🌏 爸媽來美要買什麼保險？Visitor Insurance 入門：從零搞懂來美旅遊醫療保險

這篇文章是「來美探親保險」系列的第一站，專門寫給：

住在美國的你：準備讓爸媽、親戚來美探親
住在台灣／其他國家的爸媽：準備飛來美國看孩子、看孫子

很多人都有一樣的疑問：

「我在台灣已經買旅平險了，還需要另外買什麼 Visitor Insurance 嗎？」
「爸媽有糖尿病、高血壓，來美國看醫生很貴，保險會不會賠？」
「Visitor Medical 是醫療保險？還是跟旅平險一樣是行李、班機那種？」

這篇先不講太複雜的條款，我們只做一件事：

從零開始，把「來美旅遊醫療保險（Visitor Insurance）」的基本架構講清楚。

🧳 一、為什麼爸媽來美，需要考慮 Visitor Insurance？

如果只記得一句話，可以先記這句：

台灣旅平險 ≠ 美國醫療保險（Visitor Medical）。

台灣的旅平險，多半是為了：

班機延誤、行李延誤、刷卡旅遊不便
旅程取消、旅程縮短
旅途中的意外身故、失能

有些商品會附一點海外醫療補償，但通常金額不高，可能是：

幾萬元～十幾萬元台幣的醫療上限
定額給付（例如住院一天給多少）
或實支實付但上限較低

問題是，美國的醫療費用常常是：

一次急診（ER）：美金 2,000～8,000 甚至更高
住院一天：美金 5,000～10,000＋
加護病房（ICU）：美金 10,000～20,000／天 並不誇張

所以：

台灣旅平險可以當「補助」或「安慰金」，但很難單獨扛起美國的醫療帳單。

這時候，就需要一個專門「保醫療」的東西 ——

Visitor Insurance / Visitor Medical Insurance（訪客旅遊醫療保險）。

🏥 二、什麼是 Visitor Insurance（Visitor Medical Insurance）？

Visitor Insurance 的設計很單純：

對象：不是美國居民，短期來美停留、旅遊、探親的人
保障重點：在美國期間的「看醫生、急診、住院、手術」等醫療費用

大多數 Visitor Medical 計畫會包含：

Emergency Room（急診）
醫師診療費（Doctor Visit）
住院（Hospitalization）
必要的檢查（X 光、CT、超音波、抽血等）
有些會包含處方藥（Prescription Drugs）
Emergency Medical Evacuation（緊急醫療後送）
Repatriation of Remains（遺體運返原居國）

簡單來說：

Visitor Insurance 是「醫療保險」為主，旅平險則是「行程＋行李」為主。

很多家庭的配置會變成：

爸媽在台灣先買一份旅平險（處理行李、班機、意外身故等）
再加買一份 Visitor Medical（專門處理在美國看病的部分）

💡 三、Visitor Medical 的幾個基本元素：額度、免賠額、自付額

很多爸媽一聽到「美金 100,000、250,000、500,000」這些字，就會覺得好像在買房子 😅
我們用三個重要元素來拆：

1️⃣ 醫療保險額度（Medical Coverage Limit）

這是整張保單在保險期間最多可以賠的醫療費用上限。

常見金額：US$50,000、US$100,000、US$250,000、US$500,000 或以上
來美短期探親，多數人會選 至少 US$100,000 起跳
如果年紀偏大或有慢性病，很多家庭會考慮 US$250,000～US$500,000

2️⃣ 免賠額（Deductible）

免賠額就是：每次看診或每次保單期間，你自己先付多少，超過再由保險公司付。

例如免賠額 US$100：代表你先付 100，美金以上的部分再由保險公司依條款支付。
有些計畫免賠額可以選：US$0、US$100、US$250、US$500……
免賠額越高，保費通常會便宜一點，但爸媽如果不習慣自掏腰包，可能心理壓力大。

3️⃣ 自付額、共付比率（Co-pay / Co-insurance）

有些 Visitor 計畫會寫：

80% up to US$5,000, then 100%
或某些醫療行為需要自付一定比例

意思就是：

在一定金額內，你和保險公司一起分擔
超過那個金額後，由保險公司全額支付（在保額內）

不需要把每個公式都背起來，只要知道：

買 Visitor Medical 時，不要只看「保費便宜」，也要看：保額、免賠額、自付比例。

🩺 四、爸媽有慢性病（糖尿病、高血壓），Visitor Insurance 還有用嗎？

這是百分之九十的家庭都會問的問題。

先說重點：

有慢性病 ≠ 不可以買 Visitor Insurance。
有慢性病 ≠ 保險完全沒用。

但現實是：

多數 Visitor Medical 對「既往病史（Pre-existing Conditions）」都有排除或限制
慢性病相關的「惡化」不一定有賠
但很多「跟慢性病無關的疾病或意外」，仍然有保障

