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CAN I USE MY PART D PLAN WHEN TRAVELING? Yes, most Part D prescription plans are national and can be used anywhere in the U.S. You typically will have lower drug copayments if you use a
preferred pharmacy; an in-network pharmacy’s won’t be as low but will be better than an out-of-network pharmacy’s. “Medicare Part D plans are transportable and are national plans in most
cases,” Greiner says. “It is important for a beneficiary to use a preferred pharmacy wherever they are located to ensure they have the lowest cost possible.” If you need medication while
traveling, call your health plan or visit its website for preferred or in-network pharmacies nearby. Many plans, including Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, have national chain pharmacies as part
of their preferred network. “Medicare drug prices are based on the relationship between multiple factors, including the Part D plan, the pharmacy and the drug,” says Michelle Grochocinski,
elder benefit specialist and SHIP program director for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. “Drug prices can vary by pharmacy under the same Part D plan. In-network and preferred
in-network pharmacies will have the lowest prices. Some Part D plans’ pharmacy networks are nationwide, but others are not.” If you take essential medications, look for a preferred pharmacy
in your travel area before you go, in case you leave some pills at home or run out. Otherwise, ask your doctor about ordering a three-month supply of your prescriptions, or find out whether
the plan’s mail order service will deliver to the area you’re traveling. OPTIONS FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL EMERGENCY COVERAGE Medicare rarely covers foreign travel emergency care except in
limited circumstances, but there are other options. SOME MEDIGAP plans offer coverage with a lifetime limit of $50,000. They typically pay 80 percent of the cost for medically necessary
emergency care you receive outside of the U.S. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover emergency care outside of the country. Plans C and F are no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE may have limited coverage. TRICARE FOR LIFE, which can supplement Medicare coverage for military retirees, provides the same foreign travel coverage that military retirees
and their eligible dependents have before enrolling in Medicare. SOME TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICIES cover emergency care in a foreign country and medical evacuation to a nearby medical facility
or back to the U.S. Find out about exclusions, preexisting condition limitations and coverage limits before choosing a policy.