Disney Magic diverting near the Azores now. Med Emergency

[tvguy]

So can you get a temp part G insurance? My parents are 79 now so they are confused easily. Also, I would need to pay for this myself they have the money for this.

I have no idea about temp part G. This is my annual permanent Part G coverage.

 

[slindamood]

I have no idea about temp part G. This is my annual permanent Part G coverage.

What tvguy is referring to a "Medigap" policy - a private policy bought to cover what Medicare A & B do not. Various versions are available, labelled A to N. Each covers specified extra benefits, controlled by federal and state laws. There is no temporary plan - these are annual insurance policies. I chose plan "F" which is similar to "G" as it covers 80% of "emergency" medical costs incurred outside the U.S. during the first 60 days of a trip.

Check the Medicare.gov site for more information or your state insurance department webpage.

And, as tvguy suggests, check the coverage you already have. e.g. "out of network" coverage might cover outside the U.S. Or, it might not.

 

[tvguy]

What tvguy is referring to a "Medigap" policy - a private policy bought to cover what Medicare A & B do not. Various versions are available, labelled A to N. Each covers specified extra benefits, controlled by federal and state laws. There is no temporary plan - these are annual insurance policies. I chose plan "F" which is similar to "G" as it covers 80% of "emergency" medical costs incurred outside the U.S. during the first 60 days of a trip.

Check the Medicare.gov site for more information or your state insurance department webpage.

And, as tvguy suggests, check the coverage you already have. e.g. "out of network" coverage might cover outside the U.S. Or, it might not.

Medicare Part F was closed to new policy holders in 2020 and replaced by Part G. Only those who had Plan F before 2020 can still have it. I just qualified for Medicare this year.

 

[holula]

We had a medical coast guard evacuation on our June fantasy sailing. Our palo waiter told us it was a crew member who had a heart attack.

I was on that same cruise. I knew it was a CM but didn’t know it was a heart attack.

 

[iuki]

First thing you need to do before deciding on insurance is review the coverage you already have.

1) Check your credit card company. If you paid for the trip with that card you may have some sort of coverage.

2) Check you Health Insurance. Every group policy I have had included coverage overseas and Medical Evacuation because employees sometimes had to travel out of the country for work. And at one of the healthcare presentations the insurance rep was asked about that and said they provide the coverage for two reasons. First, they get few claims for out of the country coverage so it is low risk for them Second, not counting Medical Evacuation, healthcare costs are generally much lower outside the U.S. so they save money if a customer needs care outside the U.S.

3) I went on Medicare Part A and B this year, it does NOT cover health care outside the U.S. HOWEVER, in picking my private Part G coverage not only covers healthcare outside the U.S., it covers Medical Evacuation.

4) And if you are a U.S. Citizen on a cruise within reach of the U.S., say in the Caribbean, the U.S. Coast Guard most likely will be doing the evacuation. Check the Cruise Line Forum here and see how many medical evacuations people there have reported from the ships in the Caribbean or Castaway Cay, and it almost always is the U.S. Coast Guard, and there is no charge for that to U.S. Citizens

So yes, you can buy comfort with travel insurance, and it isn't going to hurt anything but your wallet to buy it, you may be paying for coverage you already have. So do your homework.

Never heard of Medicare Part G. How do you get that?

 

[tvguy]

Never heard of Medicare Part G. How do you get that?

You contact an Insurance Broker or Insurance company. I would suggest an Insurance Broker since they generally represent more than one insurance company and can match you to the best plan for your needs. The Broker I used represented 30 different insurance companies. An issue to consider is if the company you pick offers coverage in your area and is accepted by your Doctors. In my case, the broke represented 30 companies but only 3 offered coverage in my area and with my Doctors.
Medicare Part G is also known as Medigap Insurance. It covers things that basic Medicare, known as Parts A and B, don't cover.
Here is a good explanation of Part G.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medigap-plan-g

 

[Grumpy4568]

On our west bound Panama Canal cruise on the Wonder in 2015 we had a medical evacuation off the coast of Guatemala. A tug boat was sent out to pickup the sick individual and the family traveling with him. Not my port of choice if I was sick but....

 

[iuki]

You contact an Insurance Broker or Insurance company. I would suggest an Insurance Broker since they generally represent more than one insurance company and can match you to the best plan for your needs. The Broker I used represented 30 different insurance companies. An issue to consider is if the company you pick offers coverage in your area and is accepted by your Doctors. In my case, the broke represented 30 companies but only 3 offered coverage in my area and with my Doctors.
Medicare Part G is also known as Medigap Insurance. It covers things that basic Medicare, known as Parts A and B, don't cover.
Here is a good explanation of Part G.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medigap-plan-g

Thanks for the info. This wouldn’t be beneficial in my case. I have Medicare Parts A and B as Primary, and BCBS FEP as secondary. Therefore, I have no copays because they work with each other. I also pay for Good Sam Travel Assist which will med-evac us home from a hospital in another country. We also take the insurance coverage offered by the cruise line (usually RCI), and we always pay for our cruise on Chase Sapphire Preferred Client VISA which includes trip interruption coverage for free. See screenshot regarding Medicare coverage outside of the U.S.

 

[iuki]

Thanks for the info. This wouldn’t be beneficial in my case. I have Medicare Parts A and B as Primary, and BCBS FEP as secondary. Therefore, I have no copays because they work with each other. I also pay for Good Sam Travel Assist which will med-evac us home from a hospital in another country. We also take the insurance coverage offered by the cruise line (usually RCI), and we always pay for our cruise on Chase Sapphire Preferred Client VISA which includes trip interruption coverage for free. See screenshot regarding Medicare coverage outside of the U.S.

You have to click on the screenshot to open it.

 

[lanejudy]

As with any medical insurance in the U.S., what Medicare/Medigap plans may be available to any individual can vary widely. Much depends on location but also whether there are employer retirement benefits and/or working spouse benefits.

It's always a good reminder to check what is available to you in terms of health insurance and credit card insurance when considering travel insurance needs. I would not rely on a free Coast Guard evacuation -- depending on circumstances the first or closest evac to reach you may be private/non-USCG.

I do hope the party evacuation from the Magic is doing well.

 

[insureman]

As with any medical insurance in the U.S., what Medicare/Medigap plans may be available to any individual can vary widely. Much depends on location but also whether there are employer retirement benefits and/or working spouse benefits.

It's always a good reminder to check what is available to you in terms of health insurance and credit card insurance when considering travel insurance needs. I would not rely on a free Coast Guard evacuation -- depending on circumstances the first or closest evac to reach you may be private/non-USCG.

I do hope the party evacuation from the Magic is doing well.

You are right about depending on the the Coast Guard. This evacuation I posted about a few days ago was by the Portuegse military in the Azores it seems, however you might have to arrange travel to mainland hospital on your own. We were on a Caribbean cruise a few years back and had to divert to Turks and Cacaos and they took that patient by a lifeboat. If you can afford a cruise then buy the travel insurance.