Trip Insurance with Medicare?

[sattva]

We're on Medicare with Medigap N that covers foreign travel.  Given that, is there a good reason to buy "comprehensive" trip insurance?  What we're mainly looking for is coverage for cancellation of prepaid cruise fare and emergency evacuation.  Our current credit cards don't provide those coverages.  So how to proceed?  Any advice would be really helpful!

[Jersey42]

You might want to rethink the need for travel medical insurance.  "Medigap plan N" and the other Medicare supplements that cover foreign travel are fairly limited in my opinion.  They only pay 80% of certain medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after you meet a $250 deductible for the year.  Plus there is a $50K lifetime maximum.  The $50K may not even be enough for one serious injury or illness. Depending on the trip, most people recommend a minimum of $100K medical coverage. So I strongly suggest you have some medical coverage in addition to your Medigap plan. 

 

If you elect to get medical coverage, in your case make sure it pays primary (not secondary).  Otherwise Medicare and your Medigap plan will be billed first and anything they pay will go against your $50K lifetime maximum. If you have primary coverage, you can save your $50K for a situation where you might have no other coverage. 

[klfrodo]

Agree with Jersey42

 

LIFETIME limit of $50K,,, that's one fall requiring stitches and x-rays to include a CT if the fall included head trauma.

 

Since you're worried about cancellations and losing that money, buy a comprehensive plan that includes medical as "Primary" of a min of $100K per person, and evacuation of $1M per person.

 

Side Note: Just in case you don't know,,, travel insurance to include medical is "reimbursement" only. You will be required to provide proof of ability to pay PRIOR to any services being rendered. In some limited case the travel insurance "may" be able to provide that proof. (AMC Hospital doesn't accept BC/BS or Medicare/Medicaid cards)

[iamtrustworthy]

On 4/28/2021 at 12:34 PM, sattva said:

We're on Medicare with Medigap N that covers foreign travel.  Given that, is there a good reason to buy "comprehensive" trip insurance?  What we're mainly looking for is coverage for cancellation of prepaid cruise fare and emergency evacuation.  Our current credit cards don't provide those coverages.  So how to proceed?  Any advice would be really helpful!

Hi Sattva,

 

Jersey42 and klfrodo gave you good advice.

 

Here's more detail:

 

You can get Travel Insurance that fills the gaps in your Medicare / Medigap Policies C, D, F, G, M & N

 

The Original Medicare Plan does not cover health care when you travel outside the United States, except for some emergency situations in Mexico and Canada.

 

In rare cases, Medicare can pay for inpatient hospital services that you get in Canada or Mexico. Medicare can pay only if:

- You are in the United States when a medical emergency occurs and the Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.

- You are traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state when a medical emergency occurs and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.

- You live in the United States and the Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.

 

Important Information About Medigap Policies C, D, F, G, M & N

 

Your Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan may provide worldwide coverage benefits for health care needs when you travel outside the United States. Medigap policies C, D, F, G, M & N provide Foreign Travel Emergency health care coverage when you travel outside the United States. Under these plans, Medigap policies pay for 80% of the cost of emergency care during the first 60 days of each trip after you pay the $250 deductible. Foreign Travel Emergency coverage with Medigap policies have a lifetime limit of $50,000.

 

You should check with your Medicare Supplement plan prior to traveling outside of the United States regarding your worldwide coverage benefits. Your Medicare Supplement plan will either tell you:

- “We pay whatever Medicare won’t pay, subject to deductibles & copays.” or

- “If Medicare’s not obligated to pay, we won’t pay either.”

 

Here’s why you’ll want to know how your Medigap plan pays:

- If your Medigap plan has a lifetime limit of $50,000 of medical benefits that are paid for treatment outside the USA, I (Steve) suggest you get a trip cancellation travel insurance plan that has Primary (aka “First Payer”) Travel Medical coverage. That way if you have a medical claim you are not using part of your lifetime limit.

- But, if your Medigap plan gives you a lot more than the $50,000 lifetime limit for medical treatment outside the USA, I (Steve) suggest you get a trip cancellation travel insurance plan that has Secondary (aka “Excess”) Travel Medical coverage.

 

Steve Dasseos

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

G O BLUE and Med Jet