Lounging on a sunny cruise ship deck in the Bahamas. Hiking the Grand Canyon’s Rim Trail. Traveling across the country to visit your grandchild.
Do any of these experiences top your retirement travel wish list? Many people look forward to potential travel opportunities during retirement. In fact, travel ranks as one of the top two goals for people in this stage for their lives.
On average, Baby Boomers plan to take 4-5 leisure trips in 2018, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.
For some, the allure is experiencing a new locale or culture, others look forward to visiting family or exploring historical roots. Some people are seeking opportunities to help those less fortunate.
Whatever the motivation or destination, you’ll want to know if your Medicare plan is along for the ride. Here are five things to know (or find out about) your Medicare plan.
- You’ll be covered for emergencies in the United States. Whether you have Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap policy, you’ll be covered for emergency or urgently needed care within the United States at the same cost as if you were home.
- You might not be covered for emergencies outside the United States. In most cases, Original Medicare and some Medigap policies do not offer coverage outside of the United States. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer foreign travel coverage for emergencies and urgent care. Bottom line: if you are thinking of traveling outside of the United States, check with your plan.
- You may not have coverage for regular care away from home. If you have Original Medicare or a Medigap policy, you can seek regular care from any health care provider who accepts Medicare. This may also be true for a Medicare Advantage plan, but those plans may have a deductible and you may have to pay a higher portion of the costs. With some Medicare Advantage plans, you could pay more than being at home, but you are still covered. You’ll want to check your plan to see what services are covered away from home.
- There are supplemental insurance travel options. If you are planning travel and realize that you don’t have the coverage you want, the United States State Department has a listing of private insurance companies who offer foreign travel health insurance. It might be worthwhile to purchase extra travel insurance prior to your journey to make sure you are covered if you need it.
- “Coverage” doesn’t mean “free.” When thinking about these benefits, keep in mind that you may still be responsible for deductibles, copayments or coinsurance, depending on your plan, so look into those specifics, too.
Before you pack your bags and set off on your trip, take a look at your health coverage benefits or call your insurance agent, to find out if you are covered. And you may want to keep travel plans in mind when the next Annual Enrollment Period comes around.
If you have questions about Medicare, download our free Medicare for Dummies eBook using the download button below.
Priority Health has HMO-POS and PPO plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Priority Health Medicare depends on contract renewal. NCMS_4000_4009_1601 11112015