例如：

爸媽有高血壓，來美期間摔倒骨折 → 很多 Visitor 計畫是會賠的。
爸媽有糖尿病，來美期間食物中毒、腸胃炎 → 通常也屬於新發生的急症。
有些計畫對「慢性病急性發作（Acute Onset）」有額外保障（但條件跟年齡限制很多）。

所以，對有慢性病的爸媽來說：

Visitor Insurance 不是萬靈丹，但比「完全沒保險」好非常多。
至少可以幫忙處理很多「與慢性病無關」的急症：摔傷、感染、意外等等。
就算慢性病惡化不一定全賠，有些計畫會針對「急性發作」給部分保障。

未來我們會有一篇獨立文章，專門談：「慢性病父母來美 × Visitor Insurance 怎麼挑」，這裡先幫你打底概念。

✈️ 五、在美國的子女可以怎麼幫爸媽準備？

實際上，你可以做的事情比你想像的多，而且不一定是「幫他們出錢」，而是幫他們做功課＋翻譯＋解釋。

1️⃣ 先協助爸媽整理健康狀況

目前有哪一些慢性病？（糖尿病、高血壓、心臟病、腎臟病等等）
最近三到六個月，有沒有看醫生、調整藥物、住院？
主治醫師對「長途飛行」的意見是什麼？

這些資訊，會直接影響：

適合哪一種 Visitor 計畫（額度高低、是否需要 Acute Onset 條款）
風險評估：這次一定要現在來嗎？還是延後比較安全？

2️⃣ 幫忙比較幾個 Visitor 計畫的重點

你不一定要變成「保險業務」，但可以幫爸媽看幾個關鍵：

醫療總額：至少 US$100,000 起跳，高齡可能要 US$250,000 以上
免賠額：爸媽可以接受自己先付多少？US$0 / 100 / 250？
年齡限制：70＋、80＋有沒有特別條款？
對慢性病、既往病史的規定：完全排除？還是有 acute onset 給付？

3️⃣ 溫柔地跟爸媽說明：台灣旅平險的角色

你可以這樣跟爸媽說：

「你在台灣買的旅平險很好，對行李、班機、意外身故都有幫助。
但是在美國看病、住院很貴，最好再多一份專門保醫療的 Visitor Insurance，讓大家都比較安心。」

4️⃣ 分享飛機上的小撇步

選走道位，方便起來活動
每 1～2 小時起來走一走，做腿部伸展
多喝水，少喝酒、咖啡
依醫師建議使用彈性襪或調整用藥

🔍 六、Visitor Insurance 一定要在美國買嗎？誰可以幫忙？

很多爸媽會問：這個保險是要在台灣買？還是要在美國買？

實務上常見幾種方式：

由在美國的子女，上網幫爸媽買海外訪客計畫（英文為主的國際平台）
在本國（台灣等）透過旅行社或保險公司購買「海外醫療／探親專案」
兩者搭配：台灣旅平險＋美國 Visitor Medical 計畫

重點不是「哪一國買」，而是：

保障內容是否真的有「醫療」而不是只有行李、班機
保額是否足夠應付美國醫療費用
是否看得懂條款（有人可以幫忙翻譯、解釋）

如果看不太懂條款，可以請熟悉美國醫療與保險的專業人士，或是自己信任的保險業務，一起協助解釋。

用中文幫你拆解英文條款
幫你比較不同方案的優缺點（不是勸你買最貴的，是幫你找最適合的）
把爸媽的健康狀況、實際需求（來多久、去哪裡）一起放進考量

🔗 七、這篇是 Visitor 系列的「第一站」：你接下來可以看什麼？

這篇是「來美旅遊醫療保險」的入門概念，接下來我們會有：

👉 Fixed Benefit vs Comprehensive Visitor Medical：便宜方案的陷阱在哪裡？
👉 70＋／80＋高齡父母來美，醫療保險怎麼選？
👉 慢性病父母來美：糖尿病、高血壓、心臟病 × Visitor Insurance 風險說明
👉 台灣旅平險 vs Visitor Insurance：爸媽來美專用版本

等這幾篇都寫完，加上「長途飛行 × 血栓（DVT／PE）」、「美國居民出國 × Travel Insurance」系列，你就會擁有一整套：

「家庭兩端都在不同國家」的旅遊醫療保險地圖。

小結：
爸媽來美探親，本來就是一件很開心的事情。
預先把 Visitor Insurance 的觀念想清楚，對爸媽來說是安全感，對在美的你來說，是少一點擔心、多一點準備。
保險的角色不是嚇人，而是在「最不想發生的那一天」，不至於只剩下「人很慌，錢也很慌」。

🌏 Visitor Insurance 101: A Simple Guide for Parents and Relatives Visiting the U.S.

