Patriot Travel Medical
Patriot Travel Medical is a comprehensive US visitor medical plan from IMG - $2M coverage, with acute-onset-only PED handling, reimbursement-based claims.
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Who this plan is - and isn't - for
- Travellers who want real hospital bills paid, not capped sub-limits.
- Long stays of 6+ months - this plan goes the distance.
- Travellers expecting routine PED treatment - only sudden flare-ups are covered.
- People without ~$10–50k of cashflow to pay upfront before reimbursement.
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 1Treatment continues, you pay first
You pay the hospital upfront and submit a claim later. Reimbursement comes after the claim is processed.
- 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 Patriot Travel Medical is around 30 days from complete documents. Insurer pays ~$37,000 back to you.
Reality check: without any insurance, you'd be paying the full $45,000 (~₹37 lakh) out of pocket. Even though the plan covers the bill, the cashflow burden is real - you have to pay the hospital first and wait for reimbursement.
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 $2M limit. You'd owe the deductible plus your coinsurance share (100% after deductible).
Treated as a new injury, so it's covered. Expect to pay the deductible plus your coinsurance share.
Covered only if it's a sudden, life-threatening flare-up. Routine refills are not covered. Cap: $25,000.
Not covered. Visitor plans are emergency-only - they aren't health insurance for routine care.
Pre-existing conditions - what this really means
Only acute-onset flare-ups - sudden, unexpected, life-threatening episodes - of existing conditions are covered. Routine medication refills, planned check-ups and known complications are NOT covered. The cap is $25,000, available up to age 70.
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.
You'll pay the hospital upfront, save every receipt, and submit a claim. Reimbursement typically takes weeks.
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 Out-of-network worldwide 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 Patriot Travel Medical compares
Quick check against other IMG plans and the closest alternatives in the market.
| Plan | Coverage | PED | Direct billing |
|---|---|---|---|
IMG Patriot Travel Medical IMG | $2M | Acute-onset only | No |
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
Visitors travelling US plus other countries on the same trip
Outside US it is reimbursement-based — pay first, claim later
Frequently asked questions
Does Patriot Travel Medical cover pre-existing conditions?
What's the maximum age Patriot Travel Medical will cover?
Is direct billing available with Patriot Travel Medical?
What's the longest trip Patriot Travel Medical covers?
Does Patriot Travel Medical cover COVID-19?
How long do claims take with IMG?
Not sure if Patriot Travel 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.
Related plans
Compare Patriot Travel 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 Patriot Travel 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.