According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 44 million Americans aged 65 and older have received at least one dose COVID-19 vaccine. More than 36 million people are fully vaccinated. Many are discovering that the open road is calling again with this protection.
According to Virtuoso, almost 9 out 10 people aged 56 and over said they are more eager to travel this year than the previous year. 82% of respondents said that they waited to get vaccinated before they started a trip. This is because they were prioritized for vaccine delivery.
However, before you fly, confirm your Medicare coverage. Some plans might not cover you if you are away from home.
Original Medicare
If you have Original Medicare and you’re traveling within the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands, you’re covered for care from any provider that accepts Medicare. The majority of Medicare coverage outside the United States is not for health care.
- If you have a medical emergency in the U.S., a foreign hospital can assist.
- If you have a medical emergency while traveling between Alaska and another U.S. State by way of Canada, the Canadian hospital can assist you faster than any U.S. hospital.
- If you live in the U.S., a foreign hospital can be reached more quickly than the closest U.S. one that can assist. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an emergency.
- Medically necessary medical care is provided on board a ship in territorial waters close to the U.S.
Under all circumstances, Medicare drug plans won’t cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans, or Medicare Part C plans, are required to provide the same coverage that Original Medicare offers, so everything above is also true for these plans. If you are traveling within the U.S., you will be covered for emergency medical treatment. Your coverage will depend on the type of plan you have and your service area.
Medicare Advantage plans have a network of providers. Some plans, such as HMOs, are more strict about out-of–network services. You’ll be paying more for out-of–network care. While other plans, such as Private Fee-for Service plans or PPOs, are more flexible you will still have to pay more for out of-network care.
Some Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for “visitor” and “travel” if you are a frequent traveler who is away for extended periods of time.
UnitedHealthcare offers, for example, a Passport option on certain plans that allows members access to care from participating providers for up to nine consecutive month.
It is worth considering this, as if a Medicare Advantage participant remains outside of their plan’s coverage area for more than six consecutive months, the plan could involuntarily discontinue the enrollee, according a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service.
Some Medicare Advantage plans might also provide emergency coverage for international travel. For more information, call your plan provider.
How to protect yourself while traveling
You can have peace of mind knowing that you are covered for any medical treatment you need even if you are not within your policy’s coverage area.
Get Medigap coverage
You may be eligible to buy a Medicare Supplement Plan or Medigap Plan if you have Original Medicare. Standard Medigap plans C, D F, G M, N, and G cover emergency medical care for foreign travel. This coverage is also available for plans E, H, I, and J, but they are no longer for sale. This coverage is available to anyone who purchased one of these plans prior to June 1, 2010.
Medigap covers foreign travel emergency care for as long as it begins within the first 60 days. After you have met a $250 deductible, the plans will pay 80% of the billed charges. This coverage also has a lifetime limit at $50,000.
Travel insurance
Travel medical insurance acts like health insurance when you’re away from home, although it generally doesn’t cover routine medical care. (Need a checkup at home? You can get it at home. This policy would be used if you were to lose a limb or need emergency dentistry. You should make sure you have international coverage if you travel abroad.
A Medicare Advantage plan that includes a travel benefit is available
While some travel benefits are included in a Medicare Advantage plan or other benefits that can be purchased “opt-in”, the cost of these benefits will vary depending on where you are traveling. You should understand that not all benefits are intended to cover short vacations.