This article is the first step in our “visiting the U.S.” insurance series. It is written for:

Adult children living in the U.S. who are inviting parents or relatives to visit
Parents and older relatives living overseas who are planning a trip to America

Common questions include:

“We already bought travel insurance in our home country. Do we still need visitor insurance?”
“My parents have diabetes and high blood pressure. U.S. medical care is expensive — will insurance cover anything?”
“Is visitor medical insurance just like regular trip insurance, or is it something different?”

In this article, we’re not going into every small clause.
We’re doing one thing only:

Explain, in simple language, what visitor medical insurance is and why it matters when parents visit the U.S.

🧳 1. Why Do Parents Visiting the U.S. Need Visitor Insurance?

If you only remember one sentence, let it be this:

Home-country trip insurance ≠ U.S. medical coverage (visitor medical insurance).

Travel insurance sold in many Asian countries usually focuses on:

Flight delays, missed connections
Lost or delayed baggage
Trip cancellation or curtailment
Accidental death or dismemberment

Some plans include overseas medical benefits, but often:

The medical limit is fairly low in local currency
Benefits are fixed payments or limited reimbursements
Pre-existing conditions may be heavily restricted

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

One ER visit: US$2,000–$8,000+
One day in the hospital: US$5,000–$10,000+
ICU care: US$10,000–$20,000 per day or more

So in reality:

Home-country trip insurance can be a helpful supplement, but it is rarely enough to handle a major medical event in the U.S. by itself.

That’s where another layer comes in:

Visitor Insurance / Visitor Medical Insurance.

🏥 2. What Is Visitor Insurance (Visitor Medical Insurance)?

Visitor insurance is designed for a simple situation:

Who: Non-U.S. residents visiting the United States for a short period (tourism, family visit, business, etc.)
What it covers: Medical care during the visit (doctor, ER, hospital, surgery, etc.)

Most visitor medical plans include coverage for:

Emergency room (ER) visits
Doctor visits and urgent care
Hospitalization
Diagnostic tests (X-ray, CT, ultrasound, lab work)
Sometimes prescription medications
Emergency medical evacuation
Repatriation of remains (return of the body to the home country)

In simple terms:

Visitor insurance = mainly medical coverage.
Trip insurance = mainly travel-related problems (flights, luggage, schedule).

Many families end up with a combination like this:

Parents buy a home-country trip plan (for flights, baggage, accidents)
Plus a U.S.-oriented visitor medical plan (for hospital and doctor bills in America)

💡 3. Key Building Blocks of Visitor Medical: Limit, Deductible, Co-insurance

When parents see numbers like US$100,000 or US$250,000, it can feel overwhelming. Let’s break it down into three core pieces:

1️⃣ Medical Coverage Limit

This is the maximum amount the plan will pay for covered medical expenses during the coverage period.

Common options: US$50,000, US$100,000, US$250,000, US$500,000 or more
For short U.S. visits, many families choose at least US$100,000
For older travelers or those with more health concerns, US$250,000–$500,000 may be more appropriate

2️⃣ Deductible

The deductible is the amount the traveler pays out of pocket before the insurance starts to pay.

Example: With a US$100 deductible, the traveler pays the first US$100 of covered expenses.
Some plans offer choices: US$0, US$100, US$250, US$500, etc.
Higher deductibles usually mean lower premiums, but parents may feel uncomfortable with large upfront bills.

3️⃣ Co-pay / Co-insurance

Some plans use cost-sharing formulas such as:

“80% up to US$5,000, then 100%”
or different co-pays for ER vs. clinic visits

This means:

You share a portion of the cost with the insurer up to a certain amount
Beyond that amount, the insurer may pay 100% (up to the policy limit)

You don’t need to memorize every formula. The main idea is:

When comparing visitor plans, don’t look only at the premium — also consider the limit, the deductible, and the co-insurance structure.

🩺 4. What If Parents Have Diabetes or High Blood Pressure? Is Visitor Insurance Still Useful?

