🧑‍🧓 爸媽來美 × 長途飛行 × 血栓風險：Visitor Insurance 怎麼買？台灣旅平險夠不夠？

這篇文章是寫給兩種人看的：

在美國生活、準備接爸媽或長輩來美探親的你
在台灣（或其他國家），準備飛來美國看孩子、看孫子的爸媽、阿公阿嬤

很多家庭都有一樣的擔心：

爸媽年紀大，又有糖尿病、高血壓，坐十幾個小時飛機會不會血栓？
如果在飛機上、或到美國後發生肺栓塞（Pulmonary Embolism），醫療費用怎麼辦？
在台灣已經有買旅平險、不便險了，還需要額外買美國的 Visitor Insurance 嗎？

這篇我們用最簡單的方式，帶你搞懂：

血栓／肺栓塞是什麼？為什麼長途飛行風險比較高？
台灣旅平險（不便險）在美國實際可以幫多少？
Visitor Insurance（來美旅遊醫療保險）保什麼、不保什麼？
爸媽有慢性病（糖尿病、高血壓），可以投保嗎？
如果真的在美國發生血栓或住院，家人會面臨什麼狀況？

🫁 一、血栓跟肺栓塞到底是什麼？長途飛行為什麼特別怕？

多數的肺栓塞（Pulmonary Embolism, PE），其實是從腿部的 DVT（Deep Vein Thrombosis，深層靜脈血栓） 開始。

長時間久坐、血液滯留在腿部 → 在深層靜脈形成血塊（DVT）。
血塊脫落，隨血流一路往上跑。
最後卡在肺部的血管 → 變成肺栓塞。

常見症狀：

突然覺得喘不過氣、呼吸困難
胸悶、胸痛，深呼吸時更痛
心跳很快、頭暈、快要昏倒
一隻腿突然腫、熱、痛（可能是 DVT 徵兆）

長途飛行為什麼特別容易引發血栓？

久坐不動：經濟艙腿部空間小，很難伸直腳。
容易脫水：機艙乾燥，水喝不夠，血液更黏稠。
年紀偏大＋慢性病：血管彈性變差、循環較慢。

下面這些族群，風險更高：

60～90 歲的長輩
有糖尿病、高血壓、高血脂
曾有心肌梗塞、中風、心臟病史
過去有 DVT / PE 病史
最近動過大手術、長期臥床

這也是為什麼，很多在美國的子女會問：

爸媽來美之前，到底該準備什麼樣的保險，才能在「萬一真的出事」時，不至於整個家庭一起被醫療帳單壓垮？

✈️ 二、台灣旅平險／不便險，來美國真的「夠用」嗎？

先講結論：

台灣旅平險（旅遊不便險）很好，但「通常不夠」應付美國的醫療費。

台灣的旅平險，多半側重在：

班機延誤、行李延誤
行程取消、縮短
旅程中意外身故、失能
行李損壞、文件遺失

有些商品也有附醫療補償，但常見的問題是：

醫療給付金額偏低（例如幾萬元、十幾萬元台幣）
是「實支實付」或「定額給付」，但上限遠低於美國醫療成本
有時候規則較偏向「海外突發意外」，對慢性病或舊疾有很大限制

但在美國，常見醫療費用大概是：

一次急診（ER）：美金 2,000～8,000 很常見
住院一天：美金 5,000～10,000＋
加護病房（ICU）：美金 10,000～20,000／天 以上
心肺相關重症、開刀、長期住院：總額破 50,000～100,000 美金 並不誇張

所以：

台灣旅平險 ≠ 美國醫療保險
台灣旅平險 ≠ Visitor Medical Insurance

它可以當成「加分」或「補貼」，但很難單獨扛起美國醫療帳單。

🏥 三、什麼是 Visitor Insurance？跟旅平險有什麼不一樣？

當爸媽、親戚「來美國」時，我們比較希望他們有的是：

Visitor Insurance / Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors to the U.S.
（專門給非美國居民、來美短期停留用的旅遊醫療保險）

這類保險的重點是：

醫療為主：急診、住院、手術、醫療檢查
通常含有：Emergency Room、Hospitalization、手術費用
多數有：Emergency Medical Evacuation（緊急醫療後送）
多數有：Repatriation of Remains（遺體運回原居國）
有的會附少量的旅行不便保障（行李延誤、班機延誤等）

簡單說：

台灣旅平險：做的是「旅程」的保護（行李、班機、意外）
Visitor Insurance：做的是「在美國看病、住院」的保護

兩個都重要，但功能不一樣。

🩺 四、爸媽有糖尿病、高血壓、心臟病，可以買 Visitor Insurance 嗎？

大部分的長輩多少都有一點慢性病：

糖尿病
高血壓
高血脂
心臟病、心律不整
甲狀腺問題

好消息是：多數 Visitor Insurance 並不會因為「有慢性病」就不讓你投保。

但現實是：對於「既往病史（Pre-existing Conditions）」的保障，有幾種常見狀況：

完全排除：所有與既往病史相關的問題，一律不賠。
只賠「急性發作」的一部分（Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition）：例如原本有心臟病，高度穩定，旅途中突然心肌梗塞，有些計畫會給「有限度」的給付。
有年齡限制：例如「Acute Onset」只賠 70 歲以下，超過不保。

