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The trouble with answering this question is that healthcare costs in the US aren't typical. One thing is clear, though: they're some of the highest in the world. Paying out of pocket for healthcare in the United States is a recipe for draining your bank account very quickly.

With medical coverage, depending on the plan, you can expect to pay between $15 and $25 for a copay when visiting a doctor in your plan network. Specialists run a bit more, and many plans also have copays for urgent care, emergency visits (around $250) and prescription drugs. Without a health plan, these costs can be 10 or even 100 times as expensive.

Healthcare costs also vary by illness, procedure, and facility. It’s easy to compare the different costs of different procedures with one another in the same facility. But something like getting your appendix out will cost you a lot more if you go to a hospital that doesn’t accept your insurance plan. Be careful when choosing your plan that you also research the hospitals you will be living near, to be sure you’ll be covered.

Depending on what plan you choose, yes. Working closely with our licensed insurance brokers, you should be able to build a plan that works best for you, your healthcare needs and your budget.

For example, if you are a young, healthy single person with no dependents and no preexisting conditions, you might opt for minimum coverage — just enough so that you don't get buried under medical bills if you are in a car accident or come down with a severe illness. 

If you are older, have family members that need coverage, have a health condition that needs managing, or all three, you still don't have to get completely comprehensive coverage to be safe. You can work with us to put together a plan that covers what you need and doesn't charge you extra for what you don't.

There’s a lot to think about when choosing a US health policy. Here are some of the most important things to remember:

• How long will you be staying in the country?
• What is the nature of your work as an expatriate?
• Do you have any underlying medical conditions?
• How comfortable are you in paying above the maximum coverage amount when needed?
• How much can you allocate per month for coverage?

You should also consider how easy it will be for you to return home if you need additional services. This could be necessary if you have a serious medical condition that means you need to be repatriated — or sent back to your home country — in an emergency.

If you will not be staying for a long time in the US, say only for a few months to a year, and you have free insurance in your home country, you may be able to get a lower maximum coverage amount.

Sometimes, your job will require you to stay for a minimum number of years, depending on the contract. In this case, you will probably be required to stay in the US for medical treatment whenever you seek a healthcare service. This will impact your US health insurance cost, as you might pay a higher maximum coverage amount.

You have to consider the distance, availability, and doctors in the medical institutes near you before you choose to take your chances with medical bills. Some facilities will charge much more for the same procedure than the hospital down the street. Remember that healthcare costs are extremely high — US citizens are routinely bankrupted by them.

While you may live a healthy lifestyle, that doesn’t stop accidents from happening or diseases from developing. Especially if you are young and healthy, it may feel unfair to have to purchase protection against something that's unlikely to happen. But when disaster strikes — as it sometimes unexpectedly does — you'll be glad to have spent a little extra every month to avoid spending many thousands later. For your peace of mind and for your physical and financial health, we always recommend health insurance for non-residents in the USA.