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If you’re a retiree on Medicare and feel the itch to travel, be sure you know whether your insurance plan can go with you.
Whether you want to hit the road for a U.S.-based trip or head overseas, coverage at your destination hinges on the specifics of your Medicare plan. The nature of your care — routine or emergency — also may play a role.
Just over a quarter of Americans (28%) say they’ve fallen ill or been hurt while vacationing, according to a ការសិក្សាថ្មី from personal finance website ValuePenguin. Among that group, bacterial or food-borne illnesses were most common (33%), followed by respiratory illnesses (28%) and bodily injuries (24%). Additionally, 12% of them said they contracted Covid while on vacation.
ច្រើនទៀតពីហិរញ្ញវត្ថុផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន:
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តម្លៃក្នុងការផ្តល់ហិរញ្ញប្បទានរថយន្តថ្មីបានឡើងដល់កំណត់ត្រាចំនួន ៦៥៦ ដុល្លារក្នុងមួយខែ
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In other words, it’s worth knowing what to expect from your Medicare coverage so there are no surprises if you need to visit a doctor or other health-care provider while away from home.
With basic Medicare, U.S. travel is straightforward
A Medigap policy might help abroad
This coverage applies only to medically necessary emergency care and there may be other restrictions, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Some older Medigap policies that beneficiaries still have — E, H, I and J — also come with travel coverage abroad, Gavino said.
Be aware that Medigap plans come with their own rules for enrolling, and policies can be pricey depending on where you live, your age and other factors. For example, for a 65-year-old female, the least expensive Plan G policy in Dallas runs just under $100 monthly compared with about $278 in New York, according to the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance.