assistance can arrange care on site and connect you with English-speaking hospitals.
American lawsuits can run into the millions. Check the liability limit; some policies adjust it automatically.
In the United States, a car accident, a fall on private property or an ordinary incident can lead to lawsuits at amounts on a completely different scale from European standards. A personal liability limit of €4.5M is recommended.
Tornado season (March–June) and hurricanes (Aug–Oct): cancellation for natural disasters is very useful.
Cancellation reimburses the costs incurred if you cannot leave for a covered reason (illness, accident, death). Interruption covers an early return during the stay. For the USA, make sure natural disasters are indeed among the accepted reasons.
Frequent turbulence on transatlantic routes. Check the trigger threshold (often 4h) and the accommodation costs covered.
Transport delay covers accommodation and meal costs when your flight is delayed beyond a threshold (generally 4 hours). For the USA, missed connections can lead to unplanned hotel nights at American rates.
Frequent theft in American airports and major cities. Prefer €2,000 minimum with a reasonable deductible (≤ €30).
Luggage theft, loss and damage are common on transatlantic flights and in major American cities. Check the deductible (ideally under €30) and verify how valuables are handled: jewelry, cameras and electronics often have special conditions.
In the event of a dispute in the USA, attorney fees are astronomical. Make sure legal assistance is included in your policy.
Legal assistance covers attorney and procedural fees in the event of a dispute during your stay. In the United States, where the lawsuit culture is everywhere, this cover complements personal liability and can save you considerable costs.
The average claim in the USA costs 228× the price of insurance
Real rates from our comparison tool for 1 week in the USA, with no pre-existing condition. Updated on July 10, 2026.
| Profile | 1 week | 2 weeks | 1 month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo · 30 years | 14 – 121 € | 21 – 121 € | 29 – 215 € |
| Couple | 21 – 242 € | 41 – 242 € | 57 – 430 € |
| Senior · 65+ | 14 – 121 € | 21 – 149 € | 29 – 256 € |
| Family · 2+2 | 41 – 440 € | 81 – 596 € | 113 – 861 € |
The price rises with age and duration. A 60-year-old traveler pays on average 2× more than a 30-year-old. The chosen medical limit (€300,000 vs €2,500,000) also has a strong impact on the rate.
Compare the offers for the United States · free quote in 30 seconds
No, no law requires it to enter the United States with an ESTA or a tourist visa. But without coverage, the slightest medical incident can cost you tens of thousands of euros, with no recourse whatsoever.
The United States requires no proof of insurance to enter the country. Unlike some countries (Schengen, Cuba…), you can enter without coverage.
A simple ER visit can cost $3,000 to $15,000. A one-week hospitalization: $50,000 to $200,000. No recourse possible without insurance.
Not legally mandatory, but you don't go without it.
100% of travel specialists recommend insurance for the USA.
Premium cards include travel coverage, but it is designed for Europe. Here is exactly why it is not limits too low, hidden exclusions, restrictive activation conditions. enough for the United States :
€150,000 sounds like a lot. But heart surgery in the USA costs on average $200,000. Three days in intensive care: $180,000. Not counting the follow-up care and rehabilitation. The card only covers you if the ticket was paid with that specific card. It excludes pre-existing conditions, risky sports, and cancellation for personal or professional reasons.
Answers to the most common questions about travel insurance for the United States: visa, medical coverage, bank card, and much more.
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