Medical emergencies in the US for visitors: 911, insurance and hospital bills

Summary: In an emergency in the United States, call 911. What surprises many visitors is not the speed of care but the bill: medical treatment is expensive and there are no special arrangements for most foreign travellers. This guide, written on 10 November 2026, explains the essentials using the United Kingdom's travel advice and cautious secondary sources, and lists what to check in your insurance before you fly. It is general information, not medical or financial advice.

Calling for help

The FCDO's USA advice says to dial 911 and ask for an ambulance in a life-threatening emergency. If you are referred to a medical facility, it advises contacting your insurance or medical assistance company quickly. Know your exact location (hotel name and address) and speak slowly. Keep the phone numbers of your insurer and your embassy or consulate in your phone and on paper.

Why costs surprise visitors

The FCDO states plainly that medical treatment in the United States is expensive and that there are no special arrangements for British visitors. We could not find official government figures for typical charges. Commercial insurance sites cite estimates, such as 1,500 to 3,000 dollars for an emergency room visit and far higher sums for a hospital stay, but those are vendor estimates and we do not treat them as verified. The practical lesson is the same whatever the exact number: even a short visit to a hospital can produce a large bill, and separate bills can arrive later from the hospital, the doctors and the ambulance service.

Deposits and paperwork

The FCDO says some hospitals ask non-US residents for a deposit on admission. Its advice is to send funding requests to your insurer first and pay the hospital only if your insurer advises it, and that your care will not be affected while the claim is processed. Make sure you have both enough insurance and accessible funds to cover treatment and repatriation. Take photos of every document you sign and keep every receipt and report, because insurers will ask for them.

What to check in your travel insurance

• Medical cover. Check the limit for treatment in the United States. Some policies set lower limits or exclude the country.
• Evacuation and repatriation. The FCDO advises cover for local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation.
• Pre-existing conditions. Declare them. If you have a health condition or are pregnant, check coverage even more carefully, as the FCDO notes.
• Alcohol and risky activities. Many policies exclude claims linked to alcohol. Read the exclusions if you plan to go out at night.
• Claim procedure. Know the emergency assistance number and whether you must call before treatment.
• Sexual health. Do not assume routine testing is covered.

Health conditions to be aware of

The FCDO lists Zika virus and West Nile virus as risks, and altitude sickness in parts of the country. It advises checking vaccine recommendations on TravelHealthPro at least eight weeks before your trip. Extreme weather also matters: the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and wildfires, flash floods and heat can disrupt travel. Our guides on heat in the American West and on Florida cover these risks in more detail.

Prescriptions and medicines

The FCDO says that some prescription drugs cannot be taken into the United States, that prescriptions from the UK are not valid there and that to obtain medicines from a pharmacy you need a US prescription from an urgent care facility, an emergency room or a doctor. The Food and Drug Administration publishes guidance on bringing medicines in. Carry medicines in their original packaging, bring a doctor's letter if needed and pack enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days.

Urgent care or emergency room?

For life-threatening problems, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For minor illnesses and injuries, urgent care centres are often cheaper and faster than an emergency room, but we could not find an official source that gives current prices, so ask about the cost before you are treated whenever it is safe to do so. Your insurer's assistance line can usually direct you to an approved provider.

Sexual health on holiday

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends condoms every time, regular testing and sharing results with your partner. If you need testing or emergency contraception while you travel, ask your insurer which clinics it accepts and what they charge. We have separate guides on testing and on PrEP and PEP according to the CDC.

A short checklist before you fly

• Buy travel insurance that covers medical care, evacuation and repatriation, and keep the policy number and assistance line in your phone and on paper.
• Check your own country's advice and vaccine recommendations.
• Carry medicines in original packaging.
• Save the emergency number, 911, and the address of your accommodation.
• Keep a card or a record of allergies and conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the emergency number in the US? 911.

Do hospitals ask for a deposit? The FCDO says some hospitals ask non-US residents for one.

Is travel insurance compulsory? Not for entry, according to the secondary sources we read, but the FCDO strongly advises cover.

Can I use my home prescription? The FCDO says UK prescriptions are not valid in the US.

Who pays the ambulance? It is usually billed separately, which is why you should talk to your insurer early.

Sources (consulted on 10 November 2026)

• GOV.UK, FCDO travel advice for the USA: health, safety and security, entry requirements.
• Commercial visitor-insurance websites (returned by web search; used only to note that vendor cost estimates exist and not treated as verified).
• CDC, general guidance on condoms and testing.