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I'm on Medicare, which doesn't cover outside the US, so I'm looking for separate coverage during our upcoming Camino. Do you have any experience submitting a claim with Axa?I filed a claim with my regular health insurance, which paid most of it, then submitted a claim for the balance with my travel insurance who paid the rest. It's not too late to buy travel insurance. I got a good plan with AXA through Squaremouth.com.
I'll be filing a claim on the AXA insurance soon. I'll try to remember to update on this thread.I'm on Medicare, which doesn't cover outside the US, so I'm looking for separate coverage during our upcoming Camino. Do you have any experience submitting a claim with Axa?
I used Squaremouth to look for insurers, and the Axa policy indeed looks good. However, the reviews of both Axa (and Berkshire) are downright terrible. People spend months waiting for a response, often getting none.
I not able to help you with your question but I do want to add a quick mention for other US readers of this thread that the VA doesn't help you outside the US either.I'm on Medicare, which doesn't cover outside the US, so I'm looking for separate coverage during our upcoming Camino.
I wish I didn't have a 100% Combat related disability but I do. Here is a Veterans statement . "As a Veteran living or traveling abroad, you can receive medical care for VA service-connected disabilities through our VA Foreign Medical Program. Under this program, we assume payment responsibility for the necessary treatment of service-connected disabilities."I not able to help you with your question but I do want to add a quick mention for other US readers of this thread that the VA doesn't help you outside the US either.
But will they pay for treatment for illness or injury unrelated to service-connected disabilities in a foreign country?I wish I didn't have a 100% Combat related disability but I do. Here is a Veterans statement . "As a Veteran living or traveling abroad, you can receive medical care for VA service-connected disabilities through our VA Foreign Medical Program. Under this program, we assume payment responsibility for the necessary treatment of service-connected disabilities."
Many people on Medicare buy supplemental policies known as Medigap policies. Here's what Medicare says about them (again, bold emphasis mine):Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital, doctor, and ambulance services you get in a foreign country in these rare cases:
- You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
- 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.
- 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.
My supplemental plan has a $25,000 annual limit for emergency care outside the US, and a $25,000 limit for "Urgently Needed Services" outside the US.Medigap coverage outside the U.S.
If you have Medigap Plan C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M or N, your plan:
Foreign travel emergency coverage with Medigap policies has a lifetime limit of $50,000.
- Covers foreign travel emergency care if it begins during the first 60 days of your trip, and if Medicare doesn't otherwise cover the care.
- Pays 80% of the billed charges for certain
medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after you meet a $250
deductible for the year.
I stand corrected. Veterans will have to enroll themselves first in the Foreign Medical Program though and I'm concerned about what may happen though in the case the care provided overseas is not service related.I wish I didn't have a 100% Combat related disability but I do. Here is a Veterans statement . "As a Veteran living or traveling abroad, you can receive medical care for VA service-connected disabilities through our VA Foreign Medical Program. Under this program, we assume payment responsibility for the necessary treatment of service-connected disabilities."
We used IMG: ITravelInsured in 2019 and were very happy with the results. They paid my wife's ten day hospital stay in Switzerland, including the ambulance transport, in full. They also paid for our airline change fees, extra lodging for me and extra car rental. The claim was handled in a timely manner with few hassles. I made sure that I left Switzerland with full documentation (receipts, and a full hospital discharge summary). Had I not been diligent about obtaining documentation in advance, it likely would have been a nightmare trying to gather it after our return home. Be sure to obtain receipts for anything for which you plan to file for reimbursement. That is a key to streamlining the claims process. Also, if possible, contact the insurer as soon as you incur the medical treatment and ask them what they anticipate needing from you when you file.I'm on Medicare, which doesn't cover outside the US, so I'm looking for separate coverage during our upcoming Camino. Do you have any experience submitting a claim with Axa?
I used Squaremouth to look for insurers, and the Axa policy indeed looks good. However, the reviews of both Axa (and Berkshire) are downright terrible. People spend months waiting for a response, often getting none.
Good to hear! We will be traveling to Switzerland in August and purchased travel insurance with - IMG: iTravelInsured. Good to know they will pay in case the worst happens.We used IMG: ITravelInsured in 2019 and were very happy with the results. They paid my wife's ten day hospital stay in Switzerland, including the ambulance transport, in full. They also paid for our airline change fees, extra lodging for me and extra car rental. The claim was handled in a timely manner with few hassles. I made sure that I left Switzerland with full documentation (receipts, and a full hospital discharge summary). Had I not been diligent about obtaining documentation in advance, it likely would have been a nightmare trying to gather it after our return home. Be sure to obtain receipts for anything for which you plan to file for reimbursement. That is a key to streamlining the claims process. Also, if possible, contact the insurer as soon as you incur the medical treatment and ask them what they anticipate needing from you when you file.
Two points...the VA does not say they will pay first, but that the doctor or hospital must file a claim...in English for faster processing. And the VA program won't cover something not related to the disability. Fall and break a leg? Most likely the VA will rule that that's on you.I stand corrected. Veterans will have to enroll themselves first in the Foreign Medical Program though and I'm concerned about what may happen though in the case the care provided overseas is not service related.
At any rate it appears that this is the place to go for more information.
Foreign Medical Program (FMP) | Veterans Affairs
If you’re a Veteran who gets medical care outside the U.S. for a service-connected condition, we may cover the cost of your care. Read this page to find out how the Foreign Medical Program (FMP) works and how to register.www.va.gov
Can American's purchase the (UK EHIC) Insurance. I looked at the website and it seemed to be geared toward Brittons.Insurance costs so little in the grand scheme of things, but if you don't have it and need it, it is never good. If you are in the UK, the GHIC is worth getting if you are going into Europe, as well, as we have reciprocal health arrangements with most countries in the EU. It's free from the NHS site (don't use a scam company to apply).
I ended up in one of the hospitals in Santiago on my second year of walking with an allergic reaction and it was an interesting experience. Between the explaining to people your symptoms and what was going wrong and the doctors taking forever to work out it wasn't poisoning but anaphylaxis, yeah not to be repeated. They were very good, but the place was absolute bedlam. I think it was a public hospital, it was pretty big, but beyond that I couldn't tell you actually where I went.
They asked for insurance when i went in, but actually wanted my EHIC card in the end. No one spoke any English except my doctor who had graduated in Nottingham or Derby (at least i think it was that). Still I lived to tell the tale.
@Owensr23 , good luck and hopefully they can get you fixed up.
No. It's a national card that is only available to UK citizens under an agreement with the EU .Can American's purchase the (UK EHIC) Insurance. I looked at the website and it seemed to be geared toward Brittons.
No. It's a national card that is only available to UK citizens under an agreement with the EU .
the Isle of Man
the Vatican
the Channel Islands, including Guernsey, Alderney and Sark
Monaco
San Marino
https://ghic-card.org/ said:From the 1st January 2021, GHICs and most UK EHICs will not cover you in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
If you are visiting these countries, make sure you have travel insurance with health cover and check the GOV.UK travel advice.
The GHIC is a deal with the EU rather than Europe the continent and based on residency rather than citizenship so quite a few Euro countries not included.It also isn't usable in a few countries in Europe. Some seem to be tax havens or special cases.
I promised to post an update.I'll be filing a claim on the AXA insurance soon. I'll try to remember to update on this thread.
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