What is Home Country Travel Insurance Coverage

When traveling abroad, especially for an extended period of time, situations may arise that require you to briefly return home before returning to your destination.

Home Country Coverage is a travel insurance benefit that provides you with medical coverage for the duration of a brief, unplanned trip home during a covered trip. In the event you get unexpectedly ill or injured, this benefit can cover related medical costs up to the policy’s coverage limit.

This type of coverage is ideal for travelers that may have paused their personal health insurance for the duration of their trip abroad.

Not all travel insurance policies include this Home Country coverage. Exclusions, coverage limits, and eligibility requirements may differ by policy.

What Does Home Country Insurance Cover?

Travelers may take an incidental trip home for a variety of reasons, such as tending to an unforeseen work emergency or attending a family member’s funeral. Home Country Coverage is designed to cover unexpected medical expenses incurred during a brief, unplanned return to your home country during a covered trip.

Having coverage during these trips home can save you from sizable out-of-pocket medical payments if you don’t already have insurance, or suspended your primary insurance for the duration of your trip. Most policies that offer this benefit can cover unforeseen hospital bills, doctor visits, ambulance rides, and other expenses.

The policy limits, meaning the maximum dollar amount an insurance company will reimburse you, can vary. Some travel insurance plans will set a reduced medical policy maximum for treatment needed while in your home country, ranging from $5,000-$10,000 per person.

Understanding Home Country Coverage Limitations

Most travel insurance providers that offer Home Country Coverage will enforce limits on the number of days they will provide coverage during an unplanned trip home. This can range from 5-14 days depending on the policy.

Home Country Coverage is strictly a travel medical benefit, and is not designed to cover your personal items, flights home, accommodations, or expenses related to other types of travel disruptions.

Please be aware that coverage and eligibility requirements for this benefit differ by policy. The tables below show the providers that offer Home Country Coverage coverage.

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Home Country Coverage by Provider

Last Updated: 04/04/2024
Global Underwriters Global Underwriters
Policy Name and Summary of Coverage
1

Diplomat International

Optional coverage

Home Country Coverage (If Benefit is Purchased) – The Home Country Coverage provides limited coverage under your Medical Expense Benefit while in your Home Country. The plan pays 80% up to $5,000 of Eligible Expenses, then 100% to a maximum of 1) $50,000 for Incidental Trip(s) to your Home Country or 2) $10,000 for Extension of Benefits (Follow Me Home Coverage).

1) Incidental Trip(s) to your Home Country: During the period of coverage, You may return to Your Home Country for incidental visits of up to 60 days per 12 months of coverage, or pro rata there of (approximately 5 days per month of purchased coverage). If during an incidental trip home, You suffer an Injury or Sickness, this Plan will pay up to $50,000 of Eligible Expenses.

2) Extension of Benefits (Follow Me Home Coverage): This plan will pay up to a maximum of $10,000 for Eligible Expenses incurred in Your Home Country related to an Injury or Sickness which originally occurred, was diagnosed and treated outside Your Home Country during Your period of coverage.

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IMG IMG
Policy Name and Summary of Coverage
2

Patriot America Plus

14 days

P. INCIDENTAL TRIP:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit and subject to the Terms of this insurance, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance during incidental return trips to their Country of Residence up to the number of days shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY during the Period of Coverage beginning with the date the Insured Person first arrives back in their Country of Residence provided that:

(1) the Insured Person has departed their Country of Residence prior to any Incidental Trip

(2) the Insured Person has timely paid applicable Premium for at least thirty (30) days of continuous coverage

(3) the Country of Residence is not the United States

(4) the intention or purpose of the Insured Person’s return trip to the Country of Residence is not to receive Treatment for an Illness or Injury incurred or sustained while traveling outside of their Country of Residence

(5) the Insured Person’s return trip to the Country of Residence does not result in receiving Treatment for an Illness or Injury incurred or sustained while traveling outside of their Country of Residence.

