For Travelers: Healthcare Costs In The US Without Health Insurance

Healthcare costs a lot in the US. Every international traveler should buy health insurance. Many nations, including the Schengen Area, require travel health insurance for visa applications. Without health insurance, doctor visits may cost more than your trip, especially in some countries.

Foreigners visiting the US are understandably anxious about the typical cost of a doctor visit or ER visit due to recent media coverage of healthcare expense nightmares.

Health services in the US are the most expensive in the world, so travel health insurance is essential.

US doctor visits cost how much? Will tourists leave half their life savings at the hospital for a simple sprain? What if a major medical emergency occurs? What if you crash?

How Much is a Doctor’s Visit Without Insurance in the USA?

If you merely need a consultation, a doctor’s appointment in the US isn’t too expensive. These cases cost $200–$300.

However, emergency room visits might be expensive if you’re sick or injured.

The National Institute for Health found that the average US ER visit costs $2168. Average prices for some of the most typical ER visits are:

• For sprains and strains: $1498
• For open wounds or extremities: $1650
• For a normal pregnancy or delivery: $2008
• For a headache: $1727
• For back problems: $1476
• For a kidney stone: $4247
• For a urinary tract infection (UTI): $2598
• For an upper respiratory infection: $1101
• For an intestinal infection: $2398
• For other injuries: $2103

The cost of an ER visit also relies on your health insurance coverage (or lack thereof) and the hospital you travel to. Your doctor and therapy may also affect hospital costs.

Remember that the amounts above are averages—some people pay substantially more.

Medical Treatment Costs in USA

Medical treatment in the United States is among the most expensive in the world, and if you don’t have health insurance, a sprained ankle or other unexpected ailment during your vacation may cost you thousands of dollars. The expense of medical testing and procedures is one of the reasons why an ER visit in the United States can be quite costly.

Ambulances

– In the US, an ambulance ride is not paid from taxpayer money. Much like the rest of the healthcare services in the US, ambulances are also a private business and can reach hefty fees.

• The cost for an ambulance ranges from $400 to over $1200, depending on the mileage.
• The cost for an air ambulance ranges from $2,000 to upwards of $200,000

 Medical tests/screenings

Doctors in the US tend to order more medical tests as compared to other countries. This has been referred to as “defensive medicine” – as a way of protecting themselves from a possible lawsuit. What’s more, these tests are also more expensive.

• Blood tests can range from $100 to upwards of $3,000 in price
• An X-Ray can range from $150 to over $3,000
• An MRI can cost from $1,000 to more than $5,000

Medications

Another reason for high medical costs in the United States is that the government does not negotiate the prices of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies before they are released. As a result, these charges are frequently high. Diabetes medicine, for example, can exceed $500.

On the other hand, over-the-counter medication (cold medicine, pain reliever, etc.) is relatively affordable.

Surgery

The cost of surgical procedures in the United States is determined by the type of surgery required. Tonsillectomy, for example, might cost anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 or more. Gallbladder removal costs at least $10,000, whereas brain and heart surgery can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

You may also be compelled to pay additional fees for your hospital stay, operating room per-hour rates, and anesthesia.

Hospitalization

The price of a hospital stay in the US can change from one hospital to the other, but on average, it is about $3,000 per day. This means that a ten-day recovery period may set you back $30,000.

If your condition requires you to recover in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), the price is even higher than that.

Dental treatment

A trip to the dentist can also be pricey, although it’s not going to put you at risk of bankruptcy. A dental examination costs about $50, whereas a tooth extraction is set at about $280. Average prices for some other common dental problems are:

• Tooth filling: $115 – $190
• Root canal: $695
• Sedated tooth removal: $217
• Wisdom tooth removal: $175

Health Insurance for Tourists in the US

US tourists don’t need travel health insurance like Schengen Visa holders. Short-term travel health insurance is better than paying the high fees. If nothing else, it will reassure you that a trip to the ER won’t bankrupt you.

Insurance rates alter. Depending on your age, coverage, and number of days in the US, it can cost $2 to $10 each day.

Health Insurance for Expatriates in the US

Long-term US residents must have private health insurance. US health insurance is optional. Avoiding it is risky. Canadian expats in the US should read this health insurance guide.

Your US Work Visa employer may provide health insurance. If not, you must buy it through an overseas health insurance carrier.

F1 Visa Health Insurance is generally required for international students and has set coverage. However, you normally pay for the insurance plan.

US health insurance plans average $400 per month, depending on state, coverage, and company.

Please bear in mind that this article is intended for informational purposes, and that the expenses shown are an average and may vary from state to state, as well as from one hospital or doctor to the next.