Moving from the United States
A trip policy is not a move
Travel insurance pays for a sudden illness or injury on a trip, usually for a set number of days, and often expects you to return to a home country. International health insurance is for living abroad. Buying the cheap trip policy because Medicare will not pay is the mistake this page is for.
Information only, not insurance, tax, or benefits advice. Official rules and your plan documents take precedence. Checked 4 October 2026.
What to check
- Maximum trip length. Many plans stop at 30, 45, 90, or 180 days.
- Whether you must have a return ticket and a home-country residence.
- Pre-existing conditions. A trip plan often excludes them. An international plan may cover them after underwriting.
- Evacuation. A medical limit is not an evacuation limit. See medical evacuation cover.
The longer comparison is on travel insurance vs health insurance.
Common questions
- Is travel insurance enough if I move abroad?
- No. A travel policy is priced for a trip, often with a maximum length, a home-country return, and limited cover for conditions you already have.
- What is the cut?
- If you are living in the country, need outpatient care, or may not return to the US on a set date, you want international health insurance, not a trip policy.