Why does my travel insurance say “Excluding USA”?

If your travel insurance quote or confirmation email says “Emergency Medical – Excluding USA,” it usually means that during the quote you indicated that your trip does not include the United States.

Because medical care in the U.S. is extremely expensive, travel insurance that excludes the U.S. is usually cheaper than worldwide coverage that includes it.

But don’t worry — this doesn’t always mean you can’t pass through the U.S. at all.

Quick answer

If you’re just passing through the United States on the way to somewhere else, your coverage may still apply.

TuGo policies allow limited transit through the U.S. even when your plan says Excluding USA.

What’s allowed under the TuGo policy

Policy limits

TuGo allows:

• Flight stopovers or layovers in the U.S. for up to 48 hours
• Land transit through the U.S. for up to 5 days when travelling to or from your destination

If you plan to stay in the United States longer than that, you should choose coverage that includes the USA.

Why the quote still asks about travelling through the U.S.

When getting a quote, the system asks whether your trip includes the U.S. because:

• Travel involving the U.S. may cost more to insure
• Some systems automatically switch your policy to “Including USA” if a U.S. connection is detected
• It helps avoid coverage disputes if a claim happens during a layover

Example

Your trip:

Canada → Los Angeles (3-hour layover) → Philippines

Even though your flight stops in the U.S., this would still be allowed under an Excluding USA policy because it's just a short transit connection under 48 hours.

💡 Tip:

If you think you might leave the airport, stay overnight longer, or spend time in the U.S., it’s safest to choose coverage that includes the United States.

Updated on: 16/03/2026