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3

Patriot America Platinum

14 days

P. INCIDENTAL TRIP:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit and subject to the Terms of this insurance, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance during incidental return trips to their Country of Residence up to the number of days shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY during the Period of Coverage beginning with the date the Insured Person first arrives back in their Country of Residence provided that:

(1) the Insured Person has departed their Country of Residence prior to any Incidental Trip

(2) the Insured Person has timely paid applicable Premium for at least thirty (30) days of continuous coverage

(3) the Country of Residence is not the United States

(4) the intention or purpose of the Insured Person’s return trip to the Country of Residence is not to receive Treatment for an Illness or Injury incurred or sustained while traveling outside of their Country of Residence

(5) the Insured Person’s return trip to the Country of Residence does not result in receiving Treatment for an Illness or Injury incurred or sustained while traveling outside of their Country of Residence.

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4

Patriot America Lite

14 days

O. INCIDENTAL TRIP:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit and subject to the Terms of this insurance, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance during incidental return trips to their Country of Residence up to the number of days shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY during the Period of Coverage beginning with the date the Insured Person first arrives back in their Country of Residence provided that:

(1) the Insured Person has departed their Country of Residence prior to any Incidental Trip

(2) the Insured Person has timely paid applicable Premium for at least thirty (30) days of continuous coverage

(3) the Country of Residence is not the United States

(4) the intention or purpose of the Insured Person’s return trip to the Country of Residence is not to receive Treatment for an Illness or Injury incurred or sustained while traveling outside of their Country of Residence

(5) the Insured Person’s return trip to the Country of Residence does not result in receiving Treatment for an Illness or Injury incurred or sustained while traveling outside of their Country of Residence.

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5

Patriot International Lite

14 days

N. EMERGENCY TREATMENT WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE UNITED STATES:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance within the United States for incidental Emergency Treatment up to the number of days and Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY, provided that:

(1) the Insured Person was traveling through the United States en route to or from a Destination Country

(2) the United States is not one of the Insured Person’s Destination Countries

(3) the Insured Person requires Treatment for an Injury or Illness that is an Emergency

(4) Treatment for an Injury or Illness that is an Emergency must be Pre-certified and coordinated by the Company

O. EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION TO THE UNITED STATES AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENT:

When an Insured Person has received Emergency Medical Evacuation to the United States by the Company, the Insured Person will be covered for Eligible Medical Expenses incurred for up to the number of days and Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT
SUMMARY, provided that:

(1) the Emergency Medical Evacuation and medical Facility must be Pre-certified and coordinated by the Company

(2) the Insured Person shall have no coverage in the United States beyond the Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY

(3) the Insured Person’s coverage under this insurance shall continue if and when the Insured Person returns to the Destination Country during the Period of Coverage.

P. EMERGENCY TREATMENT DURING INCIDENTAL TRIP TO COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit and subject to the Terms of this insurance, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance during incidental return trips to their Country of Residence up to the number of days and Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY during the Period of Coverage beginning with the date the Insured Person first arrives back in their Country of Residence provided that:

(1) the Insured Person has departed their Country of Residence prior to any incidental trip

(2) the Insured Person has timely paid applicable Premium for at least thirty (30) days of continuous coverage

(3) Treatment for an Illness or Injury must have not incurred or been sustained while in the Destination Country

(4) Treatment must be Pre-certified and coordinated by the Company.

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6

Patriot International Platinum

14 days

Combined Maximum Limit: $50,000, Maximum consecutive days: 14

N. EMERGENCY TREATMENT WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE UNITED STATES:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance within the United States for incidental Emergency Treatment up to the number of days and Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY, provided that:

(1) the Insured Person was traveling through the United States en route to or from a Destination Country

(2) the United States is not one of the Insured Person’s Destination Countries

(3) the Insured Person requires Treatment for an Injury or Illness that is an Emergency

(4) Treatment for an Injury or Illness that is an Emergency must be Pre-certified and coordinated by the Company

O. EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION TO THE UNITED STATES AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENT:

When an Insured Person has received Emergency Medical Evacuation to the United States by the Company, the Insured Person will be covered for Eligible Medical Expenses incurred for up to the number of days and Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY, provided that:

(1) the Emergency Medical Evacuation and medical Facility must be Pre-certified and coordinated by the Company

(2) the Insured Person shall have no coverage in the United States beyond the Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY

(3) the Insured Person’s coverage under this insurance shall continue if and when the Insured Person returns to the Destination Country during the Period of Coverage.

