Dec 5, 2024
A 69-year-old woman from a small town in California has always dreamt of sipping wine at a vineyard in Tuscany, wandering the cobbled streets of Florence and seeking out the best pizzerias in Naples.
Now retired, with her health declining, she doesn’t want to delay her dream trip to Italy any longer — even if it means traveling solo.
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She’s not alone in this. Solo travel has become a popular way for retirees to prioritize their quality of life, regardless of age, according to Allianz Partner’s 16th annual Vacation Confidence Index. The report notes a 23% increase in solo travelers among seniors.
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With this trend, it’s understandable that travelers are concerned about whether Medicare will cover them if they fall ill or have an accident while abroad. Generally, the answer is no, with a few exceptions. So what can this 69-year-old do to avoid a hefty medical bill if something happens in Italy?
How Medicare works outside of the U.S.
Before booking your flight, it’s important to understand that Medicare coverage outside of the U.S. is limited, and in most cases, won’t pay for medical expenses incurred while traveling. There are a few exceptions — such as if you’re traveling to Alaska through Canada and a Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital.
Medicare coverage outside the U.S. varies depending on your plan, but you’re still responsible for any applicable deductibles, coinsurance or copayments. Medicare also won’t cover prescription drugs abroad.
Under Medicare Part A and Part B, coverage is limited. Part A may cover inpatient hospital care if you’ve been admitted to a foreign hospital under a doctor’s orders. Part B may cover emergency and non-emergency ambulance services and doctor care during a covered foreign hospital stay. However, this requires the hospital to submit a claim to Medicare, or you’ll need to submit an itemized bill.
Medigap plans C, D, F, G, M and N will cover 80% of the cost of emergency medical care outside of the U.S. within the first 60 days of travel after you pay the annual $250 deductible.
Keep in mind that Plans C and F are no longer available to new beneficiaries. Some Medicare Advantage Plans may offer additional coverage for medical services abroad, so it’s worth checking with your plan with your provider before traveling. Military retirees enrolled in Tricare for Life have the same foreign travel insurance they had before enrolling in Medicare.
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If the 69-year-old woman decides to take a cruise around Italy, she should be aware that Medicare won’t cover medical expenses if the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port. However, some medically necessary services may be covered if the physician is allowed to provide care on the cruise ship.
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Why seniors should consider travel insurance
Regardless of age, buying travel insurance before traveling abroad makes sense. Some credit cards offer travel-related coverages, while insurance companies sell policies that include trip cancellation, trip interruption and travel medical insurance.
- Trip cancellation covers non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled before you depart due to a covered reason.
- Trip interruption covers costs if you need to return home early while already at your destination.
- Travel medical insurance can cover various medical-related expenses from illness and injury, to prescription drugs and emergency medical evacuation.
Most insurers offer bundles that include all three types of insurance. This 69-year-old woman may want to consider purchasing travel medical insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation back to the U.S. It’s also beneficial to find an insurer that has partnerships with local clinics abroad to help find care in case of language barriers.
Travel medical insurance typically comes with coverage limits and exclusions. If you have pre-existing or chronic health conditions, you may need to meet certain conditions to qualify. It could be helpful to chat with a travel agent or insurance broker to find the right policy for your needs.
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Vawn Himmelsbach is a veteran journalist who covers tech, business, finance and travel. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC News, Yahoo Finance, MSN, CAA Magazine, Travelweek, Explore Magazine and Consumer Reports.
