I was asked a great question on my free online workshop recently, and I wanted to share with all of you as I feel it’s essential to understand how Medicare can work for you when you’re traveling.
The question was, “Does Medicare work overseas?”
I understand that none of us are traveling overseas right now, but when we’re allowed to travel again, I want to make sure you know your options.
Essentially, Medicare will cover medical emergencies when you were overseas. For example, they will cover a heart attack. That’s a serious medical emergency, and it means it requires hospitalization.
For other services that are not an emergency, Medicare doesn’t usually cover it. Of course, there can be some exceptions, with certain Medicare Advantage plans or other unique plans that go along with Medicare.
For example, I have a client, and her husband is a diplomat. They have health insurance through the United Nations. While the UN requires her to be on Medicare Part A and Part B at 65, when they travel, they get complete coverage overseas. They have a rare situation. But it’s for that reason, I always say, you can assume that Medicare will cover emergencies abroad, but don’t assume that it covers anything else.
Due to this, most of our clients will get extra travel health insurance for those specific trips. All right.
I also always recommend to people is that when you’re picking out a health care plan, don’t necessarily focus on the travel coverage or lack thereof, but focus on what your goal is for health care. And based on that, decide which plan and company fit you best.
Meaning, if your goal for healthcare is to the cheapest health insurance that covers you if you get sick and okay with whatever doctor, then that’s fine, go down that path. If your goal is to have the best coverage, have the best options for the best healthcare, so when you do have a health scare, you have access to the best in the country, then go for that path.
What I am saying is that international travel should not really impact your Medicare decision, but just be something you’re aware of.
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