I had two years of travel health insurance from Turkey. In the US, it covers almost nothing
· 4 min read
Before I came to the US, I bought travel health insurance in Turkey. Two one year policies, back to back, valid until 2028. On the first page it says: worldwide, USA and Canada included.
So for months, I believed I had health insurance in America.
I did not. This post explains why, because many people coming from Turkey and other countries make the same mistake.
What I had
Two policies from a big Turkish insurer:
- Type: travel health insurance, visa package
- Area: worldwide, USA and Canada included
- Limit: 30,000 euros
- Price: 15 euros per year
Fifteen euros a year for worldwide cover. That alone should have told me something.
The sentence that cancels everything
In the special conditions, there is one line. In my own translation:
"The cover is valid only if the insured person resides in Turkey. Otherwise, the cover is void."
I live in the US now. I applied for a green card. On every USCIS form, my home address is in Arkansas. So by the policy's own rules, I am not covered.
I asked myself: what about my old address in Turkey? It still shows up on some records. But "resides" means where you actually live, not an address on paper. If I had a claim, the insurer would see my entry date in my passport, months of US hospital records and a US address. The same policy says a wrong statement makes it invalid.
And there is a bigger problem: telling an insurance company "I live in Turkey" would contradict what I told USCIS. That is not a risk worth 15 euros.
Even if it worked, it would not be enough
Read the rest of the policy and the limits are clear:
- Emergencies only. No checkups, no regular doctor visits, no prescriptions for an ongoing problem.
- 30,000 euros total. In the US, a few days in a hospital can cost more than that.
- No sports. Injuries from any sport are excluded. Riding an ATV or an e-bike counts.
- No old conditions. Anything you had before the policy started is excluded.
This kind of insurance is made for one thing: a short trip, so a consulate accepts your visa application. It is not health insurance for a life abroad.
What you can do instead in the US
These are the usual options for a new immigrant. Which one fits depends on your situation.
- An employer plan. Most Americans get health insurance through their job or their spouse's job. If your spouse has one, getting married usually gives you a short window, often 60 days, to be added.
- The Marketplace (HealthCare.gov). Anyone lawfully present can buy a plan there. The yearly open enrollment starts November 1. Outside that period, you need a reason, like losing other coverage or getting married, and you usually have 60 days from that event.
- Your own job, later. Once you have a work permit and a job, ask about the company plan.
A warning for green card applicants
Some Marketplace plans come with government help to lower the price, and some people qualify for Medicaid. Before you apply for any of this while your green card case is open, be careful.
In 2026, the rules on "public charge" changed. Officers now look at each case individually, and benefits that did not count before may be considered. I am not a lawyer. My own plan is simple: I will not use any government help while my case is open, and if my family needs it, we will talk to an immigration lawyer first.
What I would tell someone moving to the US
- Read your insurance policy before you come, especially the special conditions. Look for the words "reside", "resident" or "residence".
- Travel insurance is not health insurance. It is for trips, not for living somewhere.
- Do not hide where you live. It can void the policy and hurt your immigration case.
- Plan your US coverage early. Know the 60 day windows and the November 1 open enrollment.
- Ask a lawyer about benefits before you apply, if your green card is still pending.
Summary
- I had travel health insurance from Turkey until 2028, worldwide, US included.
- One line makes it useless: it only works if you live in Turkey.
- Even then, it was emergencies only, 30,000 euros, and no sports.
- Real options in the US: an employer plan, the Marketplace, or your own job later.
- With a green card pending, be careful with any government help.
This is my own experience and not legal or insurance advice. Rules change, so check your own policy and HealthCare.gov, and talk to a professional about your case.
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I am not a lawyer or an accountant. This is my own experience, written down as it happened. Rules change and every case is different, so check with the official source or a professional.