Have vaccine? Can travel!
You’ve finally received your vaccine and are ready to get out! Before you make your travel plans, here’s some things to keep in mind. We of course don’t want to say anything will happen to you, but it’s going to be important to understand where your Medicare goes, and doesn’t. Generally speaking, Medicare will not cover medical care you receive outside of the U.S. and territories, and for domestic travel, it will depend on the type of plan you have and the care you need: routine care or emergency care.
As of this week, according to the CDC, approximately 70% of adults ages 65 and older have their first vaccination and 43% have received both shots. (O’Brien, 2021) You might be one of the people fully vaccinated or maybe you’re planning your trip while waiting for your second shot. Just make sure to wait the full two weeks after your second vaccination before you travel.
As for Medicare and travel, if you have original Medicare (Part A and B) with a drug plan (Part D) you can receive care anywhere in the U.S., whether it’s routine care or emergency care. However that changes when you travel abroad, you will not have coverage except in very rare and unique situations. “Those exceptions include when you’re on a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the country — within six hours of a U.S. port — or you’re traveling from state to state but the closest hospital to treat you is in a foreign country.” (O’Brien, 2021) However, you can supplement your care for international travel with a Medigap plan that will provide minimal coverage abroad that would cover “medically necessary emergencies.”
If you have an Advantage Plan, it will be important to ask your insurance provider about what they will cover for international travel. These plans will cover any emergency care you need within the U.S. and Territories, but not necessarily for international travel, as you will most likely need to foot the bill. If you’re going to travel outside the U.S. for more than six months, your Advantage plan will kick you off, and you’ll be reverted to Original Medicare. Given this information, it’s going to be important to communicate with your insurance provider and look into purchasing travel medical insurance to make sure your bases are covered.
Want more information on travel and insurance coverage? Reach out to us for more information or while you plan your next trip to make sure you’re covered. Doctor’s Choice is happy to help!
Citation:
O'Brien, S. (2021, April 01). Have vaccine, Will TRAVEL: Retirees hitting the road should check their Medicare coverage first. Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/01/retirees-ready-to-hit-the-road-should-check-their-medicare-coverage-.html