This is probably the most common concern.

First, some good news:

Having chronic conditions does not automatically disqualify parents from buying visitor insurance.
Visitor insurance is not “useless” just because someone has diabetes or hypertension.

The reality, however, is more nuanced:

Most visitor plans limit or exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions
Worsening of a long-standing condition may not be fully covered
But many new, unrelated illnesses or injuries can still be covered

Examples:

A parent with high blood pressure slips and breaks a bone while visiting — many plans cover this.
A parent with diabetes gets food poisoning or a stomach infection — often treated as a new illness.
Some plans provide limited benefits for an acute onset of pre-existing conditions, under strict conditions and often with age limits.

So for parents with chronic illnesses:

Visitor insurance is not perfect, but it’s far better than having no coverage at all.
It can still protect against many medical events unrelated to their existing conditions.
Even for chronic conditions, some “acute onset” coverage may be available, depending on the plan.

Future articles will go deeper into this topic, especially:
“Chronic Conditions & Visitor Insurance: Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease.”

✈️ 5. How Can Children in the U.S. Help Their Parents Prepare?

You don’t have to become an insurance expert to be helpful. Often, the most valuable support is:

Helping gather medical information
Translating and explaining basic terms
Comparing a few plan options side by side

1️⃣ Help parents summarize their health status

What chronic conditions do they have? (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney issues, etc.)
Have they seen a doctor, changed medications, or been hospitalized in the past 3–6 months?
What does their doctor say about long-haul flying?

This information will influence:

Which type of visitor plan is appropriate (limit, deductible, pre-existing condition rules)
Whether the trip should go ahead now or be postponed for safety

2️⃣ Help compare a few visitor plans

You don’t need to know every detail. Focus on a few key points:

Overall medical limit: at least US$100,000; higher for older or higher-risk travelers
Deductible: how much can parents comfortably pay upfront?
Age limits: what happens at 70+, 80+?
Pre-existing condition rules: fully excluded or any “acute onset” benefits?

3️⃣ Explain the role of home-country travel insurance

You might say something like:

“Your travel insurance at home is great for flights and baggage.
But if you need to see a doctor or stay in a hospital in the U.S.,
we really need visitor medical insurance to help with those costs.”

4️⃣ Share simple in-flight safety tips

Choose an aisle seat when possible
Stand and walk every 1–2 hours
Do leg exercises while seated
Drink plenty of water; avoid too much alcohol or caffeine
Follow the doctor’s advice about compression stockings or medication adjustments

🔍 6. Where Should Visitor Insurance Be Purchased? Does It Have to Be in the U.S.?

Parents often ask whether they must buy visitor insurance from a U.S. company.

In practice, there are several possibilities:

Children in the U.S. buy a visitor medical plan online from an international provider
Parents buy an overseas medical plan from their home-country insurer or travel agency
A combination of both: home-country trip insurance + U.S.-oriented visitor medical

The key is not where the plan is bought, but whether:

It truly covers medical care in the U.S., not just trip inconvenience
The coverage limit and structure are realistic for U.S. costs
Someone can read and explain the policy clearly (language and terms)

If you’re unsure how to read the details, it can help to review the policy with your own insurance agent or a family member who is comfortable with English and U.S. medical terms.

Explaining English policy terms
Comparing the pros and cons of different options
Considering both medical history and travel plans when recommending a direction

🔗 7. This Is Just the First Step: What to Read Next

This article is your starting point for understanding visitor insurance. Next, we’ll dive deeper into:

👉 Fixed Benefit vs Comprehensive Visitor Medical: What’s the real difference?
👉 Visitor Plans for Seniors 70+ / 80+: Special rules and limitations
👉 Chronic Conditions & Visitor Insurance: Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease
👉 Home-Country Trip Insurance vs Visitor Medical: A side-by-side comparison

When all these pieces are in place — together with our articles on long flights and blood clots, and separate guides for U.S. residents traveling abroad — you’ll have a complete:

“Two-country family” travel medical roadmap.

Bottom line:
Inviting parents to visit the U.S. should be a joyful event, not a constant source of worry.
Visitor insurance is not about scaring anyone; it’s about making sure that if something serious happens, you’re not facing it alone — medically or financially.
With some planning and the right coverage, everyone can enjoy the visit with much more peace of mind.

🌏 爸媽來美要買什麼保險？Visitor Insurance 入門：從零搞懂來美旅遊醫療保險 Visitor Insurance 101: A Simple Guide for Parents and Relatives Visiting the U.S.