所以當爸媽有慢性病時，不是不能來，而是：

保單可能不賠「慢性病本身」惡化
但仍然會賠很多「完全跟慢性病無關」的意外或疾病
有些計畫會對「急性發作」給有限賠付（條款一定要看清楚）

那血栓算什麼？

如果爸媽過去沒有血栓病史，只是年紀大、有慢性病 → 飛機上第一次發生血栓或肺栓塞，很多情況下會被視為「新的急性事件」，而非既往病史。
如果爸媽過去就有血栓 / PE 病史，且近期仍在治療 → 很多 Visitor Insurance 會把它視為 Pre-existing Condition，與此相關的醫療費用常常不在理賠範圍。

⚖️ 五、真實情境：如果爸媽在飛機上或在美國發生血栓，會怎樣？

情境 A：爸媽沒有血栓病史，只是慢性病＋久坐 → 第一次發生血栓

通常流程可能是：

在飛機上出現胸痛、喘不過氣，或是抵達後幾天突然覺得很不舒服。
被送到美國急診（ER），醫院會先做檢查（血液、X 光、CT、超音波）。
如果判定是 DVT / PE，需要住院甚至 ICU 觀察。

在這種情況下：

若有 Visitor Insurance，且保單沒有排除這類「新發生的急症」，多半可以理賠。
台灣旅平險可能會有一點安撫金或定額給付，但通常不足以 cover 美國全部醫療費用。

情境 B：爸媽有舊的血栓病史，且近期才住院

這時候：

很多 Visitor Insurance 可能會認定為「高風險既往病史」。
與這個疾病相關的醫療費用，保險公司有高度機會不賠。
就算願意賣保險，也可能對相關理賠做很多限制。

這種狀況下，更重要的是：

先跟醫生討論：這趟旅行安不安全？能不能延後？
如果真的要來 → 家人要心理準備：一旦出事，可能會有高額自付額。

💬 六、身為在美國的子女，我可以怎麼幫爸媽準備？

實務上，你可以做幾件事：

請爸媽先回診，問清楚醫生意見
問問題包括：
- 現在的身體狀況，適不適合飛十幾個小時？
- 需不需要在飛機上穿彈性襪？
- 需不需要調整用藥？
- 如果在飛機上或抵達後不舒服，家人應該注意哪些警訊？
協助了解 Visitor Insurance 的選項與限制
你可以：
- 比較幾個 Visitor Insurance 的方案（醫療額度、免賠額、自付額）
- 特別留意「有無涵蓋急性發作（Acute Onset of Pre-existing）」
- 看清楚年齡限制（例如 70＋、80＋的條款）
提醒爸媽：台灣旅平險是補充，不是全部
告訴爸媽很重要的一句話：

「台灣旅平險很好，但主要保的是行李、班機、意外。
真正在美國看病、住院要靠 Visitor Medical Insurance。」
分享飛機上的自我保護方法
- 盡量選走道位，方便起身走動
- 每 1～2 小時起來走一圈、做小腿伸展
- 多喝水，少喝酒、咖啡
- 照醫生指示使用彈性襪或藥物

🔗 七、延伸閱讀（等其他文章上線後可加連結）

小結：
爸媽來美探親，最重要的不是「要不要來」，而是：
在懂得自己身體狀況、聽取醫生建議的前提下，幫他們準備好適合的 Visitor Insurance，讓一家人都玩得安心、睡得踏實。

🧑‍🧓 Parents Visiting the U.S., Long Flights & Blood Clot Risks: Do You Need Visitor Insurance Beyond Home-Country Travel Plans?

This article is for:

Adult children living in the U.S. who are inviting parents or grandparents to visit
Parents or older relatives flying from overseas (Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, etc.) to visit family in America

Many families share the same worries:

“My parents are in their 60s or 70s, with diabetes or high blood pressure. Will a 12–15 hour flight increase their risk of blood clots?”
“If they develop a blood clot or pulmonary embolism (PE) on the plane or in the U.S., how much will medical care cost?”
“We already bought travel insurance in our home country. Is that enough, or do we also need U.S.-style visitor insurance?”

In this guide, we’ll explain in simple terms:

What blood clots and pulmonary embolism are, and why long flights can be risky
What typical home-country travel plans (like “trip inconvenience insurance”) cover — and what they don’t
What Visitor Insurance (travel medical for visitors to the U.S.) is designed to do
How chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure affect coverage
What may happen — financially and medically — if a serious event occurs in the U.S.

🫁 1. What Are Blood Clots and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and Why Are Long Flights a Concern?

Most pulmonary embolisms (PE) start as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg.

