Medicare coverage on cruises?

[Elaine5715]

You are responding to a post from 2007! We note this is your first post and your name makes one think you might be a physician. You should be aware that Medicare does not give any coverage outside the USA (or its territories) except under two very limited exceptions (we will not go into details). The truth is that the company IS NOT "willing to provide you with benefits when on a cruise or out of the country. And even within the USA there are parts of our country where certain specialists (such as Neurosurgeons) can be difficult to find for those dependent on Medicare. The reality is that not all physicians accept Medicare.

 

Hank

Yeah, I am guessing there is a not good reason for the name choice and thread resurrection...

[zqvol]

I can't get decent information on this question. We will be traveling in a family group with 3 people who have Medicare.

 

What does Medicare pay for if they need medical care while on the cruise?

 

Thank you.

 

Nothing. Any coverage they might have will be through their medicare supplement. They should make sure that they have travel insurance prior to sailing.

[Andee]

Because Medicare doesn't cover outside of the US, we've added a (very inexpensive) foreign travel rider to our Medicare supplement.

 

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[internetwhiz]

Our Medicare supplement with Blue Cross has 50K in coverage to be used outside the US. It’s a when you’ve used it, it’s gone. It’s there until you use it up.

[Kamloops50]

Most medical insurance requires you to pay the provider up to a certain amount. After that amount they pay direct.

 

 

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[6rugrats]

So what?

 

Do you throw out a wine when it gets to be 11 years old?

 

Age of this topic is only relevant if there are significant changes in Medicare's approach to out-of-country coverage.

But, there is no change in this "approach."

[Grandma Dazzles]

Most medical insurance requires you to pay the provider up to a certain amount. After that amount they pay direct.

 

 

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Not Medicare! Medicare is not the same as a regular purchased insurance. Medicare pays nothing in a foreign country/ship.

 

Some Medicare Advantage or Supplement plans, which people purchase as an additional coverage, may have foreign coverage. Just like travel insurance you may have to pay your bill by credit card and then file a claim.

 

Ship's medical center gives you standard completed form with US codes. You file and are reimbursed - ship does not file for you. That has been my experience on two minor problems on Royal Caribbean, which my travel insurance and personal insurance reimbursed me directly.

[internetwhiz]

People this thread is 11 yrs old

 

 

 

Looks like it’s still relevant

[navybankerteacher]

But, there is no change in this "approach."

 

That's why the thread is still relevant - regardless of age.

[jlp20]

Medicare, like most other medical coverage, does not cover you OUTSIDE the country. You must realize that if a medical issue arises, there are many other expenses are incurred. A I recommend at least a bare bones travel policy for everyone.

From our 2nd cruise on, we have gotten a policy each cruise. The wife was hospitalized 6 days before one cruise, within a month we got a refund check.

[internetwhiz]

Medicare, like most other medical coverage, does not cover you OUTSIDE the country. You must realize that if a medical issue arises, there are many other expenses are incurred. A I recommend at least a bare bones travel policy for everyone.

 

From our 2nd cruise on, we have gotten a policy each cruise. The wife was hospitalized 6 days before one cruise, within a month we got a refund check.

 

 

We always have trip insurance BUT our Medicare Supplement has some too.

[Hlitner]

We always have trip insurance BUT our Medicare Supplement has some too.

 

ARGH! So much confusion. So, lets clear the air again since others do read CC. Some (I emphasize some) Medicare Advantage Plans provide limited emergency and urgent care coverage outside the USA. For those that have an Advantage Plan (this would be like a Medicare PPO or HMO) you need to check with your provider to see if your plan includes that coverage. If so, make sure to get the coverage section in writing so you know exactly what is covered.

 

When paying claims out of the country, in most cases you will have to pay the entire cost before you can even leave the hospital. I just went through this in Japan...even thought I had good coverage. Fortunately, we have credit cards with very high limits :). Otherwise, i1t might have been UGLY.

 

My advice, having spent a lifetime working in the Medical Insurance industry, is that every cruiser/traveler should check their personal coverage and supplement it as necessary. A very basic industry guideline is that its good to have $100,000+ of Medical Insurance coverage. One should also have "medical evacuation insurance" which will pay (under certain circumstances) to get the patient (and usually companion) home in the event of a real medical emergency where further treatment at home is necessary and travel is OK. Med Evacuation can be very expensive (we are talking $100,000 + and it is covered by many travel policies or the free standing coverage you can get from Medjetassist. We recently had a personal situation where we needed evacuation from Japan back to the USA. Even though it could be done on a commercial flight (the cheapest alternative) the cost of last minute tickets cost nearly $20,000! And that is a bargain compared to what its costs if you need to evacuated on a chartered Air Ambulance.

 

So while many cruisers seem to be more concerned with getting coverage for a few thousand dollars of trip cancellation. they often ignore the truly unlimited liability of medical.

 

Hank

[njhorseman]

ARGH! So much confusion. So, lets clear the air again since others do read CC. Some (I emphasize some) Medicare Advantage Plans provide limited emergency and urgent care coverage outside the USA. For those that have an Advantage Plan (this would be like a Medicare PPO or HMO) you need to check with your provider to see if your plan includes that coverage. If so, make sure to get the coverage section in writing so you know exactly what is covered.

 

When paying claims out of the country, in most cases you will have to pay the entire cost before you can even leave the hospital. I just went through this in Japan...even thought I had good coverage. Fortunately, we have credit cards with very high limits :). Otherwise, i1t might have been UGLY.

 

My advice, having spent a lifetime working in the Medical Insurance industry, is that every cruiser/traveler should check their personal coverage and supplement it as necessary. A very basic industry guideline is that its good to have $100,000+ of Medical Insurance coverage. One should also have "medical evacuation insurance" which will pay (under certain circumstances) to get the patient (and usually companion) home in the event of a real medical emergency where further treatment at home is necessary and travel is OK. Med Evacuation can be very expensive (we are talking $100,000 + and it is covered by many travel policies or the free standing coverage you can get from Medjetassist. We recently had a personal situation where we needed evacuation from Japan back to the USA. Even though it could be done on a commercial flight (the cheapest alternative) the cost of last minute tickets cost nearly $20,000! And that is a bargain compared to what its costs if you need to evacuated on a chartered Air Ambulance.

 

So while many cruisers seem to be more concerned with getting coverage for a few thousand dollars of trip cancellation. they often ignore the truly unlimited liability of medical.

 

Hank

 

It is NOT just Medicare Advantage plans that provide coverage when you're outside the US. The poster you quoted referred to their Medicare supplement plan having some too, and the poster is absolutely correct.

 

Supplement plans C, F, G and N provide foreign travel emergency medical coverage of 80% after a $250 annual deductible, with a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000.

 

It's up to the individual to buy other coverage if they want more than the supplement provides...I certainly do...but the coverage outlined is there for insureds having those particular supplement plans.