LIFESPAN: Tickets? Check. Medical insurance coverage? Better check on that

Summer is coming and school will be out soon.

As we reminisce about the days of counting down our last school days, those among us who no longer punch a clock are mostly in vacation mode in search of a destination to fill our time.

As we travel more with our days of retirement or even working part-time, accidents can happen. Traversing the cobble stones of Rome from the time Christ, getting hit by a bicycle in London because you looked the "wrong" way crossing a street and navigating the ancient steps of Acropolis in cute sandals all can be potentially disastrous while on Medicare. (Just to be clear, none of these have happened to me.)

Notably, when traveling, Medicare may NOT pay for non-emergency medical care you may receive when traveling the United States and its territories if you do not find a Medicare-accepting provider, and those that have Medicare Advantage plans; you will have to review your coverage to see the plan's policies for traveling. But there are exceptions. To begin with, (and for those that are geographical and historically challenged,) the 50 states, D.C. Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa are considered part of the U.S. Anywhere else is consider outside of the U.S. (I'll give you time to go dig up your Atlas...)

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), reports that while you are in Canada traveling directly between Alaska and another U.S. state, and something happens, if the nearest treating hospital is in Canada, Medicare will pay for it. So plan accordingly.

If you are at the other end of our country, and a foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital, then Medicare will pay. (This refers to border residents, again, go grab your Rand McNally.)

But what if you are out at sea on a cruise? You must be in U.S. territorial waters, at port or within six hours of a U.S. port. Anyone that has a maritime charting map, I'll give you a few more minutes to gather your compass, ruler, and protractor and even your stashed parallel rules.

When leaving our continent, some Medigap policies provide coverage for travel abroad. Specific plans such as C through G, M and N cover 80% of the cost of emergency care. Check your individual policies you purchased last year during Open Enrollment and ask specifically if they will cover Spain and what directions are there to follow.

Medicare Advantage plans may also cover emergency care abroad as a supplemental benefit. Again, contact your Plan to see if they cover certain countries and if there are any special instructions. Contacting any insurance you have is also good to let them know that you are traveling in case something does happen.

Because Medicare offers limited medical coverage in and out of the United States, it's always good to purchase travel insurance for extra coverage. Review the terms carefully although it may in 3-point and 18 ½ pages long. Many times, you need documents that you cannot retrieve now that you are back home. Know what you need prior to your trip.

And when you are packing, try to remember a good credit card to carry for an emergency. Some countries will not treat you until you pay first. Which means, while you sit in ER with your thumb on ice in a Ziplock bag, you'll have to break out a credit card first before treatment. And if you cannot fly due to an accident, you may have to stay longer until you are cleared to fly and hotel costs can add up quick.

Bottom line is to check your insurance and how it applies to where you are going. Additionally, while traveling in the United States, some cities do not have a Trauma One hospital which means you will have to be transported, which will cost money. Check on that as well. Those bills can be very expensive for a helicopter no matter how good the views are. If you need assistance with insurance traveling clarity, call Lifespan at 217-639-5150and we'll make a phone call together to ask the good questions, so you you'll know what to expect while at the bottom of the stairs of the Eiffel Tower waiting for assistance. Bon voyage!