Medical Coverage When Traveling

Emergency/Urgent Care Situations

Remember, if you are traveling and receive emergency or urgent care services, save all receipts and related documentation. This will make the claims reimbursement process with your carrier much easier. It’s good practice to call your insurance provider at your earliest opportunity to inform them of any emergency or urgent care services received.

Domestic Travel
International Travel
If you participate in a Georgetown-sponsored medical plan (Kaiser, CareFirst and UHC) you will be covered in the event of a medical emergency.   
 
If you participate in a Georgetown-sponsored medical plan (Kaiser, CareFirst and UHC) you will be covered in the event of a medical emergency.   
 

What’s considered a medical emergency?  An emergency is a serious medical condition or symptom resulting from injury, sickness or mental illness which meets the following criteria:

  • Arises suddenly
  • In the judgement of a reasonable person, requires immediate care and treatment, generally received within 24 hours of onset, to avoid jeopardy to life or health.

Some examples include:

  • Chest pain
  • Pain in the left arm, neck and jaw
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sudden onset headache that can be described as “the worst headache of your life”
  • Weakness on one side of your body or face
  • Weakness in one arm or leg
  • Slurred speech
  • Bleeding from a cut that will not stop with applied pressure
  • Vomiting blood or bright red blood in your bowel movements
 

Non-Emergency Situations

Domestic Travel
Kaiser:   Not available.  Kaiser only covers emergency and urgent care services outside of their service area (Washington DC metropolitan area).  
United Healthcare: United Healthcare has a national network so members can see in-network doctors throughout the United States.  Additionally, there is an out-of-network option which allows participants to access care from non-participating providers, however, out-of-network deductibles and coinsurance apply.
CareFirst BlueChoice:  Members receiving care outside the CareFirst service area will experience the lowest out of pocket costs by accessing a national BlueCard PPO provider. Members will still have the option to opt-out of this network at a higher out of pocket expense. When accessing care outside of the BlueCross BlueShield network, members typically must file their own claims.
 
 
International Travel
Kaiser:   Not available.  Kaiser only covers emergency and urgent care services outside their service area (Washington DC metropolitan area).
United Healthcare:  The UHC Choice Plus Plan does not contract with any international providers or facilities.  There is no coverage for non-emergency medical coverage unless a UHC participant is traveling outside of the U.S. for 45 days or more.  In that case, he/she must notify the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits to be moved into the UHC PPO out-of-country plan. This plan is the same as in-network benefits under the Choice Plus Plan.  Upon returning to the United States, participants must contact the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits to be placed back into the domestic plan.
CareFirst BlueChoice Advantage:  Some coverage provided under the BlueCard Worldwide program, an overview can be found on page 12 of the CareFirst Member Handbook. BlueChoice Advantage members should contact member services to review international coverage and benefits.  Participants are automatically eligible to participate in the BlueCard Worldwide program.