Last year, my parents finally got their US visitor visas after two years of paperwork and delays. They were flying in from India for a three-month stay—excited to see their grandkids, tour a bit, and just spend time with us. As an NRI living in the States, I was thrilled, but one thing kept nagging at me: health insurance.
I’d heard the horror stories. A simple ER visit here can cost thousands, and US healthcare doesn’t mess around if you’re uninsured. My dad has diabetes and hypertension, and my mom has mild arthritis—nothing major, but definitely pre-existing conditions. I knew regular travel insurance from India wouldn’t cut it for serious medical coverage in the US.
I spent days researching. Some policies excluded pre-existing conditions entirely, others had tiny limits that wouldn’t cover a hospital stay, and a few were just confusing with fine print everywhere. I almost gave up and bought the cheapest one, thinking “hopefully nothing happens.”
Then a cousin in my family WhatsApp group mentioned OnshoreKare. He’d used it the previous year for his in-laws and swore by it. I checked it out that same night, and honestly, it was a game-changer.
The site is straightforward—no aggressive pop-ups or forced sign-ups. You just enter basic details like ages, trip dates, and coverage needs, and it pulls up a bunch of plans side by side. I could filter specifically for policies that cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions (which is huge for parents with ongoing health issues). They partner with reputable providers like INF, which I’d seen recommended on Reddit threads for Indian parents visiting the US.
What stood out:
- Clear comparisons: Maximum coverage, deductibles, and what’s actually included for pre-existing.
- No-obligation quotes—you don’t need to enter payment info upfront.
- Best price guarantee, so I knew I wasn’t overpaying.
- Extra perks like 24/7 telemedicine, which let my parents chat with a doctor virtually for minor stuff without leaving the house.
I ended up going with a comprehensive plan that covered up to $1 million in medical expenses, including acute onset for pre-existing conditions. It wasn’t the absolute cheapest, but for around $300–400 per person for three months, it felt worth every penny for the coverage level.
Thankfully, we didn’t have a major emergency, but my dad did have a minor flare-up with his blood pressure midway through the trip. We used the telemedicine service (included with the plan), got advice right away, and adjusted his meds without a stressful doctor visit. And when a flight delay messed up their return, the trip interruption coverage kicked in smoothly.
Filing a small claim for some prescription costs was painless too—OnshoreKare even has claims assistance if you need help.
Looking back, skipping proper visitor insurance would’ve been a massive risk. A single hospital stay could’ve wiped out thousands and turned a dream family visit into a financial nightmare. OnshoreKare made the whole process simple and transparent, and I’ve already recommended it to three friends planning similar trips.
If your parents or relatives are visiting the US soon—especially from India and with any health history—check out OnshoreKare.com. It’s where I got our plan: OnshoreKare (affiliate link—full disclosure, but I’d recommend it anyway because it genuinely worked for us).
Have you dealt with visitor insurance before? What was your experience?
