The 8 best travel-insurance options for Seattle in 2026
For most overseas visitors to Seattle in 2026, IMG's Patriot America Plus is the strongest plan, and it edges out Seven Corners on one tie-breaker: its US PPO network. A clinic on Capitol Hill can bill IMG directly, so you won't be handed a large upfront bill. US residents should start with Allianz instead.
Each plan was scored on three weights: claim-response time counted most, then the breadth of exclusions, then the per-day price. Plans lost points for a medical cap under US$100,000 or for a pre-existing clause that rules out any condition treated in the previous 180 days, and that cap matters more in Seattle than in most places you might fly from. An emergency visit to Harborview Medical Center on First Hill, Washington's only Level I trauma centre for both adults and children, can likely run to five figures before you spend a single night on a ward. The typical claim here is ordinary, though: a fall on the steep Queen Anne stairways, or a bike crash on the Burke-Gilman Trail through Fremont.
The most common mistake is a home policy that treats the United States as an optional add-on, and some visitors don't learn about their US$50,000 ceiling until the Link 1 Line has carried them from SEA to Westlake in roughly 40 minutes. A second mistake involves Alaska cruises: ships sail from Pier 66 on the Belltown waterfront and Pier 91 at Smith Cove, and a plan sold as USA-only will probably not pay for an evacuation from Glacier Bay. A third mistake is assuming a ferry day trip carries no risk. The Washington State Ferries crossing from Colman Dock to Bainbridge Island takes about 35 minutes, but a twisted ankle in Winslow is still a claim, and it still needs receipts and a completed form.
Patriot America Plus is not right for US residents. IMG sells it to non-US citizens visiting the United States. A traveller flying in from Chicago or Austin for a Mariners game at T-Mobile Park should look at Allianz or Travel Guard, because those plans add trip-cancellation cover. Anyone whose main worry is a cancelled flight or a lost bag will likely find it disappointing, since IMG built it around medical cover. That said, several IMG tiers appear to lower their maximums for travellers aged 70 and over, and in that case Seven Corners is often the better fit for an older visitor based near Pike Place Market.
The full list
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IMG Patriot America Plus
IMG designed this plan for non-US citizens coming to the United States, with medical maximums up to US$1,000,000 and some cover for the sudden onset of a pre-existing condition, which helps if a heart issue flares on the Pike Street Hillclimb up from the waterfront. In-network clinics downtown can bill IMG directly.
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Seven Corners Travel Medical
Seven Corners carries high US medical caps and a 24-hour assistance line, making it a natural fit for a visitor renting in Ballard for a month. Its claim portal tends to move quickly on outpatient bills, and for many travellers over 70 it is the stronger choice over IMG.
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Trawick Safe Travels USA
VisitorsCoverage sells Trawick's Safe Travels USA plans at a low per-day price for younger visitors, and they hold up well for a week of hockey at Climate Pledge Arena and nights at the bars in Georgetown. Pre-existing cover is narrower than IMG's, which is what kept the plan in third place.
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Allianz Travel OneTrip Prime
For US residents flying into Sea-Tac, OneTrip Prime is the pick, bundling trip cancellation with emergency medical and baggage cover, which earns its place when winter weather grounds flights out of SEA. Its medical limit is modest, so think of it as cancellation cover with a medical backstop.
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World Nomads
World Nomads suits visitors adding a Mount Rainier hike or a sea-kayak paddle on Lake Union to their trip, since it lists many adventure activities as covered on its higher tier. The per-day price runs higher than visitor-only plans, and you'll want to check the altitude and guide rules before a Camp Muir climb.
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SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
The monthly subscription may appeal to remote workers who take a South Lake Union co-working desk for a season, but US cover costs extra on top of the global rate, and both the medical cap and the deductible sit below what the visitor plans offer, which is why it ranks under IMG.
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Travel Guard Deluxe (AIG)
AIG's Deluxe plan is the right fit for US travellers booking an Alaska cruise departing from Seattle, since it adds missed-connection and cruise benefits. Its outpatient claims tend to run slower than IMG's, and that cost it points on the response-time weight.
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Heymondo
Heymondo's app includes a 24-hour doctor chat, which earns its value at 2 a.m. in a Pioneer Square hotel when you're weighing whether a fever needs urgent care. Its US medical limits are solid, though the pre-existing condition cover is narrow.
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