People nearing retirement often enter a sort of “bucket list” mode, which tends to include the idea of traveling not only the country but other corners of the world as well. Not long after officially retiring, a couple may hit the road, board a plane or book a cruise before even considering how their Medicare plan will behave as they travel. Before you head out on your next adventure, it’s important to understand how your Medicare coverage will work should you become sick or injured away from home. How can you be confident in your healthcare coverage regardless of where retirement takes you? More and more people are migrating to Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organization (PPOs) plans and group health insurance policies. Your average HMO plan features hospital-based coverage at a lower cost. A PPO plan, however, features in-network coverage as well as out-of-network coverage, without the requirement of referrals or even a primary healthcare doctor “at a higher cost.Thankfully, Medicare breaks into either category of HMO and PPO, making the process a lot easier on aging citizens. There are both Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap policies to consider. You likely went over this subject with your agent upon receiving Medicare and the variation of carriers within your state of residence.When traveling by ship, you may be moving through a variety of areas that greatly impact your level and availability of coverage. If you are on a ship exploring the high seas, Medicare may pay for your coverage if it is in U.S. territorial waters, is less than six hours from a U.S. port, and the available doctor is allowed to practice on a ship. Unless these criteria are met, you may be facing little to no coverage options.Prescription medication coverage may be the last consideration when it comes to Medicare coverage while on vacation. Because of differing laws, your prescriptions may not be available in a variety of countries. This comes down to local restrictions, laws, and supply issues faced by other countries. If you are on an opiate-based prescription, for example, it may be impossible to fill while visiting Australia, where opioids are illegal. This highlights the importance of carrying medication within its original packaging and a list of prescribing doctors and their contact information.If you must travel to an area that Medicare cannot cover, consider investing in some travel insurance instead. Traveling overseas has some unique obstacles, especially in terms of healthcare coverage for Americans. With travel insurance, you may only need to pay $50 to $100 per month for a comprehensive plan to stay covered while on the go. In addition, depending on your options, traveler’s insurance may cover emergency room visits, which could quickly pay off while you visit Australia and beyond.
Contact Information:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 6096581732
Menu
Menu
