Can You Use Your Health Insurance While Traveling?

Whether you get the flu, sprain your ankle or experience something more serious, an illness or injury while traveling can ruin an eagerly anticipated trip. While a visit to an urgent care clinic may seem like a great alternative, your health insurance plan probably won’t cover it if you're out of state, and you'll be stuck paying out of pocket.

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But before you rush to return home, here’s what you should know about using your health insurance while traveling and how travel health insurance can help.

Health insurance benefits vary by insurer, plan type and specific policy. For example, PPO plans are more likely to provide out-of-state coverage than HMOs, and some plans, including Original Medicare, some Medicare Advantage plans and many Blue Cross Blue Shield policies, cover medical care anywhere in the United States. Other policies only cover in-network care, with participating providers limited to those who practice in your state of residence.

Additionally, some plans may reimburse for out-of-network medical visits, even if they’re out of state. However, you may incur higher out-of-pocket expenses, and you’ll probably have to lay out the money at the time of service.

To determine what your insurance covers once you cross your state’s border, check your policy's terms of service before you hit the road.

What About Emergencies?

Standard health insurance coverage often covers out-of-state care if you have a medical emergency. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to seek services at a hospital emergency room or an urgent care clinic.

How you and your insurer define an emergency may differ, however, so it’s important to understand what your insurance company considers a covered emergency. This information should be clearly stated in your policy’s terms and conditions. However, even if your insurer covers emergency services, you may need to pay up front and file a claim for reimbursement.

Can I Get a Plan That Covers Me Out-of-State?

If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, a multistate plan may not be available. However, if you purchase insurance through the health insurance marketplace, you may find a plan that offers medical care coverage nationally. It’s important, though, to read a policy's terms before selecting it. Not every multistate plan provides national coverage.

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Does It Cover You While You’re Traveling Internationally?

Whether it's a commercial policy or Medicare, your health insurance plan probably won’t cover medical care and services in a foreign country — even in an emergency. However, individual plans vary, so check your policy’s terms for specifics.

Additionally, Medicare enrollees who maintain Medicare Supplement Insurance — commonly known as Medigap — may be covered for emergency medical services internationally.

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Do You Need to Get Travel Health Insurance If You’re Traveling Internationally?

International travel medical insurance can minimize medical bills if you become seriously ill or injured while visiting another country. Besides covering emergency medical care, such as X-rays, prescription medication and treatments, some traveling insurance policies may cover additional expenses, including:

• Emergency dental care
• Medical evacuation
• Emergency repatriation
• Illness- or accident-related trip delays or interruptions
• Accidental death and dismemberment reparation

International travel health insurance typically also gives you access to a 24-7 hotline you can call if you need help finding a nearby doctor.

If you’re traveling on business, your employer’s insurance may cover medical expenses abroad, so you may not need international medical insurance. However, if you’re traveling for pleasure, global health insurance can protect you financially against unexpected medical expenses. Although you aren’t legally required to obtain medical travel insurance when visiting a foreign country, these global insurance policies can give you peace of mind.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy may be an even better bet. Besides covering emergency medical expenses, these plans typically reimburse certain expenses related to losses such as lost luggage and trip cancellation.

However, even these plans have limitations, and coverage limits may apply. For example, these policies typically won’t cover medical expenses related to:

• Preexisting conditions (unless waived)
• Psychological disorders
• Self-harm
• Injuries due to extreme sports
• Illnesses contracted in a country under a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory

How Much Does Travel Health Insurance Cost?

The cost of travel health insurance varies by policy. The average traveler pays about $97 for a plan, but the overall cost depends on the destination, the length of the trip and the insurance company. Comparing policies can help you find the most competitive price for the coverage you need.