Will my health insurance pay my medical expenses outside the United States?

Check with your health insurance carrier to find out what type of coverage you have when traveling abroad and what the coverage limits are. Also, ask if the policy will pay to fly you home or to a country with first-rate medical care. If your plan provides coverage outside the U.S., be sure to carry your insurance policy identity card with you, as well as a claim form. Although many companies will pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the U.S. and these costs can easily come to $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition.

Medicare does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside of the country.

If your health plan does not provide adequate overseas coverage, you can consider purchasing separate Emergency Medical Assistance and Evacuation policy, a form of travel insurance.