Is My Health Plan Valid for International Travel?

Medicare is the U.S. public health insurance for citizens 65 and older. Standard Medicare doesn’t provide coverage for people traveling or living outside the U.S., with a few unusual exceptions. Medicare also doesn’t cover emergency health care, or prescription drugs that you buy outside the U.S., for any reason.

Nearly 19% of Americans get their medical coverage with Medicare. Many seniors with Medicare are retirees who plan to enjoy their golden years with overseas travel. Retirees who move outside the U.S. often stay enrolled with Medicare in case they return to the U.S., and they continue to pay their premium for Medicare Part B.

Only rarely can you use Medicare outside the US. It may cover your costs if you are within the U.S. and close to an international border, but the nearest source of treatment is a foreign hospital. Medicare also doesn’t apply if you are on a cruise ship that is further than 6 hours from a U.S. port. Medicare considers you to be outside of the U.S., even if you never disembark from the ship.

For limited coverage in emergencies, you can buy a Medigap plan as part of Medicare. Many Medigap plans provide moderate travel emergency health coverage, with a lifetime limit of $50,000 (plans C,D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M and N). These plans cover 80% of emergency care charges up to the limit, within the first 60 days of your trip, and if Medicare does not cover the care otherwise.

However, Medicare recommends that you buy international health insurance if you are traveling overseas, even if you have Medicare coverage including Medigap. This will cover you beyond Medigap’s modest limit.

Unfortunately, no other countries accept U.S. Medicaid. This is because the U.S. does not have reciprocal health care agreements with other countries.

Medicaid sounds similar to Medicare, but it is different. Medicaid is how the U.S. provides health services to lower-income Americans. It’s the biggest health plan provider in the U.S., and it helps children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

But if you’re going abroad, you can’t count on using standard U.S. Medicaid for global health coverage. You can’t get any health expenses covered outside the U.S. with Medicaid. More, if you are outside the U.S. for more than 30 days you may lose your Medicaid coverage.

Medicaid also doesn’t sell plans to cover you while abroad, not even basic emergency coverage. If you have Medicaid and you are outside the U.S. for any reason, you must pay 100% of your health care while abroad — or purchase a separate travel or global health insurance plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has been a private U.S. health insurer since 1929! They are one of the top trusted medical insurers in the U.S.: one out of every three private health insurance policies is with BCBS.

If you are a BCBS member, you may have international coverage under your plan benefits through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core program. Many BCBS plans provide basic coverage for medical emergencies overseas. But not all BCBS plans or subsidiaries do — check your plan details to find out.

For more thorough international coverage, U.S. BCBS members can buy it through BlueCross Blue Shield Global, also known as GeoBlue. GeoBlue offers expatriate, student and travel focused plans. With GeoBlue or BCBC Global, you also have access to the BCBS Global Core worldwide app to help you find providers and make BCBS health claims. BCBS advises, “Though many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans cover international care in emergency situations, GeoBlue plans offer the most complete set of benefits and access to services like emergency medical evacuation, which might not be covered by your regular plan.”

Not currently covered by a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan? Contact us about GeoBlue options.

See: GeoBlue Travel Insurance

It depends on which plan you’re on, and whether you decide to purchase an international plan. Elevance Health, formerly Anthem, is the largest health insurance provider in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. They focus on holistic care connecting multiple providers. You may be insured by them through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or their Medicare-focused branch Wellpoint.Elevance Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage may have more overseas limits than other BCBC plans.

Because Wellpoint is a Medicare plan, its overseas coverage is limited to a Medigap plan, if you’ve purchased one. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has a GeoBlue option for overseas health insurance. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, though, does not have an overseas coverage option to buy – you’ll need an international health plan from another provider.

GuideWell is a health insurance parent company serving Florida and Puerto Rico. Their insurance companies include the affordable Capital Health Plan and Florida Health Care Plans, which do not provide international coverage.

Their Florida Blue plans do provide some BCBS-type overseas coverage if you hold a Florida Blue policy and you call to activate your BlueCard. Once you’ve done that, you are covered for foreign travel health emergencies. You do have to pay for services when you receive them and arrange reimbursement through FloridaBlue.

To boost your Florida Blue coverage overseas, you can buy a GeoBlue option for more comprehensive overseas health insurance.

Aetna health plans cover expenses inside the United States, but not overseas, and almost no Aetna health plans cover foreign emergency care. A very few Aetna plans cover international emergency care, including medical evacuation. To check if this applies to you, Aetna recommends reading your specific policy and contacting your Aetna provider.

Aetna is one of the largest and oldest health service providers in the U.S. Established for 170 years, today Aetna provides health and life insurance, health services via the CVS pharmacy group, and Medicare support. You may even remember Aetna’s 1980s slogan, “Aetna… I’m glad I met ya!”

While Aetna used to offer international health plans for individuals, they have since phased this coverage out. If you are an Aetna plan-holder looking to travel or move internationally, you should secure a plan elsewhere. Our brokers are a great place to start your search, or start by looking at our international health insurance page to see your options and how it works.

