Medicare and Travel Question?

I'm leaving Monday morning for a much needed 9 day vacation in Aruba. I've been going there on and off since 1976, and every year for the past 16 years.
Its also the first time i am going since i was diagnosed with PC (anc Coronary Artery Disease). So i am thinking about what ifs that i never thought about. While I'm sure everything will be fine, and i am NOT worried that something might happen while overseas, i am curious as to what kind of coverage i have if something does, since i am traveling and vacationing more since all this crap started.
I would assume that Medicare covers overseas events/issues, but you know what they say about assuming.
So whats the scoop?
My previous (wife's teachers) coverage has now become my supplemental coverage and they tell me that as long as medicare covers something, they will cover the rest. No networks, no nuttin.

Wow! Thanks RCS, good to know. I'm really surprised. I couldn't imagine if one say, had a heart attack, and was overseas, wouldn't have medical coverage for life saving emergency care. But from that link, it seems thats the case.
I need to look into this further. Too late for this trip, but will for future trips.

we have a geo blue policy for medical and evacuation insurance for out of the country travel. we have a yearly policy that costs about $350 but i am sure a policy for a short trip would be a lot less.

Medicare doesn't cover travel outside the US. Some of the medicare supplement plans (which you don't have) cover limited out of the country travel. I also buy travel insurance from Geoblue for each trip (not an annual policy) and I think you can purchase up to the date of departure, so its not too late. I always buy mine online, so I think you can get a policy before you leave Monday.

Have fun in Aruba.

I believe that medicare will cover medical costs for travel out of the U.S. of a short duration. the details in my mind are sketchy. I also believe with a google to the medicare site and a possible phone call that will be available on that site all the questions you have can be answered, without too much angst. Depending on what time you are leaving on monday, you with some earnestness, should be able to discern the answers you seek, either via the website itself or via a phone call. a search of the web site will, with out a doubt answer your questions. This should give you peace of mind... if that is in fact what you seek.. I only say the last as apparently it does not weigh too heavy on your mind or you would have taken it up sooner. Medicare information on the website may be complicated to sift thru, but you can be assured its all there...that what govt bureaucrats do best...flood you with information{good news},while making it difficult to decipher {bad news} Welcome to the binary universe.

Its Bozo. The Rubicon has been crossed. When myman { Susan} became aware of the change. She simply said " Hi Bozo " It rang with a purity of soul so beautifully, thats all I sense, when ever I see it regardless of context. Amazing how wonderful communication is when its Aloha is genuine and true. We just had another example from Montey786 in response to purgatories thread. A half-pence from the poor...a pearl of great price.

Pratoman -

This link:

/www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050.pdf

is to "Medicare and you, 2016" which is described as "… the official U.S. Government Medicare handbook."

Looking in its index under "Travel" cites p. 67, which states:


Travel (health care needed when traveling outside the U.S.)

Medicare generally doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S. (The “U.S.” includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.) There are some exceptions, including cases where Medicare may pay for services that you get while on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S. Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital, doctor, or ambulance services you get in a foreign country in these rare cases:
1.
You’re in the U.S. when an emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
2.
You’re traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another U.S. state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
3.
You live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists. Medicare may cover medically necessary ambulance transportation to a foreign hospital only with admission for medically necessary covered inpatient hospital services. You pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies.

Logos, (sorry, I know you prefer Bozo, but I just can't, I'm a nice person), thanks, that looks like the same text that RCS posted a link to earlier in this thread.
I think you are mistaken, because it specifically says "...and the foreign hospital is closer to your HOME". Had it said, closer to your current location, or, your location at the time, it might have been more apt to apply.

@Ken, I found insure trip, and it looks like it's the right coverage, for reasonable cost.
This is dumb, but I'm just not in the mood. I'll take my chances on this trip.
I just ran /power walked 3 miles and I feel pretty good. I'm betting I won't have a heart attack in the next week.

Ps I think you are wrong in your interpretation pf #3. A call to a supervisor on site will prove me right...at your discretion.. Sounds like a wonderful trip...me... I guess I will have to settle for Maui.....


Big surf north shore...way above my pay grade. Was hoping for a wrap to the south shore this morning...did not show...2-3 faces but they lacked daisycles...was good to get my sea legs back tho sorry to note a 2legged shark Had to bump me just to prove who was king....silly but satisfying as I sensed his trip and sent him tripping...nary a word was said... tho the faces were red... sometimes..."it feels so good to be so bad" A line from original Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles