Aetna Medicare for travel insurance

[HappyTravelerWithFriends]

My husband and I have Aetna Medicare PPO insurance.  When I purchase travel insurance, can I skip medical evacuation?  

[TheOldBear]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

There is a forum dedicated to insurance topics at https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

 

The answer to most insurance questions is 'it depends' - you need to check the fine print and definitions on any existing coverage and see where the gaps are. Then contact a broker and see about filling the gaps. The definitions are important as the insurance contracts & policies may not be using the terms the way you expect.

[GeezerCouple]

6 minutes ago, HappyTravelerWithFriends said:

My husband and I have Aetna Medicare PPO insurance.  When I purchase travel insurance, can I skip medical evacuation?  

 

Welcome to posting on CruiseCritic! 😉

 

You've been a member for quite a while, but if you don't post, you may not be familiar with the various sub-forum topics.

Here is a link to the "Travel Insurance" section:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

 

You'll get more eyes that are familiar with travel insurance if you post your question there.

This post might get moved there, but in case that takes time, just re-post.

 

And here is a link to the list of other topics for your future reference.

 

Do you have Medicare Advantage, or a Medicare Medigap/Supplement?

As for your question, you'd need to look at *your* specific Aetna plan, in case it differs from others.  What does it say about coverage for medical evacuation?

Also double check how much regular "medical coverage" you have out of the USA, separate from any "evacuation" needs.

The bottom line is always going to include:  What does *your* policy state about relevant coverage?

 

GC

[Hlitner]

The thing about evacuation insurance is that folks really need to read the fine print.  Most policies will only cover inpatient to inpatient, and it often must be pre-approved by the attending physician, a receiving physician, and the insurance carrier.   We, once, did use evacuation insurance to get DW evacuated from Japan to the USA, and it was a complicated process (covered by our travel-medical policy).

 

Would we depend on Aetna's Medicare PPO (which is what we have) for evacuation?  Nope.  But perhaps we are wrong.  Are you feeling lucky today?

 

Hank

[navybankerteacher]

I think “PPO”  means Preferred Provider Option - hardly unlimited coverage, and almost certainly not covering overseas medical evacuation.

[ldubs]

@HappyTravelerWithFriends --  I would strongly suggest you read your Aetna coverage part then talk to your carrier to clarify those terms and conditions that are not quite clear.  

[Host Kat]

6 hours ago, HappyTravelerWithFriends said:

My husband and I have Aetna Medicare PPO insurance.  When I purchase travel insurance, can I skip medical evacuation?  

 

Hello @HappyTravelerWithFriends and welcome to the Cruise Critic message boards!

 

Thank you for your first new thread on the Ask a Cruise Question forum! However, it is the forum for general questions regarding cruising. Your inquiry concerns insurance and is off topic there.

 

To help you out I have moved your new thread to the Cruise/Travel Insurance forum where it will be on topic. Browse through the thread titles on this forum looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members may have already posted questions and received answers that will be of interest to you.

 

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[spikemom]

Medicare does not cover evacuation on any policy. Medicare only covers health care, and that is ONLY if you have selected a Medicare/Medigap supplement policy that explicitly covers travel outside the US. Some don't even cover much outside of your home state. Not sure where a PPO fits here.I have a Massachusetts supplement policy that does cover international travel, it is the most expensive plan. For evacuation we have an annual plan with Medjet, which for us is cheaper than doing it by the trip because we travel a lot. It does evacuation in and out of the US. I suspect Aetna has supplement policies that cover foreign travel, and has some that don't. You need to check carefully, call them maybe.

Edited May 31 by spikemom
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