PORTLAND, Ore. — Whether you're driving to another part of the United States or flying out of Portland International Airport to a destination far away, you'll probably have a list of things to do and to take with you on your vacation.
On that list should be health care insurance and making sure you're covered wherever you go, according to Renee Balsiger, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon's vice president of sales.
“Being prepared is the most important thing. Fractures, falls, motor vehicle accidents, respiratory issues, those are all things that we see a lot when traveling, and so just to make sure those types of things are covered while you're traveling is so very important," said Balsiger.
So, before you travel, check with your provider. Some plans are better for international travel than others. And some, like Regence, have additional coverage you can add inexpensively, if needed.
You can also look at separate travel insurance that covers a lot of things, including additional help if you get sick or injured, or need emergency medical transport or evacuation, which can be extremely expensive.
If you don’t prepare, it could lead to trouble when you’re traveling.
“You could not have any coverage, and you could be responsible for the entire bill yourself or go to a provider that's not connected with your health plan in any way and it could cost you even more,” warned Balsiger.
Whatever coverage you have, be sure to have the documents to prove it, including copies of the originals, and not just on your phone.
“Always have your ID card with you, as well as a copy of it. Just like you take a copy of your passport, and you hide it in your suitcase, do the same thing,” said Balsiger.
Along with passport and health care membership card, it's also important to have other information, like emergency contact info and a list of any prescription medications you take, in case you lose them or run out.
It's a good idea to take cell phone pictures of the bottles to have all the information.
Everyone wants to have a safe, fun vacation, and in the event of a mishap, be confident that you or your loved ones will be covered and okay.
“Being prepared is important. You don't want to be out there having a grand old time and then something happens, and you have no idea what to do, where to go, or who to call,” said Balsiger.
Finally, it’s also important to keep in mind that even with health insurance in place, you may have to pay for medical care up front and be reimbursed by your insurance company, depending on the medical facility, either in other regions of the U.S. or abroad.