Traveling With Kaiser: What You Need To Know

Kaiser Permanente members can access care while travelling in a variety of ways. Members are covered for urgent and emergency care anywhere in the world and can access 24/7 virtual care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online. Members can also call the Away from Home Travel Line for assistance with their travel care options. In the US, members can visit any Kaiser Permanente facility and pay their normal copay, coinsurance, or deductible for care and prescriptions. Outside of Kaiser Permanente areas, members can get their medication refilled at a local pharmacy.

24/7 virtual care

Kaiser Permanente offers 24/7 virtual care to its members, allowing them to access healthcare services from anywhere in the world. This service is especially useful for those who are frequently travelling or are located outside of their home area. With 24/7 virtual care, members can connect with a clinician by phone or online without an appointment. This option is suitable for non-urgent conditions that do not require immediate hands-on assistance, such as a urinary tract infection, pink eye, or cold and flu. During the virtual visit, the clinician can diagnose the issue, recommend treatment, order prescriptions, and advise on follow-up care.

To access 24/7 virtual care, members can use the Kaiser Permanente app or website. The service is available at no additional cost, and members can take advantage of video visits, e-visits, phone calls, or emails. It is important to note that phone and video visits may not be available in certain states due to licensing laws that restrict doctors from providing care across state lines.

For international travellers, Kaiser Permanente offers the Away from Home Travel Line, which can be reached at 951-268-3900. This service provides support and assistance for members who are travelling outside of the United States. Additionally, TTY support is available at 1-800-735-2929 (English) or 1-800-855-3000 (Spanish).

Kaiser Permanente also offers Advanced Care at Home for those with qualifying medical conditions. This service provides in-home medical care, including equipment setup, 24/7 care, prescription delivery, and more. Members can opt for this service if it is available in their area and their plan covers it. Advanced Care at Home offers personalized and high-quality care, often eliminating the need for a hospital stay.

Urgent and emergency care

Kaiser Permanente members can receive urgent and emergency care anywhere in the world. In the US, there are several options for receiving care. Firstly, members can receive 24/7 virtual care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online. Secondly, members can download the Kaiser Permanente mobile app to access care on the go and find their digital ID card. Thirdly, members can call the travel line for assistance with their travel care options.

If you are in a Kaiser Permanente area, you can visit any Kaiser Permanente facility and pay your normal copay, coinsurance, or deductible for care and prescriptions. You do not need to file a claim for reimbursement later. However, if you are outside of a Kaiser Permanente area, your care options and payment experience may vary. While you can still receive 24/7 virtual care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician, you may need to pay the full cost upfront for other urgent and emergency care and prescriptions and then file a claim for reimbursement later.

When travelling outside of the US, most Kaiser Permanente plans cover urgent and emergency care worldwide. In this case, you will need to pay the full cost of care upfront and file a claim for reimbursement later, submitting any bills and invoices as part of your claim. For Medicaid members, coverage is not provided outside of the US, and for Medi-Cal members, coverage is only provided for emergency care requiring hospitalization in Canada and Mexico. Therefore, if you have one of these plans, you may want to consider purchasing additional travel medical insurance for extra health coverage.

If you are unsure whether to seek urgent or emergency care, it is important to understand the difference between the two. Urgent situations include minor injuries, cuts, sore throats, and sinus or ear infections. These conditions do not require immediate treatment but should be evaluated within 24 to 48 hours. In contrast, emergency situations include severe bleeding, major broken bones, and head injuries, where immediate medical attention is required to prevent serious jeopardy to health. If you believe you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

Prescription drugs and refills

Kaiser Permanente offers prescription delivery within a few days at no extra cost. However, this service is not available in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, or South Carolina. If prescription delivery is not available in your area or you need your medication immediately, you can fill your prescription at any pharmacy and file a claim for reimbursement later.

To do this, ensure that you have refills left on your prescription, and have the following information ready:

• Your Kaiser Permanente medical record number
• Names and phone numbers for the prescribing doctor and your current pharmacy
• Your prescribed medication’s name, strength, and directions for use

You can also track and manage your medications online, and receive refill reminders and status updates by text, app notifications, or email.

International travel options

If you are a Medicaid or Medi-Cal member, your plan does not cover most international care. In this case, you may want to consider travel medical insurance for extra health coverage.

All other Kaiser Permanente plans cover urgent and emergency care anywhere in the world. You will need to pay the full cost of care upfront, but you can file a claim for reimbursement later.

For more details about your coverage, please check your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents.

If you have a medical emergency while travelling, seek medical attention immediately. Before you leave, WA Member Services may assist you in figuring out what services may or may not be covered under your plan. They can also help you find the closest in-network care option, whether you’re travelling within the United States or internationally. To reach Member Services by phone, you may call 1-888-901-4636. If you’re a Kaiser Permanente Medical Advantage member, call Medicare Member Services at 1-888-901-4600.

We also recommend you obtain extra medical insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance.

If you do seek care while travelling, remember to keep all of your itemized receipts and submit them to Kaiser Permanente Washington’s claims department. Many countries will ask for payment before service is given.

If you receive your primary care at a Kaiser Permanente medical office and have registered on the Kaiser Permanente member website for access to secure online services, you can exchange secure messages with your doctor and with the Consulting Nurse Service during your trip. Please note that there will be limitations to the advice provided, since Kaiser Permanente Medical Providers and Consulting nurses do not hold licenses outside of WA and ID. You may also call the Consulting Nurse Service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember to include the international code for the United States: 01-206-630-2244. Please note that there may be limitations to the advice provided, since not all Kaiser Permanente Washington medical providers and consulting nurses hold licenses outside of Washington and Idaho. Virtual care may not be available to you due to state laws that prevent doctors from providing care across state lines. Laws differ by state.

Routine care

As a Kaiser Permanente member, you have access to many ways of receiving routine care while travelling.

In a Kaiser Permanente area:

If you are travelling and require routine care in a different Kaiser Permanente area, you will need to create a new medical record number for the area you are visiting. You can do this by signing in to your kp.org account on a desktop computer and selecting "Add an area of care". You will then need to follow the prompts to create a new medical record number and add the new area of care to your account. If you do not have a kp.org account, or if you need further assistance, you can call the Travel Line at 951-268-3900 (TTY 711).

After you have obtained your new medical record number, you will be able to schedule appointments, access 24/7 care by phone or online, and track and manage your Kaiser Permanente care while travelling.

Outside a Kaiser Permanente area:

Routine services are not covered outside of Kaiser Permanente areas, so it is recommended that you receive routine care before your trip. If you are a student, you may want to consider getting a student health plan through your school for more coverage.

Virtual care:

Across the United States, members can access 24/7 virtual care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online. This is always tracked in your electronic health record. To find the right care method for you, sign in to your kp.org account.

Frequently asked questions