Tens of thousands of Minnesotans live part time in other areas of the country to ride out cold weather in a warmer climate. Whether you’re traveling for a brief vacation or among those we affectionately refer to as “snowbirds” who flock south for the winter, it’s a good idea to understand how your health insurance plan works in these situations.

Understand your coverage while traveling outside Minnesota

As the vice president of Medicare and Individual for Government Markets at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Jeff Snegnosky is well adept at helping Minnesotans figure out the intricacies of their insurance plans.

“With Blue Cross, you’re covered for medical emergencies in all 50 states,” he says. “There's no need to notify us in advance of vacations. Just bring your card along in case you need care. And you can always call the phone number on the card if you need help figuring out where to go.”

Planning ahead for longer periods of time away from Minnesota is something that comes up frequently with retirees and Medicare members.

“It’s common for Medicare members to spend longer periods of time out of state so we have plans that are built with this in mind,” he says. “Even if you plan ahead and handle all your preventive care while you’re in Minnesota, we make it easy for our members to get care when they are away whether it’s a primary care clinic visit or you need to see a specialist.”

With Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans, the key is to look at your plan’s network and ensure that the providers you plan to use are in your network. If the state you are traveling to does not use the Medicare PPO network, it’s still possible receive in-network coverage as long as that provider accepts Medicare Assignment.

Not sure what that means? If you need any help navigating your Blue Cross plan, call the number on the back of your card and we’ll be happy to help out. You can also schedule a call, online consultation or an-person appointment at a Blue Cross center.

Choosing a Medicare plan when you spend winter out of state

If you are aging into Medicare soon or looking to switch your Medicare plan during one of the enrollment periods, regularly spending time in another state is an important consideration when looking for a plan that is right for you.

“Make sure your plan includes visitor-travel benefits– some don’t,” says Snegosky. “There are a few rules about how long you can be away from your ‘home’ state, so we always make sure to talk through the length of time you’ll be away.”

The good news? Most Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO plans offer a nine-month travel benefit within the United States, no prior notification needed. Learn more about Blue Cross Medicare pans on our website.

Be properly prepared if traveling outside the U.S.

Taking a trip outside the U.S.? While many Medicare plans cover emergency care worldwide, it’s important to understand the limitations of your coverage. Even in cases when there is some protection in place, you may need to pay the charges in-full and then wait weeks or even months to be reimbursed.

If you are traveling abroad, consider a short-term add-on policy to cover you just on the dates you’ll be out of the country, such as GeoBlue.

“Car accidents are the top cause of injury abroad,” Snegosky says. “Coverage with GeoBlue is especially helpful if you are stable enough to fly home but aren’t allowed a seat on a commercial flight because you still require medical attention.”

You don’t have to be a Blue Cross member to purchase a GeoBlue short-term policy. Learn more.

Personalized advice, face-to-face

Blue Cross knows how reassuring it can be to have a trusted advisor help navigate your healthcare journey. Blue Cross retail center locations—located in Duluth, Edina, Roseville and St. Cloud— are staffed with insurance experts in where you can find answers to questions like travel benefits, understanding what Medicare plan is right for you and more.

Editor's note: This article was co-written with Lynne Morioka.