Travel Benefit
The benefit that travels with you
You are ready to travel to new sites or enjoy out-of-town visits with those you love now that you have the time and investment to make it happen.
Proper preparation for your trip will help you relax and maximize the time. Perhaps one of the most important things you can do is ensure that healthcare will be available when you need it.
Travel increases your risk for illness and injury, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older adults may be exposed to new viruses while traveling and can often experience disruptions to medication routines. Consider how you will access healthcare and if you have the means to cover the cost prior to leaving your home.
We make preparation easy with our Visitor Travel benefit, which is an annual allowance designed for members who are traveling out of their home state for more than seven days but less than 180 days and wish to seek care for routine services such as a visit with a specialist for an established medical condition or any non-emergent care received from an out-of-network provider.
Call to speak with one of our trusted advisors at 1-800-964-4525 (TTY: 711) or go online today to enroll and begin enjoying benefits like this. Health care should be the last thing on your mind when you travel.
Making the most of our Visitor Travel benefit as a member
Call Member Services at 1-800-240-3851 (TTY 711) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
It covers the expense of routine services from an out-of-network provider. It does not cover transportation, urgent, and emergency services. Urgent/emergent care, such as a visit to an urgent care or emergency room, is not considered routine and is covered under your regular benefits with the plan.
Members must call Member Services prior to traveling to initiate the benefit. If the benefit is not initiated prior to traveling, you will not be able to access the visitor travel benefit. You can reach Member Services at 1-800-240-3851 (TTY 711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
Members must also contact the plan by calling Member Services when they return to the service area; failure to do notify the plan may result in a delay in claims processing.
Members may have multiple periods of traveling for a total of up to 12 months per calendar year.
Care received while out of the country or on/related to a cruise ship are not covered under the travel benefit.
No. The Visitor Travel benefit may not be initiated retrospectively. Members MUST call prior to traveling to initiate it.
In some cases, select services may require prior authorization. Call Member Services at 1-800-240-3851 (TTY 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week for assistance, or refer to Chapter 4, Section 2.3 in the Evidence of Coverage.
You or the out-of-state provider may request prior authorization for services by calling the number on the back of your member ID card.
The member is ultimately responsible for ensuring that prior authorization is in place prior to receiving services.
You will pay in-network copays for services received while using the Visitor Travel benefit.
No, amounts do not carry over from year to year.
You will receive a “benefit exhaust” letter when your allowance has been exhausted.