FirstTeacher Posted February 17, 2015 #1 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Could someone please explain about whether our Medicare insurance would cover us while in Europe? I've seen 2 posts on CC that mentioned it as an aside, with no explanation. If that's the case, does trip insurance offer health coverage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted February 17, 2015 #2 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) Medicare will not cover at all outside the US and her possessions. This includes onboard a ship. Perhaps they would cover if you were docked in a US port. EM Edited February 17, 2015 by Essiesmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnasMom&Dad Posted February 17, 2015 #3 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Could someone please explain about whether our Medicare insurance would cover us while in Europe? I've seen 2 posts on CC that mentioned it as an aside, with no explanation. If that's the case, does trip insurance offer health coverage? You don't mention which country you're from, USA, Canada or what!! :confused: Cato :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstTeacher Posted February 17, 2015 Author #4 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Sorry! I assumed Medicare was a strictly U.S. Program. That's where I'm from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philob Posted February 17, 2015 #5 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Trip insurance does offer medical coverage, how much to buy is up to you. Note that most trip medical coverage is "secondary". Simply how that works is you need to pay your medical bill first. Submit a claim to the trip insurance company and Medicare. The trip insurance will eventually pay whatever Medicare doesn't. If you can get "primary" coverage you skip the part where you submit a claim to Medicare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TedC Posted February 17, 2015 #6 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Best IDEA is do not get sick or injured! Eat healthily and don't fall, use the railings etc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstTeacher Posted February 17, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Best IDEA is do not get sick or injured! Eat healthily and don't fall, use the railings etc! Thanks! I'll definitely work on that! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted February 17, 2015 #8 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Some of the Medicare supplements do cover you outside the US. You would need to check your policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted February 17, 2015 #9 Share Posted February 17, 2015 In general, Medicare covers nothing outside of the U.S. If you have purchased (or have as a retirement benefit) a Medicare Supplement policy, it may or may not include coverage out of the U.S. (consult with the insurer). Do not confuse the term "travel insurance." It can mean trip, health or a combo of the two. Also, your credit card may have some "trip" insurance benefits. Do your homework and you may end up buying some combo policy from folks like Travelex. Note too that, while your TA or cruise line may have a Travelex policy option, it's probably their own version of Travelex (with watered down benefits compared to what you can buy direct. Hopefully, you know that insurance is one area where you must definitely "read the fine print" and ask many many questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffy116 Posted February 17, 2015 #10 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I ALWAYS buy a good trip insurance policy, even though I have Medicare and coverage that goes beyond Medicare. Medicare doesn't cover you outside the U.S., whether on a cruise ship or land vacation. I have a good travel agent who helps me get exactly what I need, just in case I forget to hold the railing. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamessemaj Posted February 17, 2015 #11 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Unfortunately, buying insurance for anything isn't all that definite. You will never know for sure what they will pay until you file a claim. That's the nature of the industry and the basis for their incredible profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMLady Posted February 17, 2015 #12 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Could someone please explain about whether our Medicare insurance would cover us while in Europe? I've seen 2 posts on CC that mentioned it as an aside, with no explanation. If that's the case, does trip insurance offer health coverage? Medicare does not cover outside USA. I'd suggest you go to insuremytrip.com and take a look at some of the policies offered there, or call them and tell them your needs. They are brokers of many different companies, Yes, trip insurance can cover medical and evacuation in addition to trip delay and trip cancellation. Most trip insurance policies do, but read the details. Also, if you want it to cover pre-existing for cruisers and their immediate family you usually must pay the premium within 7-14 days of booking cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted February 17, 2015 #13 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) You don't mention which country you're from' date=' USA, Canada or what!! :confused: Cato :)[/quote'] Medicare only would cover OP if she was from the US. It's a US program. Edited February 17, 2015 by 6rugrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treven Posted February 17, 2015 #14 Share Posted February 17, 2015 I would also suggest you looking into MedJet Assist. This is a medical evacuation policy that would fly you home (to the hospital of your choice). The caveats are that you have to be in a "foreign" hospital, and that you are at least (I believe) 75 miles from home. They offer a policy for a single person or a family, also for either a single trip, or for an annual time period. I never leave home without it.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamessemaj Posted February 17, 2015 #15 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Medicare only would cover OP if she was from the US. It's a US program. If I'm not mistaken, everybody in Canada is covered by a Medicare type health coverage. I wonder what Canadian coverage is while out of the country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstTeacher Posted February 17, 2015 Author #16 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Thank you all for your prompt replies. We have a Medicare supplement so I'm going to look into its coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamessemaj Posted February 17, 2015 #17 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Thank you all for your prompt replies. We have a Medicare supplement so I'm going to look into its coverage. Please come back to tell what you find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstTeacher Posted February 18, 2015 Author #18 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Please come back to tell what you find. Will do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted February 18, 2015 #19 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Please come back to tell what you find. Your gap insurance and his may not be the same. So don't rely on what he finds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted February 18, 2015 #20 Share Posted February 18, 2015 My Medicare supplement covers us while we are out of the US. It becomes primary then, with the drip insurance being secondary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted February 18, 2015 #21 Share Posted February 18, 2015 I would also suggest you looking into MedJet Assist. This is a medical evacuation policy that would fly you home (to the hospital of your choice). The caveats are that you have to be in a "foreign" hospital, and that you are at least (I believe) 75 miles from home. They offer a policy for a single person or a family, also for either a single trip, or for an annual time period.I never leave home without it.:) ........... have to be at least 150 miles from home. Seeing OP is on Medicare, they likely are over 65 and if member of AARP there is a discount worth asking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbo Posted February 18, 2015 #22 Share Posted February 18, 2015 If I'm not mistaken, everybody in Canada is covered by a Medicare type health coverage. I wonder what Canadian coverage is while out of the country? We can do a claim to our provincial program and they will reimbourse whatever would be paid here... in my province, no more than 20$ for a walk-in visit, at best a couple hundred dollars per day if hospitalized. A canadian getting sick in the USA without an extra private insurance will be bankrupted in a week or two! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t923347 Posted February 18, 2015 #23 Share Posted February 18, 2015 If I'm not mistaken, everybody in Canada is covered by a Medicare type health coverage. I wonder what Canadian coverage is while out of the country? Although we have a full health care system in Canada it does not cover us outside the country and, in fact, we are encouraged to purchase additional insurance when travelling to other provinces as not all provincial plans are the same. This means that something covered in BC may not be in Quebec, as an example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treven Posted February 18, 2015 #24 Share Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) ........... have to be at least 150 miles from home. Seeing OP is on Medicare, they likely are over 65 and if member of AARP there is a discount worth asking for. Thanks. I've had trouble remembering the distance. Also, is it 150 miles "from home", or that distance from the US? Plus every time I've gotten a policy from them I've forgotten to bring up my AARP coverage. Edited February 18, 2015 by Treven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted February 18, 2015 #25 Share Posted February 18, 2015 It is 150 mi from home and why not call them and ask for AARP credit? The worst that happens is they say No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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