The five international destinations Americans visit most, and the travel insurance each one actually calls for.
Last updated: September 2026
Americans took over 93 million international trips in 2025, and five destinations absorb the bulk of them: Mexico alone accounts for roughly a third of all US international trips, followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, the Dominican Republic, and Canada. Every one of these destinations has its own coverage gaps, entry rules, and risks, and none of them is covered by your US health insurance the way home is.
Each guide below answers the same core questions for its destination: is travel insurance required, will your US health insurance or Medicare work there, what local risks matter, and which plan type fits. Pick your destination to get started.
Do you need travel insurance for Mexico? It's not required for entry, but US health insurance generally doesn't work there. What to buy for Cancun, Cabo, and beyond.
Read the GuideThe NHS covers emergencies, but American visitors pay for hospital care. What the US Embassy recommends and which plan fits a UK trip.
Read the GuideNot required for entry, but visitors pay medical bills upfront and in full. Plans for typhoon season, long-haul itineraries, and high medical costs.
Read the GuideDo you need travel insurance for the Dominican Republic? Protecting prepaid resort packages, private-clinic care, and hurricane-season trips.
Read the GuideDo Americans need travel insurance for Canada? Your US health coverage doesn't cross the border, and Medicare generally doesn't either.
Read the GuideStart with the entry and health-coverage sections of your destination’s guide. That tells you whether you need trip protection, travel medical, or both. Then check the timing guidance: on every destination, buying the day you book unlocks the pre-existing condition waiver and optional Cancel For Any Reason. When you know what you need, compare plans and price your actual dates.
Pick the plan type that fits, then price it with your actual trip dates.
Get a Medical Quote Compare TripProtector PlansAbout the destination guides.
Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Dominican Republic, and Canada, the five international destinations Americans visit most, based on recent US outbound travel data.
None of the five requires travel insurance for entry by US citizens. But each has gaps where US health coverage does not follow you, that is what each destination guide covers in detail.
Yes. And if you get a quote or enroll through links on this site, we may earn a commission from the insurance provider. At no extra cost to you.
Use the links on any guide: compare trip protection plans from HTH Worldwide, or get a travel medical quote from BCBS Global Solutions with your actual trip dates.