Finding Doctor while travelling

Options while travelling are somewhat limited by the insurances.
The ACA set boundaries on programs crossing state lines and if on a program that requires a primary care provider for anything other than routine office visits then you can be forced into a limited set of providers.
For minor issues, doc in a box outfits like "Patient First" can be used for minor emergencies, and will get you in quickly, but for typical physicians offices, most are so worried about payment levels that they are skeptical on taking new patients.

I would think any medical insurance company has a web site and a search link to find providers that accept their insurance. At least I know Medicare and Tricare 4Life does. Both of which I have used to find providers that accept Medicare and Tricare 4Life. Or you could purchase a Travel Assist plan that also can direct you to providers.

Popsie wrote:
Any advice on how to find good doctors/Clinics/Hospitals/etc. while travelling far away from your home base?

Down the application “findERnow”. It will give you a map and phone numbers of all medical services where ever you are located.

We call our insurance carrier. They will give us 2 or 3 options for our need. I then do a background internet search on the ones given and make a choice.

And may none of us ever need to actually use those medical facilities!

Popsie wrote:
Any advice on how to find good doctors/Clinics/Hospitals/etc. while travelling far away from your home base?

Most insurance companies have in network and out of network pricing. If you are at home you probably find an in-network doctor. While traveling you will pay an out of network co-pays and deductibles. These can be expensive. Also many insurance companies will allow an ER visit if the condition is life/limb threatening. Other require a notification within a specific time period for ER or hospital stays. Finding an in-network doctor while traveling is hard but try calling the 800 number on the back of your insurance card or the insurance company's website. As for me just take me to the nearest VA clinic or hospital.

jerryjay11 wrote:
I would think any medical insurance company has a web site and a search link to find providers that accept their insurance. At least I know Medicare and Tricare 4Life does. Both of which I have used to find providers that accept Medicare and Tricare 4Life. Or you could purchase a Travel Assist plan that also can direct you to providers.

Tri care for life...not if you are under us family health plan (usfhp).
Thank you senator mccain...another promised benefit gone.

Under Usfhp out of area medical is er room or foot the bill.

tdiller wrote:

Popsie wrote:
Any advice on how to find good doctors/Clinics/Hospitals/etc. while travelling far away from your home base?

Most insurance companies have in network and out of network pricing. If you are at home you probably find an in-network doctor. While traveling you will pay an out of network co-pays and deductibles. These can be expensive. Also many insurance companies will allow an ER visit if the condition is life/limb threatening. Other require a notification within a specific time period for ER or hospital stays. Finding an in-network doctor while traveling is hard but try calling the 800 number on the back of your insurance card or the insurance company's website. As for me just take me to the nearest VA clinic or hospital.

as for out of network, every insurance company we have used for health insurance didn't hit us with out of network charges if we were more than 100 miles away from home. It was spelled out very clearly that the out of network ONLY applied in our home service area. Once outside that if we needed service they covered as in network regarless of where we went.

As an example last summer I suffered a dislocated shoulder well out of network, ride to hospital, ER, x-rays, etc. all the work in the hospital even though all was out of network, was covered as if in network with the $30 co pay total.

Same thing when DW had to go to the Dr. for strep throat, or wheb she had a reaction to a bee sting. These were not ER, just a clinic and it was treated as in network.

Even out of the country our insurance treats service as in network if needed ER or clinic visit.

So look carefully at how out of network is covered it may very well cover you as in network when away from home.

If you have Blue Cross or Anthem or any of the Blues plans, you can go online to the plans to look or just see if they take the Blue Cross plan in your state. When I was in Alabama once, we needed a doctor, I called Blue Cross (number on back of my card) and they said just call the practice and see if they participate with the Blue Cross plan that is in Alabama, they did and it was seamless.

We just hop the border into Tijuana or Guadalajara and ask the gas pump guys. Pedro can always recommend at least one or two "doctores en el inexpensioso" in the neighborhood. He can probably recommend a good "surgencia en plasticioso" too. For future reference, of course. :C





Seriously, Good Sam has an Emergency Medical Referral Service as part of their roadside assistance packages. I hope we never have to use it but when we used their concierge service to find a local glass shop, they helped us out.
(I do not work for, nor am I related to, Marcus)