What to Check About Your Health Coverage Before You Travel

Verify your coverage is active and what it covers outside your home area

Before you leave, contact your health insurance company directly and ask three specific things: whether your plan covers care outside your home state or country, what you pay out of pocket if you need treatment while traveling, and whether you need pre-approval for any planned medical procedures. Do not assume your coverage travels with you — many plans limit out-of-area care or charge higher costs, and some exclude it entirely.

Call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card, not a general number from the company website. Have your policy number ready. Ask the representative to confirm the information in writing — either by email or by mailing you a summary. This written confirmation protects you if there is a dispute later about what you were told.

If you are traveling internationally, your domestic health plan almost certainly does not cover care outside the United States. Even travel medical insurance sold by U.S. companies typically covers only emergency care, not routine visits or pre-existing conditions. Read the policy document before you buy it, not after you arrive.

Key Takeaways

• Call your insurance company before traveling and ask in writing whether your plan covers care in the location where you are going.
• Out-of-area care often costs more than in-network care, and some plans do not cover it at all, so ask what you would pay out of pocket.
• If you need a planned procedure or specialist visit during your trip, ask whether pre-approval is required before you schedule it.
• International travel is not covered by most U.S. health plans, so you may need separate travel medical insurance for trips outside the country.
• Request written confirmation of what your representative tells you, because verbal promises are difficult to enforce if a claim is denied later.

Check whether your plan covers out-of-network providers

Most health plans have a network of doctors and hospitals where you pay less. If you travel to a place where your plan's network is small or nonexistent, you will likely see out-of-network providers and pay more. Ask your insurance company whether your plan covers out-of-network emergency care, and at what percentage — some plans cover 80 percent, others 50 percent or less.

Ask also whether you need to get pre-approval before seeing an out-of-network doctor for a non-emergency visit. Some plans require it; others do not. If pre-approval is required and you skip that step, the claim may be denied or paid at a lower rate.

Request a list of in-network providers in the area where you are traveling. Many insurance companies provide this online through their website or app. If the list is very short or empty, that is a sign your plan may not cover much care in that location.

Understand what happens if you need emergency care

Emergency rooms are required by federal law to treat you regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, but that does not mean the bill will be small. Ask your insurance company what you pay for an emergency room visit — the copay, coinsurance, or deductible that applies. Ask also whether the emergency room must be in-network for your plan to cover it, or whether emergency care is covered anywhere.

If you are traveling internationally and need emergency care, your U.S. health plan will not pay. You will pay the full cost upfront and may be able to file a claim for reimbursement after you return home — but only if the care was truly an emergency and only if the facility was a licensed hospital. Travel medical insurance covers this gap, but you must buy it before you leave the country.

Write down the customer service number from your insurance card and keep it with your travel documents. If you need emergency care, call that number as soon as you are able. The representative can tell you which hospitals are in-network and help you understand what you will owe.

Find out about prescription refills while you are away

If you take regular medications, contact your pharmacy before you travel and ask whether they can refill your prescriptions early so you have enough to cover your trip. Most pharmacies allow one early refill per year per medication, but policies vary. Do not wait until you are traveling to discover your pharmacy will not refill early — that conversation needs to happen at home.

If you are traveling internationally, bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating the medication name, dose, and reason for use. Some countries require this documentation at customs, and it protects you if you need to refill the prescription while abroad. Do not pack all your medication in one bag; split it between your carry-on and checked luggage in case one bag is lost.

Ask your insurance company whether prescriptions filled outside your home state or country will be covered. Some plans cover them; others do not. If your plan does not cover out-of-area prescriptions, you may pay the full cost and file a claim for reimbursement after you return.

Review your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum before you go

Check your insurance documents or online account to find your deductible — the amount you pay before your insurance starts to pay — and your out-of-pocket maximum — the most you will pay in a year for covered care. If you have not met your deductible yet this year and you need medical care while traveling, you will pay out of pocket until you reach that amount.

Knowing these numbers helps you decide whether to buy travel medical insurance as backup. If your deductible is very high or you have not met it yet, travel insurance may be worth the cost. If your deductible is low and you have already met it, travel insurance may not save you money.

Ask your insurance company whether your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum reset on a calendar year, a plan year, or some other date. This matters if you are traveling near the end of your plan year, because you may reach your out-of-pocket maximum and then have no more costs for the rest of that year.

Confirm coverage for specific activities or conditions

If you plan to do something risky while traveling — hiking at high altitude, adventure sports, or activities in remote areas — ask your insurance company whether injuries from those activities are covered. Some plans exclude coverage for high-risk activities or charge more for it. Some travel medical insurance policies also exclude these activities, so read the fine print.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, ask whether your plan covers treatment for that condition while you are traveling. Some plans do; others do not. If you are buying travel medical insurance, ask whether it covers pre-existing conditions — most do not, unless you buy the policy within a certain number of days of your first trip payment.

If you are traveling with a chronic condition that requires regular monitoring or medication adjustments, ask your doctor whether you should see a specialist before you leave or schedule a telehealth visit while you are away. Some conditions are safer to manage with professional oversight than to manage alone.

Get the information in writing and keep it with your travel documents

After you speak with your insurance company, request written confirmation of what you were told. This can be an email, a letter, or a summary from the company's website. Print it or save it to your phone. If a claim is denied later, this written confirmation is your proof of what you were promised.

Keep a copy of your insurance card, your policy number, and the customer service phone number in your travel bag and on your phone. Take a photo of your insurance card and email it to yourself so you can access it even if your phone dies. If you need medical care while traveling, you will need this information immediately.

If you are traveling internationally, also keep a copy of your travel medical insurance policy and the claims phone number. Some travel insurance companies have 24-hour hotlines that can help you find a hospital or arrange payment directly with a provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my health insurance cover me if I travel to another state?

Most U.S. health plans cover emergency care in any state, but routine care may only be covered in-network. Call your insurance company to ask whether your plan covers non-emergency care outside your home state and what you will pay. Out-of-network care usually costs more.

What should I do if I need medical care while traveling internationally?

Your U.S. health insurance almost certainly does not cover care outside the country. You will pay the full cost upfront. If you have travel medical insurance, call that company immediately — they can help you find a hospital and may pay the provider directly. Keep all receipts and documentation to file a claim for reimbursement after you return home.

Can I refill my prescriptions while I am traveling?

You can try, but it depends on your pharmacy's policy and your insurance plan. Ask your pharmacy before you travel whether they will refill early so you have enough medication for your trip. If you are traveling internationally, bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor in case you need to refill it abroad.

Is travel medical insurance worth buying?

It depends on your health plan's deductible, your destination, and the length of your trip. If your deductible is high, you have not met it yet, or you are traveling internationally, travel insurance may be worth the cost. If your deductible is low and you have already met it, it may not save you money. Read the policy to see what it covers and what it excludes.

What if my insurance company says my plan does not cover care in the place I am traveling?

Ask whether you can buy a short-term plan or rider that covers that location, or whether you should buy separate travel medical insurance. Some insurance companies offer this option. If not, travel medical insurance is your backup option, though you must buy it before you leave home.