USA Travel Insurance Guide for New Zealanders

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises that New Zealanders travelling or living in the United States should have comprehensive travel and medical insurance in place (SafeTravel (MFAT): United States travel advice). Its general travel insurance advice adds that even minor medical treatment overseas can be expensive and that the New Zealand Government will not pay these costs (SafeTravel (MFAT): Travel insurance).

ACC does not help while you are away: it does not cover overseas treatment costs or non-accident medical emergencies, although it may cover treatment for an accidental injury once you are back in New Zealand (ACC: If you're a New Zealander injured overseas).

• The overseas medical limit. Some policies state a dollar limit, others describe the benefit as unlimited — check the figure or wording in the policy schedule, not the marketing summary.
• Whether the policy sets a separate or lower limit for the Americas, or charges a different premium for the USA.
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation to New Zealand, and whether the insurer must approve it first.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: which are covered automatically, which need an assessment, and which are excluded.
• How the insurer pays: whether its assistance team can arrange payment directly with a hospital, or whether you pay and claim back.

• Rental vehicle excess cover, and any conditions about who can drive and on which roads.
• Personal liability, which covers claims against you for injury or damage to others, subject to the policy terms.
• Cancellation and delay cover for long-haul flights and connections.
• Activities you plan to do, such as skiing or hiking, which some policies cover only with an add-on.

• Read the latest SafeTravel advice for the United States and register your travel with SafeTravel.
• Save your insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance number and your policy number on your phone and on paper.
• Carry enough prescription medication and a letter from your doctor.
• Keep all medical invoices and reports in case you need to claim.

More detail: our longer USA travel insurance guide and how much medical cover you need.