Allianz Partners US is a top-level insurance company providing sophisticated protection for travel, technology, and events.  As part of Allianz Partners they provide advanced international health plans for U.S. citizens. Allianz Care can access the resources of Allianz’s resources around the world.

As one of the top companies focusing on overseas coverage, their mission is to keep you well as you travel and work around the world. Allianz Care and Allianz Global Insurance policies are there for you when you have a medical emergency in another country.

Find more details about Allianz Global Insurance, or contact us to learn more.

Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider for U.S. employers and the U.S. government, with a strong international branch. They provide in-U.S. plans for 14 states, and international coverage options for most U.S. citizens.

You can get overseas coverage with specific international plans through Cigna, but its in-U.S. plans do not provide international coverage. If you’re about to travel, though, check with your plan provider — they may provide you with some coverage if you talk to them before leaving the States.

For international plans, Cigna provides policies with exceptional worldwide coverage. You can buy Cigna international coverage for yourself, as a short-term traveler or a long-term expat. You can also buy it for your employees, with their Medical Benefits Abroad option.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest not-for-profit health plans in the U.S. Founded in California in 1945, Kaiser Permanente provides health insurance throughout California and in seven other states. With its West Coast presence, Kaiser Permanente has a surprising level of international coverage for its U.S. insurance customers.

You’ll have to check your plan details to be sure, but your Kaiser Permanente plan may give you some coverage outside the U.S. Routine care won’t be covered outside your main Kaiser Permanente area, but urgent care can be.

Many Kaiser Permanente plans provide basic coverage for medical emergencies overseas. Again, check your plan details to find out.

Kaiser Permanente is partnered with Cigna. If you have a Kaiser policy, you can buy Cigna international coverage through your Kaiser account.

The UnitedHealth Group is a comprehensive U.S. health insurer, but their plans for coverage within U.S. states do not cover you overseas. United Health’s coverage options include individual, family plan, Medicare, Medicaid, and extra health support. You can even get United Health policies for short term health coverage, or if you’re self-employed.

Both individuals and professionals leaving the U.S. for time abroad can find health coverage with UnitedHealth. For emergency protection outside the United States, United Health recommends their travel health insurance. If you have Medicare through UnitedHealth, it will only provide international emergency coverage if you have bought a Medigap plan. For all other plan types, get in touch with your provider.

If you are planning to relocate internationally and it’s not through your employer, get in touch with us about long-term global health plans.

Centene’s health insurance, Ambetter, does not provide overseas coverage. Medicare and Medicaid products through Centene also do not provide international coverage. Ambetter programs do not cover emergencies during international travel. Centene’s Medicare only provides international emergency coverage if you have bought a Medigap plan.

Centene’s motto is: “Transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time.” They provide affordable health care, including Medicare and Medicaid. And they are one of the nation’s largest providers of managed care services for military families and veterans.

If you need international coverage for travel outside the U.S. or for a move, unfortunately Centene does not provide travel or international health insurance coverage. Give our agents a call and we can help you select a plan that will suit your needs.

Highmark is a nationwide leader in the U.S., providing user-friendly Medicare and business health plans. Their ACA/marketplace health insurance for individuals and families is popular. But Highmark’s ACA plans for coverage within U.S. states do not cover you overseas, nor do they offer add-on coverage. Their Medicare plans only provide international emergency coverage if you have bought a Medigap plan.

For Medicare customers seeking Highmark coverage overseas, Highmark recommends their Medicare Advantage plan. This provides emergency protection outside the United States.

You’ll need to purchase travel medical or overseas health insurance outside of your provider if you’re a Highmark customer.

Humana makes Medicare accessible and manageable as a provider and administrator of Medicare plans under the Medicare program. As such, Humana notes, “Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover services overseas, so if you plan on traveling out of the country, you might consider buying a supplemental insurance plan that will cover you in case of an emergency.”

As with most of the other Medicare plans discussed, Humana’s Medicare coverage only provides international emergency coverage if you have bought a Medigap plan. Humana agents can help you find the right Medigap plan with moderate overseas coverage. Remember, Medigap has a $50,000 lifetime limit for international reimbursement. This is very low by international insurance standards, and you may want to buy travel medical or global insurance in addition.

Molina Healthcare focuses on providing affordable health, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Molina Marketplace. Offering health plans in 19 states, they are strong in California and provide Medi-Cal for California residents.

The Molina Marketplace and Medi-Cal plans do not provide coverage outside the United States. But Molina Marketplace plans do provide some emergency coverage for health conditions requiring hospitalization in Canada or Mexico.

If you’re planning on traveling or moving somewhere else outside the United States, Molina does not provide travel or international health insurance coverage. You’ll need to choose a plan that will protect you while you’re outside the U.S.

Metlife is a historic American insurer, active since 1868. For health, they provide supplemental health insurance within the U.S., and global health insurance for companies and employees.

For international Metlife coverage you need one of Metlife’s travel or global health policies. Metlife’s travel and global health insurance covers emergency and urgent medical needs when traveling abroad.

While MetLife doesn’t offer individual travel or health insurance internationally, employers can buy Metlife global plans for their employees, for short and long periods.