Emergency and Urgent Care Away From Home With Medicare

How away-from-home care is handled

Carry your Medicare and plan cards, save bills and discharge records, and contact the plan as soon as reasonably possible after receiving care. Ask how the plan handles claims from non-network facilities and arrange covered follow-up care promptly. Do not delay emergency treatment while trying to obtain routine authorization.

Practical checklist

• Use the nearest appropriate facility in an emergency.

• Save bills and discharge information.

• Contact the plan when reasonably possible.

• Coordinate covered follow-up care promptly.

Emergency and routine care follow different rules

Emergency coverage does not make all out-of-area follow-up or routine care in network. Read the travel and service-area rules.

Before you travel

Check the plan’s current travel rules

Review current Medicare emergency-room coverage and your plan’s Evidence of Coverage. For longer trips or seasonal residence, also read our guide to Medicare coverage while traveling or living in two states.

Educational information only; not legal or medical advice. Plan availability and benefits vary by location and eligibility.

Review coverage for your travel plans

Gala Health can help you compare emergency, urgent, routine, and follow-up coverage around your travel patterns. Bring both addresses, expected travel dates, preferred providers, and prescriptions to a plan review.