Due to prolonged sitting, blood flow slows in the deep veins of the legs.
A clot forms and may eventually break off.
The clot travels through the bloodstream and lodges in the arteries of the lungs → this is a pulmonary embolism.

Common symptoms include:

Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Chest pain, especially when taking a deep breath
Rapid heartbeat
Feeling lightheaded or faint
One leg becoming swollen, warm, or painful (possible DVT sign)

Why are long flights a concern?

Prolonged sitting: Economy seats are tight; it’s hard to stretch or move.
Dehydration: Dry cabin air and low water intake can make the blood thicker.
Age and chronic illness: Older travelers with diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease already have reduced circulation and vessel flexibility.

People at higher risk include:

Travelers aged 60–90
Those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol
People with a history of heart disease, stroke, or previous DVT/PE
Those who are obese or very sedentary
Anyone who recently had major surgery or prolonged bed rest

That’s why many families ask:

“If my parents fly to the U.S. and something serious happens, what kind of insurance do we need so that we’re not completely overwhelmed by U.S. hospital bills?”

✈️ 2. Are Home-Country Travel Plans Enough for a Trip to the U.S.?

Short answer:

Home-country travel plans (often focused on trip inconvenience) are helpful, but usually not enough to cover U.S. medical costs.

Many travel plans sold in Asia focus on:

Flight delays, cancellations
Lost or delayed baggage
Trip interruption or curtailment
Accidental death or dismemberment

Some also include medical benefits, but common issues are:

The medical limit may be relatively low (e.g., a modest lump sum in local currency)
Benefits may be defined as fixed payouts or capped reimbursements
There may be strict limits on pre-existing or chronic conditions

Meanwhile, typical U.S. medical costs look like this:

One ER visit: US$2,000–$8,000 (often more)
One day of hospitalization: US$5,000–$10,000+
ICU care: US$10,000–$20,000 per day or more
Serious heart or lung events with surgery and extended stay: US$50,000–$100,000+ is not unusual

So, in practical terms:

Home-country trip insurance ≠ U.S.-style medical coverage
Home-country trip insurance ≠ Visitor Medical Insurance

It can provide helpful financial support, but it’s rarely enough to handle a major medical emergency in the U.S. on its own.

🏥 3. What Is Visitor Insurance for the U.S., and How Is It Different?

When parents or older relatives are visiting the U.S., what you ideally want is:

Visitor Insurance / Travel Medical Insurance for Visitors to the U.S.

These plans are generally designed to focus on:

Medical care: emergency room, hospitalization, surgery, diagnostics
Emergency medical evacuation (if needed)
Repatriation of remains (returning the body to the home country in case of death)
Sometimes small benefits for travel delay or baggage issues

In simple terms:

Home-country travel plans focus more on trip issues (flight, luggage, schedule).
Visitor Insurance focuses on medical issues in the U.S. (ER, hospital, ICU).

Both can be useful, but they do very different jobs.

🩺 4. Can Parents with Diabetes, Hypertension, or Heart Disease Buy Visitor Insurance?

Many older travelers have chronic conditions, such as:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Heart disease or arrhythmia
Thyroid disorders

The good news: Most visitor insurance providers do not automatically reject applicants just because they have chronic conditions.

The reality: Coverage for pre-existing conditions is often limited.

Common patterns include:

Complete exclusion: Any treatment directly related to a pre-existing condition is not covered.
Limited coverage for “acute onset”: If a previously stable condition suddenly worsens, some plans provide partial coverage under “acute onset of pre-existing condition” benefits.
Age-based restrictions: Some acute-onset benefits end at a certain age (for example, no coverage above 70).

So for parents with chronic illnesses:

Visitor Insurance may not fully cover all complications of a long-standing condition.
However, it still provides strong protection for many new, unrelated illnesses and injuries.
Some plans may offer limited coverage for acute worsening of pre-existing conditions — but the details must be read carefully.

What about blood clots?

If parents have never had a blood clot or PE before and develop one for the first time during or after a long flight, it may be treated as a new emergency event, not a pre-existing condition (subject to policy terms).
If they have a known history of DVT/PE and have been treated recently, many visitor plans will consider it a pre-existing condition and may exclude related treatment.

⚖️ 5. What Happens If a Parent Develops a Blood Clot on the Plane or in the U.S.?

Scenario A: First-ever clot, no prior history, just age + chronic conditions

Example:

Your 72-year-old mother has diabetes and high blood pressure, but no prior DVT/PE history.
After a long flight, she suddenly feels short of breath and has chest pain.
She’s taken to the ER in the U.S., evaluated, and diagnosed with PE.

In this scenario:

If she has a visitor insurance plan with solid emergency medical coverage and no specific exclusion for this situation, there is a good chance the event will be covered.
The home-country travel plan may pay a fixed benefit or small reimbursement, but it is unlikely to cover the full U.S. medical bill.

Scenario B: Known history of DVT/PE, recent treatment before travel