Travel Insurance for 2 Weeks in USA: What to Buy

For two weeks in the USA, buy a single trip travel medical policy that covers every day you are in the country, with a policy maximum sized for US hospital prices and a plan that pays American providers. Visitor medical plans can be bought for as little as 5 days, so a 14 day policy is routine. The price depends on your age, the maximum, the deductible and the number of days, so compare live quotes rather than relying on a headline figure.

Key facts at a glance

• The United States does not require B-2 visitors or Visa Waiver travelers to show insurance, but it has no public health cover for visitors.
• The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 42 countries to visit for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
• Every visitor plan in Ombrela's plan catalog can be bought for a minimum of 5 days, so a two week policy is within the normal range.
• KFF reports that US community hospitals spent about $3,297 per adjusted inpatient day in 2024. That is the hospital's cost, not the price billed to a visitor.
• Atlas America offers maximums from $50,000 to $2,000,000 under age 65, $50,000 or $100,000 from 65 to 79, and $10,000 from age 80, according to WorldTrips.
• CBP advises carrying medication in its original container with a prescription or doctor's note in English, and no more than a 90 day supply as a rule of thumb.

Do you need travel insurance for 2 weeks in the USA?

Legally, no. Neither a B-2 visa nor an ESTA requires a policy. Financially, the answer is different, because any care you receive is billed to you at US prices. Federal law requires hospital emergency departments to screen and stabilize anyone who arrives, but it does not make the care free.

Home cover rarely fills the gap. The European Commission says the European Health Insurance Card is valid only in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and that it is not an alternative to travel insurance. Public schemes elsewhere are usually built around care at home. Our guide to travel insurance for ESTA travelers covers the rules for Visa Waiver visitors in detail.

How much medical cover do you need for two weeks?

Trip length barely changes the answer, because the cost that matters is a single hospital admission, and that can happen on day two as easily as day twelve. KFF puts hospital expenses per adjusted inpatient day in 2024 at about $4,744 in California, $4,201 in New York and $3,060 in Florida, and a visitor paying without insurance can be billed more than the hospital's cost.

Our editorial view is that $100,000 is a sensible floor for any US trip, with $250,000 or more worth pricing if you are under 65 and the difference fits your budget. Travelers 65 and older should note that many plans cap the maximum by age, as Atlas America does. The medical cost estimator shows typical charges for the city you are visiting.

How much does travel insurance for 2 weeks cost?

Visitor medical premiums are priced for the exact number of days you choose, so you pay for 14 days, not a month. Four inputs move the price: age, policy maximum, deductible and trip length. Age has the largest effect, and a higher deductible lowers the premium because you carry more of the first costs yourself.

Two plan designs also price very differently. Comprehensive plans pay eligible expenses up to the maximum after the deductible. Fixed benefit plans pay a set amount per service and cost less, but can leave a large balance after a hospital stay. For a short trip, the price gap between the two is often small in absolute terms, so check both before you choose. Use our insurance calculator to test how the deductible changes your share of a bill, then compare live prices.

Is a single trip policy better than credit card cover?

Sometimes a card or an annual policy is enough, but check the wording before you fly. Card benefits vary widely, and many focus on trip cancellation, delay and baggage rather than medical care. Before relying on one, confirm these points:

• Medical cover exists. Emergency medical expenses must be a listed benefit, with a stated limit, for trips to the United States.
• The limit fits US prices. A limit designed for European trips can be small against a US admission.
• Primary or secondary. Some benefits pay only after other insurance, which leaves you coordinating two claims.
• Activation rules. Many card benefits apply only if you paid for the trip with that card.
• Who is covered. Check whether a spouse or colleague traveling with you is included, and any age limits.
• How bills get paid. Ask whether the assistance company pays US hospitals directly or expects you to pay and claim.

Our article on credit card travel insurance coverage goes through the common gaps.

Where should you go if you get sick during a short trip?

For a fever, a sprain or an infection, an urgent care center is usually faster and far less expensive than an emergency room. On Atlas America, WorldTrips charges a $15 urgent care copayment in the US, waived with a $0 deductible, and a $200 emergency room copayment for an illness unless you are admitted. Trawick's Safe Travels USA Comprehensive has a $30 urgent care copay and a $200 additional deductible for an emergency room visit for sickness without admission.

Save the address of an urgent care center and a 24 hour pharmacy near your hotel before you arrive, and call the assistance number on your ID card before any planned treatment. Trawick reduces eligible expenses by 50% when a service that requires precertification is not precertified. Our guide to urgent care with travel insurance explains how visits are billed.

What happens if you fall ill near the end of the trip?

Buy the policy to your actual return date, and extend it before it ends if your plans change. WorldTrips' Atlas description of coverage includes a benefit period: after the certificate ends, eligible expenses for an injury or illness diagnosed or treated while it was in force can be covered for up to 90 days. That protects you against a bill that arrives after a problem that started on day 13, but it is not a substitute for covering every day you are in the country.

If you entered on ESTA, you cannot apply to extend your stay, according to USCIS, so plan your dates carefully. For claims, WorldTrips requires proof of claim within 60 days of the last day of the certificate period.

Download our free Two Week USA Trip Medical Checklist below. It helps you set a policy maximum, record live quotes for each traveler, check a credit card policy for gaps, and pack the documents and contacts you would need if you became ill.

How to get covered

Enter your exact arrival and departure dates, each traveler's age, and a maximum and deductible you are comfortable with, then compare comprehensive plans side by side. You can get visitor insurance quotes on Ombrela in a few minutes and buy before you fly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy travel insurance for exactly 14 days in the USA?

Yes. Every visitor plan in Ombrela's catalog can be bought for as few as 5 days, and you choose the exact start and end dates. Set the start date to your departure or arrival and the end date to your return flight. If your trip grows longer, most plans let you extend online before the current end date, so you do not need to buy extra days in advance.

What is the minimum coverage for a two week US trip?

There is no legal minimum for B-2 or ESTA visitors. Our editorial view is that $100,000 is a sensible floor for the United States, because a single hospital admission can reach six figures. Travelers under 65 can often choose higher maximums, while older travelers face lower caps on many plans, such as $50,000 or $100,000 on Atlas America between ages 65 and 79.

Does a single trip policy cover a short side trip to Canada or Mexico?

It depends on the plan. Some visitor plans cover the United States only, while international versions also cover other countries outside your home country. If you plan a side trip, choose a plan whose destination rules include every country on your itinerary, and check the wording for how long you can be outside the United States. Ask before you buy if the plan page is unclear.

Is travel insurance for two weeks worth it if I am young and healthy?

For the United States, usually yes. Accidents, appendicitis and infections are not limited to older travelers, and a short hospital stay can cost more than the entire trip. A policy for a young traveler is typically at the lower end of the price range, so the cost of cover is small compared with a single emergency room visit.

A two week trip is short, but the bills from one bad day are not. Compare two week visitor plans on Ombrela, choose a maximum that fits US prices, and keep the checklist with your passport.