Best USA Travel Insurance Plans 2025

Kathy Kwok
Written By:
Kathy Kwok
| Updated September 12, 2025
2
6 Mins Read
Part 4 of 6 from article series: Travel Insurance Destination →
Best US Travel Insurance 2025
Part of the SeriesDestination

Best USA Travel Insurance Plans 2025

A trip to the USA is a popular choice for Hongkongers, whether it's for a family vacation to Hawaii, a photography trip to Grand Canyon, or a city break in New York. While you plan the fun, don’t overlook protection: healthcare in the US is among the most expensive in the world That's why having a solid travel insurance plan with overseas medical expenses coverage and other covers specifically for your itinerary is essential. We've compiled things to watch out for when planning your US trip and choosing a travel insurance plan for your travel to the land of America!

TLDR? Here’s the Summary!

  • Medical Costs: The US healthcare system is private and very expensive for visitors. An ambulance ride or a visit to the emergency room can cost thousands of Hong Kong dollars.

  • Trip Disruptions: Natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires are common in the US and can cause costly flight delays or cancellations.

  • Common Issues: Pickpocketing, lost passports, and accidents (like on a ski trip) are frequent problems for travelers.

  • Essential Coverage: Prioritize a plan with high limits for medical costs, trip cancellations, and lost luggage or documents. Add-ons for adventure sports are highly recommended.

  • Support: A 24/7 multilingual hotline (especially with Cantonese support) is a critical resource in an emergency.

  • When to Buy: You must buy your policy before leaving Hong Kong. Coverage is invalid if you purchase it after you have already started your trip.

  • Important Checks: Always check the deductible (excess), declare any pre-existing conditions, and save the insurance company's hotline number before you go.

Why Travel Insurance is a Must for US Trips

1. Expensive medical costs for visitors

Many hospitals in the US are privately run, and medical costs for visitors can be extremely high. A simple emergency room visit can cost thousands of dollars, and an ambulance ride can be up to US$1,200. A hospital stay can easily cost thousands per day.

2. Trip delays and disruptions

Hurricanes on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts (from May to November) and wildfires in western states can cause widespread flight delays or cancellations. Without insurance, you could lose money on non-refundable bookings.

3. Petty crime and theft

Hong Kong has a very low crime rate, so it's easy to be less cautious. But in the US, especially in big cities, petty crime like pickpocketing is more common in crowded areas and on public transport.

4. Rental Vehicle Excess Coverage for Road Trips

Driving is a common way to explore the US, making rental cars a popular choice. However, rental vehicles often come with an excess fee you must pay if there’s damage or theft. Travel insurance with rental vehicle excess coverage protects you from costly out-of-pocket expenses. This coverage ensures peace of mind and lets you enjoy your US travels worry-free.

5. Other mishaps Hong Kongers often face

  • Losing your passport while on a family trip to Disneyland    

  • A ski accident in Colorado without the right add-on coverage

  • Getting pickpocketed in a crowded area like Times Square in New York    

  • A flight delay during hurricane season on the East Coast or snow season

What to Look for in US Travel Insurance for HongKongers?

1. Medical and hospitalization coverage

Because of the high costs of US healthcare, this is the most important part of your policy. We recommend choosing a plan with a very high medical coverage limit. Some plans, like Allianz's Travel Extra (Gold), offer up to HK$2 million in medical coverage, which includes overseas medical expenses, follow-up medical expenses after you return to Hong Kong, as well as Chinese medical practitioner, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy. The plan also offers Overseas Hospital Daily Cash Benefit, with the maximum amount of HK$10,000 (HK$500 per day).

2. Trip cancellations and delays protections

A trip to the US is a big investment. This coverage protects that investment by reimbursing you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to an unexpected event, like an illness or a natural disaster. This is especially important given the risk of flight disruptions from hurricanes and wildfires.

3. Lost baggage or travel documents

Losing your luggage or passport is a major headache. A good travel policy will cover the cost of replacing your personal belongings and travel documents. Check the coverage limits, as they can vary widely between providers. Some plans offer up to HK$20,000 for lost baggage.

4. Adventure sports add-ons

The US has many opportunities for adventure. However, many standard policies do not cover "high-risk" activities like sky diving, hot air balloon, or scuba diving. If you plan to do these, make sure your policy covers the activities or offers an optional add-on. Be sure to read the fine print to check for specific exclusions.

Insurance companies such as AXA and Starr offer protections for these activities as long as they’re conducted under proper guidance and within the scope of the policy’s terms and conditions. Be sure to check the fine prints to see what are the specific exclusions.

5. Multilingual 24/7 Assistance

When an emergency happens, a direct line to professional help is a must. A 24/7 hotline that offers support in languages like Cantonese and English is invaluable, especially with the big time difference between Hong Kong and the US. 

Top 5 US Travel Insurance Plans for Hong Kong Travellers

Here’s a breakdown of policies popular with HK residents travelling to US in 2025:

Travel Insurance Plan

Medical Coverage

Trip Cancellation

Personal Baggage

Premium (14-day trip)*

Unique Features

STARR Companies TraveLead Supreme Plan

HK$1,500,000

HK$50,000

HK$2,000

HK$

Rental Vehicle Excess up to HK$5,000

Allianz Travel - Gold Plan (Single Trip)

HK$2,000,000

HK$40,000

HK$25,000

HK$

"Cancel for Any Reason" of up to 75% of costs for non-covered reasons

Blue Cross TravelSafe Plus - Global Gold Plan (Single-plan Cover)

HK$750,000

HK$15,000

HK$10,000

HK$

Cover medical expenses of Chinese medical treatment, physiotherapy treatment and chiropractic treatment within 90 days after returning to Hong Kong as a follow-up treatment

AXA SmartTraveller Plus Premier Plan

HK$500,000

HK$25,000

HK$8,000

HK$

Covers for non-professional sports activities 

Dah Sing Insurance JourneySure Travel Insurance - Diamond

HK$1,000,000

HK$50,000

HK$20,000

HK$

Zero excess for all coverage

*The discounted rates are applicable only to bookings made via MoneySmart.

👉 All prices shown are for a 30-year-old traveller departing from Hong Kong to the US for 14 days.

Want to check out more travel insurance plans for your US trip?

👉 Compare US Travel Insurance Plans Now

FAQ

Which plan offers the highest medical coverage for a US trip?

From the comparison table above, Allianz Travel Gold Plan offers the highest medical coverage limits, with up to HK$2 million in medical coverage.

Which coverage should I be pay specific attention when choosing travel insurance for my US trip?

It depends on your itinerary, the value of personal belongings you’ll bring along, etc. If you are looking to have road trips in the US, opting for travel insurance that provides rental vehicle excess would be wise. If you intend to try out high-risks sports or go to areas with inherent risks such as the Grand Canyon (potential dangers and risks include falling from the rims, dehydration and heat stroke, etc.), you should consider purchasing travel insurance that covers such non-professional sports.

Can I buy insurance after arriving in the US?

No. Your coverage will only start from the purchase date. This means anything that happened before you bought the policy—like a flight delay or an illness—would not be covered. Also, all travel insurance issued by Hong Kong insurers is for travellers from and back to Hong Kong, if the policy is purchased after your departure, the policy most likely is invalid. It’s always best to buy before you leave Hong Kong.

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Kathy Kwok
Written By:Kathy KwokOrganic Marketing Specialist
Kathy有超過2年內容策劃經驗,熱愛閱讀金融書籍及撰寫理財文章,熟悉香港人的理財需要,致力將貸款、投資同保險等複雜個人理財概念化繁為簡,幫大家掌握理財竅門。