Author Topic: Purchasing health/medical insurance when traveling outside ACA coverage area  (Read 797 times)

ltt

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I am interested in knowing what company you are purchasing health/medical insurance from, if any, when traveling outside of ACA coverage area.

We would like to start travelling again, but am concerned we won't be covered for health/medical insurance outside of coverage area.  It's my understanding that we would be covered for emergencies.

Maybe some type of supplemental policy?

BudgetSlasher

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I do not have experience with ACA plans, but when I have had a question on my previous plans about travel, I have called and asked. Generally I have gotten something along the the lines of "yes for emergency care you may are covered, though you may have to pay and be reimbursed" [paraphrasing not quoting, despite the quotation marks]. Note: the pay are be reimbursed was in response to a question specifically regarding international travel.

https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/service-area/ defines the term service area (which is what google returns for ACA coverage area) as "A geographic area where a health insurance plan accepts members if it limits membership based on where people live. For plans that limit which doctors and hospitals you may use, it's also generally the area where you can get routine (non-emergency) services. The plan may end your coverage if you move out of the plan's service area." Reading that is seems to focus on insurance as the service rather than medical care as the service when setting the geographic area.

If you concern is limited to emergency care while traveling, such as a fall while hiking, I would confirm what level of coverage you may already have under your current plan.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2021, 06:50:39 AM by BudgetSlasher »

rantk81

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First, if your existing insurance is ACA compliant -- they are required to cover emergency services, even if you are outside of your network/region.

Are you traveling for such a length of time that you'll need regular/routine medical care, that can't be done via tele-medicine?

One option is to just pay cash/out-of-pocket for those planned routine expenses.

I guess, another option is to look into short term plans.  Last time I was looking into them, I think UNH had a national network of doctors.  Might be a good stop-gap for a short term plan ?

https://www.uhc.com/health-insurance-plans/short-term-health-insurance

If, on the other hand, you are planning for international travel, then you could buy a supplemental policy for Global Medical Transport... I think the major insurance companies (Berkshire Hathaway, Travelers, etc.) offer policies for this.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2021, 06:52:34 AM by rantk81 »

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!