In 2024, US hospitals spent an average of $3,297 USD per adjusted inpatient day. That is what it costs the hospital. A visitor without cover is billed at list prices, which are usually higher.
The number and where it comes from
KFF, an independent health policy organization, publishes hospital expenses per adjusted inpatient day from the American Hospital Association’s annual survey. The national figure for 2024 is $3,297 USD. It varies widely by state. An adjusted inpatient day includes outpatient activity converted into equivalent days, so it is a measure of cost, not of any single bill.
What that means for a visitor
- No public safety net for tourists. Visitors are not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.
- Emergency rooms must treat you, then bill you. A federal law, EMTALA, requires hospitals with emergency departments to screen and stabilize anyone with an emergency, whether or not they can pay. The bill follows.
- Surgery and intensive care move fast. A few days in intensive care with a procedure can use most of a $100,000 USD limit.
Our recommendation
Prime, $150,000 USD, for the United States and Canada. It is the plan we would buy for our own families. Standard is the minimum we suggest for a short city trip.
How Pulsar works in the US
- Message us on WhatsApp or call before you go anywhere, unless it is life-threatening: then call 911 first.
- A person answers. A doctor can see you by video at no charge, as often as you need.
- If you need to be seen, we choose the clinic or hospital and send your Verification of Benefits. At network providers, the bill comes to us.
Pulsar is available to residents of Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. Brazil residents buy Pulsar Brasil.
