Amid the summer travel season, many people in Colorado and nationwide are gearing up for trips across the country and overseas. While having fun with family and friends is likely at the top of your checklist, how ready would you be if you became ill or injured on your trip?
In Brief:
- 63% of Americans don’t know what to do if sick while traveling
- Schedule a wellness visit and check coverage before your trip
- Keep insurance info and contacts handy during travel
- Save medical receipts to submit claims after your return
For most people, they are not very ready. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Americans said they would not know what to do if they needed medical care while traveling away from home, according to a new eHealth survey. The survey also found that 54% of Americans incorrectly believe their health plan generally includes coverage while traveling internationally.
Whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or an international adventure, understanding your health insurance coverage while traveling is crucial for avoiding unexpected medical bills and ensuring you receive proper care when needed.
Here are three steps to help with that before, during, and after your trip:
Before your trip it is a good idea to schedule a wellness visit, if you have not had one already. This appointment can help determine your fitness for travel and identify potential health issues. Best of all, these annual preventive exams are typically covered at no additional out-of-pocket cost as part of your health plan. Likewise, your physician can check if you and your family members are up to date on recommended vaccinations, which can be especially important when traveling internationally. Finally, whether you are covered through an employer or individual plan, Medicare and Medicaid, check with your plan to understand what is covered while traveling outside of your home area, including to determine whether any U.S. destinations will have in-network care providers available and whether any international destinations will have coverage at all.
During your trip it’s important to know emergency care will typically be covered by your plan, assuming you are still in the U.S. For people with Medicare Advantage, these plans may include limited coverage for non-emergency care outside of the plan’s local or regional provider network. If traveling internationally, most health insurance plans, including Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, have limited or no coverage for care, other than a few limited exceptions such as when you’re on a cruise ship in U.S. territorial waters. If you need medical care during your trip, be sure to keep a digital or physical copy of your insurance card and a list of emergency contacts. Additionally, consider bringing a credit card in case you need to pay for medical care out of pocket in a foreign country.
After your trip, make sure to save all documentation, including any bills, receipts and medical records, if you received care while traveling. These are important if you file a reimbursement claim with your insurer, in cases where the care may be covered. Some plans require claims to be submitted within a specific timeframe, so don’t delay. If you visited an out-of-network provider, ask about setting up a payment plan if the bill is substantial. Finally, evaluate what type of additional coverage may be necessary moving forward, such as a travel insurance plan, which may include coverage for emergency medical care abroad, medical evacuation or trip cancellation. For people who qualify for Medicare, consider enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan, ideally when you first become eligible for Medicare. Medicare Supplement plans may include an emergency care benefit for international travel.
By considering these tips, your health insurance can be a safety net, not a stressor, on your summer getaway.
Whitney Stidom is vice president of consumer enablement at eHealth, a leading online health insurance marketplace that helps consumers confidently navigate their health benefit decisions.
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