Insurance
Insurance for visa holders and new immigrants
Health, life, and car insurance for H-1B, F-1, and other visa holders and new immigrants — what coverage you need and why quotes start high.
Insurance is where a short US history costs you real money. Health coverage is the urgent one, because an uninsured hospital visit in the United States can run to five figures, and coverage rules differ sharply depending on whether you are employed, studying, or between statuses.
Car insurance is the one people find most unfair. Insurers price on the driving record they can verify, and most cannot verify a licence history from another country — so twenty years of clean driving abroad often produces a first-year quote priced like a new driver. There are ways to reduce that, and it does come down over time.
These guides explain what each type of coverage is for, when it becomes urgent, and which questions get you a usable quote rather than a placeholder one.
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Common questions
- 01Do I need health insurance on a US visa?
- Some visa categories and many universities require proof of coverage as a condition of status or enrolment. Even where it is not required, the financial exposure from going uninsured in the US is severe enough that coverage is effectively a necessity rather than an option. Check your specific category's requirements and your school's or employer's plan first.
- 02Why is my car insurance quote so high as a new immigrant?
- Insurers price on verifiable risk history, and a foreign driving record usually cannot be verified through the databases they use. That means you are underwritten closer to an inexperienced driver regardless of your actual experience. Some insurers do accept a letter of experience from your previous insurer, which is worth requesting before you leave your home country.
- 03Can I get life insurance on a temporary visa?
- Often yes, though underwriting is more involved and some insurers set minimum US residency periods or restrict certain visa categories. It matters most if people depend financially on your income — including family in another country. Expect questions about your status, your travel patterns, and how long you intend to remain.