International Major Medical
International Major Medical is a comprehensive US visitor medical plan from IMG - $5M coverage, with limited pre-existing condition cover, direct billing at in-network hospitals.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through Insubuy, our licensed partner. This never affects our recommendations - see our Editorial Policy.
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Who this plan is - and isn't - for
- Travellers who want real hospital bills paid, not capped sub-limits.
- People who don't want to pay $50k upfront and chase a reimbursement later.
- Parents with managed conditions like BP or diabetes (up to age 74).
- Long stays of 6+ months - this plan goes the distance.
- Travellers who'll be in multiple US cities - wide hospital network.
Example scenario: what it actually feels like
A typical mid-sized US hospitalisation, walked through day by day - so you can see what you'd actually pay and how long it would take.
- Day 0Visitor falls, broken wrist, ER admission
Hospital bill clock starts. Total estimated bill: $45,000 (₹37 lakh).
- Day 0You show the insurance card
Hospital staff call the insurer's 24×7 hotline to verify coverage and pre-authorise treatment.
- Day 1Direct billing arranged
Direct billing kicks in. IMG settles directly with the hospital. You only owe deductible + your 100% in-network after deductible coinsurance share.
- Day 2Discharged
Your share so far: ~$8,000 (deductible + coinsurance).
- Day 3Submit claim documents
Itemised bill (UB-04/HCFA), doctor's notes, discharge summary, prescriptions, passport copy.
- Day ~33Claim settled
Average settlement on International Major Medical is around 30 days from complete documents. Insurer pays ~$37,000 directly to the hospital.
Reality check: without any insurance, you'd be paying the full $45,000 (~₹37 lakh) out of pocket.
Numbers are illustrative, computed from this plan's deductible, coinsurance and claim-settlement fields. Your actual quote and claim outcome depend on traveller age, the hospital, and the specific incident.
What this plan actually pays in real situations
Examples assume an in-network US hospital and that the deductible is already met.
Covered up to your $5M limit. You'd owe the deductible plus your coinsurance share (100% in-network after deductible).
Treated as a new injury, so it's covered. Expect to pay the deductible plus your coinsurance share.
Covered up to the policy limit (only for travellers aged 74 or under).
Not covered. Visitor plans are emergency-only - they aren't health insurance for routine care.
Pre-existing conditions - what this really means
International Major Medical provides limited PED cover up to a sub-limit for travellers aged 74 or under. Better than acute-onset, but you must verify what counts as "stable" in the wording - typically a 60 or 180-day look-back window.
What you'll still pay even when claims are paid
How claims actually work on this plan
For life-threatening events, don't waste time picking a hospital - go now.
Hospital staff will call the insurer's 24×7 hotline.
IMG settles directly with the hospital. You only pay deductible + coinsurance.
Average settlement on this plan: roughly 30 days after submitting complete documents. Incomplete paperwork is the #1 reason claims drag on.
When claims on this plan get rejected
- Non-disclosureThe single biggest reason. If a known condition wasn't declared at purchase, the entire claim can be denied.
- Treating a pre-existing condition as newIf the doctor's notes link the issue to an existing condition, PED rules apply - even if the trip itself was healthy until then.
- Going out-of-network without needNon-emergency visits to providers outside UnitedHealthcare can be partly or fully denied.
- Late notificationMost insurers require notification within 24–48 hours of hospitalisation. Missing this window is a frequent cause of disputes.
- Missing documentsNo itemised hospital bill (UB-04/HCFA), no doctor's notes → claim stalls or gets rejected.
How International Major Medical compares
Quick check against other IMG plans and the closest alternatives in the market.
| Plan | Coverage | PED | Direct billing |
|---|---|---|---|
IMG International Major Medical IMG | $5M | Limited PED | Yes |
IMG Patriot America Plus IMG | $1M | Acute-onset only | Yes |
IMG Patriot America Lite IMG | $100k | No PED cover | Yes |
IMG Patriot Platinum Travel Medical IMG | $8M | Acute-onset only | Yes |
IMG Patriot Platinum International IMG | $1M | Acute-onset only | Yes |
CG Cigna Global Gold Cigna Global | $2M | Limited PED | Yes |
WT Atlas Premium America Elite WorldTrips / Atlas | $2M | Acute-onset only | Yes |
WT Atlas Premium America WorldTrips / Atlas | $2M | Acute-onset only | Yes |
Want a side-by-side with watch-outs and price? Take the 30-second quiz - we'll line up the best fits for your traveller's age and health.
What it's likely to cost
Honest caveat: visitor plans price by age band, deductible and coverage limit. Same plan can cost 3× more for an 80-year-old vs a 50-year-old. The quote you'll see on the insurer's site is the only number that matters.
Our editorial take
Long-stay visitors and expats wanting near-domestic-style high coverage limits.
Premium is meaningfully higher than standard visitor plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does International Major Medical cover pre-existing conditions?
What's the maximum age International Major Medical will cover?
Is direct billing available with International Major Medical?
What's the longest trip International Major Medical covers?
Does International Major Medical cover COVID-19?
How long do claims take with IMG?
Not sure if International Major Medical is right for your traveller?
Our 30-second quiz factors in age, trip length and pre-existing conditions to surface the plans that actually fit - not just the ones with the biggest ad budgets.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through Insubuy, our licensed partner. This never affects our recommendations - see our Editorial Policy.
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Compare International Major Medical head-to-head
Side-by-side breakdowns vs the plans most often considered against this one. We call the winner on coverage, deductible, PED, direct billing and more.
BackToIndia is an independent decision-support service. We are not the insurer, broker or claims administrator for International Major Medical. Coverage details summarised here come from the official policy wording and are reviewed periodically - always confirm against the insurer's policy document before purchase. Information here is general guidance, not insurance, medical, tax or legal advice.