All GoalsTreatment abroad

Passports for medical treatment in the USA

Well-known clinics are located in the USA: Mayo Clinic, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and others. Hospitals have advanced equipment, and patients are offered good service and a high level of safety.

Patients turn to US clinics with various diseases. They treat oncology and cardiovascular diseases and perform organ transplant operations. Pregnancy follow-ups and childbirth are also in demand in the United States.

Learn more about statuses that can make medical treatment in the USA more accessible for investors.

B‑1/B‑2 visas with Caribbean, Vanuatu and Turkey citizenship

  • Investments: $100,000+

  • Timeframe for obtaining citizenship: 2+ months

Investors with Caribbean or Turkey citizenship get B‑1/B‑2 visitor visas to the United States, valid for 10 years. The Vanuatu passport allows you to get a 5-year visa.

The visa makes it possible to spend up to 180 days a year in the United States, and treatment in the country’s clinics is one of the possible grounds for entry. In some cases, the period of stay can be extended.

It is better to get a visa in advance, even before medical aid is required; it will take at least four weeks to get a visa before a trip for treatment. In the case of pregnancy and childbirth, a visa may be denied: to give birth in the USA, you will have to justify the choice of the clinic. Such rules were introduced because a child born in the USA becomes the country’s citizen.

Compare the Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship by investment programs

Practical Guide

Compare the Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship by investment programs

Electronic travel authorisation with Malta citizenship

  • Investments: €690,000+

  • Timeframe for obtaining citizenship: 1 or 3 years

Investors with Maltese passports can get an entry permit through an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) instead of a regular visa, which is easier and faster. The permit is valid for up to 2 years, and you can spend up to 90 days in the USA within one trip.

To get an ESTA, you must fill out an online application and pay a fee of $21.

An entry permit may be denied for several reasons, for example, if the applicant was previously deported from the USA or has a criminal record. In this case, they can apply for a B‑1/B‑2 visa: Maltese citizens get 10-year ones.

Individual cost calculation for Maltese citizenship

Individual cost calculation for Maltese citizenship

E‑2 business visas with Grenada or Turkey citizenship

  • Investments: $150,000+ to get a passport and $100,000+ to get a visa

  • Timeframe for obtaining citizenship: 4+ months to get a passport and 3+ weeks to get a visa

Grenada and Turkey’s citizens can qualify for the E‑2 business visa to the USA. This option may be suitable for an investor who wants to open a company and move to the States with their family.

The E‑2 visa is non-immigrant, but it allows you to live in the US; the visa validity limits the time of stay. A prerequisite is significant investments in your own business and participation in its development. Visa applicants usually invest at least $100,000 in their US companies.

The validity of the E‑2 visa for Turkish and Grenadian citizens is 5 years. It can be extended unlimited times while the business is running and making a profit.

If an investor with an E‑2 visa needs treatment at a US clinic, they can complete even a long-term course.

An investor needs to buy health insurance to reduce the cost of medical services in the USA. Depending on the plan, insurance covers up to 90% of the treatment costs. You can also purchase insurance that partially covers dentistry and ophthalmology.

Comparison of citizenship and residency by investment programs

Practical Guide

Comparison of citizenship and residency by investment programs

Summary of conditions for medical treatment in the USA for foreigners with a second citizenship

  1. Caribbean, Turkey and Vanuatu citizens can get B‑1/B‑2 visas to the USA, valid for 10 or 5 years. The visa makes it possible to spend up to 180 days a year in the country and be treated in local clinics. Getting a visa in advance is better, so you don’t spend weeks on paperwork in an emergency.

  2. Maltese citizens get ESTAs, entry permits through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, instead of visas. An ESTA is valid for up to two years and allows the holder to spend up to 90 days in the USA per trip. You can get a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visa if an entry permit is denied.

  3. Grenada and Turkey’s citizens can obtain non-immigrant E‑2 visas valid for 5 years. The visa requires a significant investment in a US business; usually, applicants invest at least $100,000. You can live and use medical services in the United States within the visa validity time.

Julia Loko

Material prepared by Julia Loko, Investment programs expert

Updated:

Frequently asked questions

  • Is medical treatment free in the USA?

    Generally speaking, no, it’s not. However, private insurance and federal or state programs can cover some medical procedures and services. Besides, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) obliges hospitals with a special nonprofit status to provide free or discounted treatment to people in need.

  • Can I get medical treatment in the USA?

    Yes, you can. But you need a valid travel document to enter the USA for treatment. It may be a B‑1/B‑2 visa, an E‑2 visa, or an electronic travel authorisation if your country of citizenship has a visa waiver agreement with the USA.

  • How does the medical system work in the USA?

    There is no universal healthcare system in the USA. People usually buy private insurance and pay monthly fees so that their insurance would cover medical treatment when they need it.

    Beware that insurance providers often have agreements with specific doctors and hospitals and cover only their services. Besides, insurance may include only “necessary” services.

    Everything that isn’t covered by insurance must be paid for in the USA, according to the prices of the selected clinic.

  • How expensive is medical treatment in the USA?

    Costs vary depending on the clinic and a patient’s insurance plan. In 2022, the estimated prices for routine services and procedures, considering if a person doesn’t have insurance, were the following:

    • $40 to $3,000 for a blood test;

    • $80 to $500 for urgent care;

    • $100 to $250 for an initial consultation with a doctor;

    • $150 to $20,000 for an ER visit;

    • $200 to $3,000 for an X-ray scan;

    • $400 to $1,200 for an ambulance call-out;

    • $500 to $7,850 for an MRI scan.

    Estimated prices for surgeries and specialised treatment are the following:

    • $1,800 to $82,000 for an appendectomy;

    • $2,700 to $40,000 for labour and delivery services;

    • $16,000 to $53,000 for a hip fracture;

    • $21,500 to $254,000 for a coronary artery bypass;

    • $31,000 to $200,000 for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Next topic

Healthcare in the UAE and Turkey

Schedule a meeting

Let’s discuss the details

We will develop an individual solution, select a country and status that will solve your problems, and accompany the entire process.

Zlata Erlach
Zlata Erlach

Head of the Austrian office

Prefer messengers?