Question 1

Why do I need a TravelCare® protection plan?

Accepted Answer

Many U.S. health plans do not provide adequate — if any — coverage overseas. U.S. health plans generally do not cover emergency evacuations, which can cost up to $200,000 or more depending on your circumstance and location. Medicare does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States (except in rare emergency circumstances on our borders with Canada and Mexico) or emergency evacuations.

Question 2

Won't my regular health plan cover me outside the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

It is highly unlikely that your regular medical plan will: know the best place to get treatment in your foreign location; pay a hospital in advance if necessary to assure your admission or treatment; immediately speak with your treating doctor in their language to assess your condition, treatment plans, and ability to provide appropriate care; pay tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars to evacuate you to a higher level of care if needed; accept medical records in a foreign language or pay claims in foreign currencies; be available 24/7 to receive calls and advocate for you in any language. Most people need emergency travel assistance, evacuation services and Travel Medical insurance to get proper protection — even with great U.S. coverage.

Question 3

I have Medicare. Does Medicare cover me outside the country?

Accepted Answer

Medicare does not cover medical expenses incurred while traveling abroad except in rare circumstances (for example, if the closest hospital is across the border, or during a medical emergency while traveling through Canada between Alaska and another state).

Question 4

I have a Medicare Supplement. Does that cover me outside the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

Only some Medicare Supplement plans cover emergency health care provided in a foreign country. For those that do, coverage is typically limited to 80% of $50,000 after a $250 or $2,000 deductible, does not apply after 60 or more days on a trip, and provides no coverage at all for emergency medical evacuations.

Question 5

Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?

Accepted Answer

The government does not take financial responsibility for Americans who become ill or are seriously injured abroad. While a consular officer can assist with the transfer of funds from the United States, payment of emergency services — including evacuation, repatriation, hospitalization and other expenses — is the responsibility of the traveler.

Question 6

Do foreign hospitals really refuse to admit patients without cash or a guarantee of payment?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, that situation is not uncommon. In many countries, healthcare is provided under state-financed systems and the financial infrastructure isn't set up to bill a third-party after the fact. Foreign hospitals often require an up-front payment — often ten thousand dollars or more — or a guarantee of payment from a travel insurance provider they recognize. You don't want treatment delayed or denied because you're having difficulty quickly producing cash or sufficient credit.

Question 7

Does TravelCare cover COVID-19 medical expenses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If medical treatment or evacuation is necessary for an insured with COVID-19 during their trip, the plan covers related expenses up to your selected plan limits. Make sure to purchase a plan package containing medical coverage to protect against these expenses.

Question 8

Why TravelCare?

Accepted Answer

For over twenty years, major corporations, hospitals, university health centers, government agencies and travel clinics have relied on TravelCare's travel medicine software and content to counsel their patients and ensure their wellbeing when traveling internationally. Hundreds of thousands of travelers have been helped by the expertise of TravelCare and our travel medical professional customers.

Question 9

Why did TravelCare select AXIS as its preferred insurance carrier?

Accepted Answer

Before selecting AXIS as our preferred carrier, we considered most of the top global providers of international travel medical insurance. We selected AXIS because of their exceptional financial strength, expert underwriting, and specialized focus on accident and health solutions. Their global scale and proven commitment to reliable claims-paying ability ensure that our members receive comprehensive, high-quality protection and peace of mind wherever they travel.

Question 10

Why did TravelCare select A.R.T. Assistance as its preferred assistance provider?

Accepted Answer

TravelCare selected A.R.T. Assistance because they are an industry leader in 24/7 emergency medical logistics and global cost containment. They provide our members with instant, round-the-clock access to a comprehensive worldwide assistance infrastructure capable of managing complex international medical, logistical, and safety emergencies.

Question 11

Tell me more about TravelCare's providers.

Accepted Answer

A.R.T. Assistance  is a global medical, safety, and security travel assistance network that delivers round-the-clock medical monitoring to Western standards, international hospital payment guarantees to secure admission, and complete coordination of complex emergency air evacuations. AXIS Insurance Company  underwrites our standard multi-state product lines and possesses exceptional financial strength with a specialized global focus on custom accident and health solutions. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company , based in Columbus, Ohio, acts as the underwriter for designated plans in select states (such as New York and Washington), ranking as one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance organizations in the U.S. with an A+ rating from both A.M. Best and S&P.

NEVER assume your health plan provides coverage when you travel internationally.

PATHFINDER

ELITE PROTECT

EXPEDITION

Guides & resources

Is Travel Insurance Worth It? How to Evaluate the Cost vs. Benefit

Travel Insurance for Tanzania and Zanzibar: What Coverage Do You Need?

What U.S. Travelers Need to Know About ETIAS and European Medical Insurance

How Much Travel Insurance Do I Need for my Trip?

Frequently asked questions

Why you need it

How it works & plan details

Contact & support

NEVER assume your health plan provides coverage when you travel internationally.

PATHFINDER

ELITE PROTECT

EXPEDITION

Guides & resources

Is Travel Insurance Worth It? How to Evaluate the Cost vs. Benefit

Travel Insurance for Tanzania and Zanzibar: What Coverage Do You Need?

What U.S. Travelers Need to Know About ETIAS and European Medical Insurance

How Much Travel Insurance Do I Need for my Trip?

Frequently asked questions

Why you need it

Why do I need a TravelCare® protection plan?

Won't my regular health plan cover me outside the U.S.?

I have Medicare. Does Medicare cover me outside the country?

I have a Medicare Supplement. Does that cover me outside the U.S.?

Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?

Do foreign hospitals really refuse to admit patients without cash or a guarantee of payment?

Does TravelCare cover COVID-19 medical expenses?

Why TravelCare?

Why did TravelCare select AXIS as its preferred insurance carrier?

Why did TravelCare select A.R.T. Assistance as its preferred assistance provider?

Tell me more about TravelCare's providers.

How it works & plan details

What is the role of the assistance company and how do they help me?

What happens in the event I need to be hospitalized?

How does the assistance company help me get admitted to a hospital?

What if the local hospitals are not capable of providing treatment?

What if I have a security problem?

What if I have a general travel-related problem?

Can you give me a summary of the coverages?

Who is eligible to purchase the plan?

What methods of payment are accepted?

What are the minimum and maximum trip lengths covered?

The Travel Medical Insurance is "excess coverage". What does that mean?

When does coverage under TravelCare plans become effective?

When does coverage under TravelCare plans end?

Do the TravelCare protection plans have any deductibles or copayments?

What is Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, and is it worth the extra cost?

Contact & support

Emergency & travel assistance (A.R.T. Assistance, 24/7)

General policy inquiries

Claims administrator

Questions about your plan before you depart

Update or change your plan