Medicare Advantage and Health Insurance While Traveling

Are you a jet setter–yearning to bask on a Mexican beach, explore the Caribbean islands, wander in the “Old World” or relax in a peaceful secluded location on the other side of the globe? Retirement is a great time to travel, and you should be able to focus on relaxing and having fun when you’re on the go without having to worry about your health insurance coverage.

Before you check to be sure your passport is current, know your Medicare options. Your choice will make a difference for your medical coverage when traveling.

Original Medicare does not cover care outside the U.S. (anywhere other than the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands), except in very limited situations: when you are in the United States but the closest hospital is in Canada or Mexico, you are traveling between Alaska and another U.S. state via a direct route through Canada, or you are on a cruise ship within six hours of a U.S. port. Otherwise, Medicare will not reimburse you for your care.

We have good news! You do have a couple other options you can consider if you have an incurable case of wanderlust.

Medicare supplement plans are sold by private companies to supplement Original Medicare, and plans C, D, F, G, M and N* provide limited foreign coverage benefits. The supplement plan pays <80%> of the cost for covered services after you have paid a <$250> deductible. Medicare supplement plans have a lifetime limit of <$50,000> for covered services received outside the U.S. and its territories.

Be sure to check the monthly premium costs of these supplement plans to see if the cost might put a damper on your travel plans!

Most Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage benefits for healthcare needs when members travel outside the United States and its territories. It does depend on the Medicare Advantage plan you have, how long you are traveling, where you travel and the kind of care you need. 

Whether you are making a trip out of state or out of the country, Essence Healthcare Medicare Advantage plans have you covered. If you ever get sick or injured when away from home, you can rest easy knowing you have emergency or urgent care coverage.

Coverage outside the U.S. is just one of the many advantages of a Medicare Advantage plan. Before deciding on your plan, it’s important to check your options to see what’s covered compared to what is going to be important for you during retirement and the cost of each option.

Your next adventure may be waiting right around the corner, and you don’t want to worry about unexpected healthcare expenses. Bon voyage!

*Beneficiaries who have previously enrolled in plans E, H, I and J may have foreign travel benefits; however, these plans are not currently being sold.

Essence Healthcare is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Essence Healthcare depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits may change on January 1 of each year. Essence Healthcare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-866-597-9560 (TTY: 711). UWAGA: Jeżeli mówisz po polsku, możesz skorzystać z bezpłatnej pomocy językowej. Dzwoń pod numer 1-866-597-9560 (TTY: 711).

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CMS Accepted 02/02/2018