P. EMERGENCY TREATMENT DURING INCIDENTAL TRIP TO COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:

As an accommodation and supplemental benefit and subject to the Terms of this insurance, the Insured Person will be covered under this insurance during incidental return trips to their Country of Residence up to the number of days and Maximum Limit shown in the BENEFIT SUMMARY during the Period of Coverage beginning with the date the Insured Person first arrives back in their Country of Residence provided that:

(1) the Insured Person has departed their Country of Residence prior to any incidental trip

(2) the Insured Person has timely paid applicable Premium for at least thirty (30) days of continuous coverage

(3) Treatment for an Illness or Injury must have not incurred or been sustained while in the Destination Country

(4) Treatment must be Pre-certified and coordinated by the Company.

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Seven Corners Seven Corners
Policy Name and Summary of Coverage
7

Travel Medical Basic incl US

5 days per 1 month purchased $5,000 per person

3.5 Incidental Trips to Home Country.

If the Period of Coverage is greater than thirty (30) days, the Company will reimburse You for Covered Expenses up to the amount in the Schedule of Benefits for a new covered Injury or Illness that begins while You are on an incidental trip to Your Home Country. You must first depart Your Home Country before utilizing this benefit, and it does not apply to the final trip to Your Home Country. You may be required to provide proof of Your travel intentions. Additionally, this coverage will not apply (i) if the Illness began, or Injury occurred while You were outside Your Home Country; or (ii) for Pre-Existing Conditions, including Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition(s).

Under this section, You will receive five (5) days of coverage per month of coverage purchased up to a maximum of sixty (60) days per three hundred sixty-four (364) days of purchased coverage. If Your combined incidental trips exceed Your maximum days allowed, this benefit will terminate immediately. Such termination will have no impact on Your remaining benefits outside Your Home Country.

The limit for this coverage is that amount shown on the Schedule of Benefits under “Incidental Trips to Home Country,” not the amount shown for “Medical Maximum Options.”

The Deductible, Copay and Coinsurance in Section 3.1 applies to this coverage and will be Your responsibility. Home Country Exclusion 8(p) is waived for this benefit. All other exclusions in Section 8 apply to the coverage provided under this section.

3.4 Extension of Benefits in Home Country.

The Company will reimburse You for Covered Expenses incurred in Your Home Country, including those incurred in Your Home Country following an Emergency Medical Evacuation or an Emergency Medical Repatriation, up to the amount in the Schedule of Benefits for one hundred eighty days (180) from the onset of a new, covered Injury or Illness that begins while You are traveling and is first diagnosed and treated outside Your Home Country. This coverage does not apply for Pre-Existing Conditions.

The limit for this coverage is the amount shown on the Schedule of Benefits under “Extension of Benefits in Home Country,” not the amount shown for “Medical Maximum Options.”

The Deductible, Copay and Coinsurance in Section 3.1 apply to this coverage and will be Your responsibility.

Home Country Exclusion 8(p) is waived for this benefit. All other exclusions in Section 8 apply to the coverage provided under this section.

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8

Travel Medical Choice incl US

5 days per 1 month purchased $10,000 per person

3.4 Incidental Trips to Home Country.

If the Period of Coverage is greater than thirty (30) days, the Company will reimburse You for Covered Expenses up to the amount in the Schedule of Benefits for a new covered Injury or Illness that begins while You are on an incidental trip to Your Home Country. You must first depart Your Home Country before utilizing this benefit, and it does not apply to the final trip to Your Home Country. You may be required to provide proof of Your travel intentions. Additionally, this coverage will not apply (i) if the Illness began, or Injury occurred while You were outside Your Home Country; or (ii) for Pre-Existing Conditions, including Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition(s).

Under this section, You will receive five (5) days of coverage per month of coverage purchased up to a maximum of sixty (60) days per three hundred sixty-four (364) days of purchased coverage. If Your combined incidental trips exceed Your maximum days allowed, this benefit will terminate immediately. Such termination will have no impact on Your remaining benefits outside Your Home Country.

The limit for this coverage is that amount shown on the Schedule of Benefits under “Incidental Trips toHome Country,” not the amount shown for “Medical Maximum Options.”

The Deductible, Copay and Coinsurance in Section 3.1 applies to this coverage and will be Your responsibility. Home Country Exclusion 8(p) is waived for this benefit. All other exclusions in Section 8 apply to the coverage provided under this section.

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