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Health insurance plans for visitors to USA vary widely. Do not choose a plan only based on cost. Each plan offers a different portfolio of benefits and provides different level of coverage for the visitor. 1. Comprehensive plans and Fixed benefit plans: This is a big difference between plans. Comprehensive plans are more expensive than the fixed benefit plans. Comprehensive plans provide coverage up to the policy maximum. For expenses up to the plan limit out of pocket expenses are capped to the deductible and the co insurance. Fixed benefit plans have certain pre set maximum that will be paid for each eligible expense. A policy that offers a total $100,000 benefit may have a limit of $2000 for surgery, $500 for x rays, lab work etc. 2. Co insurance: It is the percentage of the covered medical expense that the insured must pay. For example if the plan has an 80/20 co insurance rate, the insurance plan pays 80% of the eligible expenses and the rest is paid by the insured. Premiums can vary widely depending on the co insurance of the plan. Sometimes the co insurance applies only up to a certain pre defined cumulative medical expense amount. Beyond that amount eligible expenses are covered 100%. 3. Deductible: This is the out pocket costs for the insured before the insurance benefits are available. The deductible amount is chosen by the insured while buying the plan. Choose a high deductible if you want lower plan costs and a lower deductible if you want to keep out of pocket costs for medical expenses lower. 4. Pre existing conditions: While coverage is usually not available for pre existing conditions, it is still prudent to find out how pre existing conditions are defined by the insurance company. Some plans will exclude coverage only for those conditions that the insured knew about and was receiving treatment before the start date of the insurance. Some others may exclude all those conditions that may have begun before the start of the plan even if the person had no knowledge of the condition. 5. Maximum coverage amount: This is also called policy maximum. It is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay for all the claims during the time period. A higher plan limit will have higher premiums. You must shop around and compare prices for a visitor medical plan. Make sure you are not comparing apples and oranges. Talk to a professional with experience with visitor medical plans to get the coverage you need.