Summer is here, and for many of us, that means trips to destinations domestic and abroad. After two
years of a Pandemic when most of us were sheltering in place- an all-time record 231 million passengers
are expected to fly U.S. airlines this year between June 1st and Aug. 31st. That number is up from 210
million a year ago, according to Airlines for America. That also includes 30.5 million travelers on
international flights.
However, before we all start trekking off to exotic destinations- we need to take some precautions. It
has been estimated that about 20 percent of people suffer some type of illness or injury while on
vacation, the most common of which include food poisoning and car crashes. Just ask my daughters
about the year we all went to Mexico!! I can tell you from personal experience that Montezuma is still
taking out his Revenge! lol! So- before you hit the road or take to the skies this summer, let’s consider
these tips to make sure your health, safety and wallet are covered while you’re away:
1. Know before you go. Before traveling out of your home state or internationally, take time to review
your health insurance plan and understand what it covers. People traveling domestically should check if
their health plan offers a national or local network of hospitals and health care providers, and confirm
what level of coverage is available at out-of-network facilities.
For people planning to travel overseas, it is important to contact their primary care doctor or travel
medicine clinic to determine what pre-screenings or immunizations might be recommended or required,
based on their health history and the countries they will visit. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention enables people to search a list of countries and determine what vaccines they should
consider.
2. Find care anywhere. Many health plans now offer telemedicine and mobile apps to support their
customers’ health needs. The Health4Me app, available for free on iPhone or Android devices, enables
users to identify nearby health care providers, hospitals, pharmacies and urgent care facilities, as well as
compare quality and cost information for common medical services.
Some health plans also offer mobile apps that enable members to access a digital ID card and connect
with a registered nurse 24/7. For international trips, contact your global insurance carrier to find out
about the availability of approved medical facilities at planned travel destinations.
3. Protection abroad. People can help alleviate concerns about quality of care and financial anxiety with
international medical coverage. Global insurance companies can provide foreign-language translation,
direct you to appropriate facilities or support evacuation to alternative facilities, and can work with local
health care providers to coordinate and monitor care.
Most domestic insurance won’t cover prescriptions abroad, so for long vacations ask your care provider
for enough medication to cover the duration of the trip (as well as check that specific medications are
legal in the countries you are visiting). Some international health plans may include prescription drug
coverage that enables people to fill prescriptions at local retail pharmacies.
4. Get your credit. Even with international coverage, consider carrying an extra credit card with a large
limit to use for unanticipated medical expenses. Foreign hospitals will typically want upfront payment,
rather than billing the health plan. Get clear and complete copies of all bills, medical records and
discharge notes for reimbursement from your health plan.
Some global health plans do provide direct payments to foreign hospitals and care providers, eliminating
a potential inconvenience and providing peace of mind.
5. Be a savvy Medicare traveler. Original Medicare in nearly all cases applies to the United States only
and does not extend overseas or across the border (other than in cases in the Northern U.S. where the
nearest hospital is in Canada). Some Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans offer
worldwide emergency coverage for foreign travel, although some have restrictions and lifetime limits.
Finally, it’s important to account for the working condition of durable medical equipment needed for the
trip, such as glucose monitors and insulin pumps, before departure.
Following these tips will help you focus on fun, friends and family during summer vacations, while
helping alleviate stress from health care access or insurance issues during a medical emergency.