Medicare Stops at the Border. Travel Insurance Doesn't.

What Does Travel Insurance Actually Cover?

Travel insurance isn't one-size-fits-all — it's a collection of protections you can mix and match based on where you're going and what you need. Here's what most plans include:

• Travel Medical Insurance — Pays for doctor visits, hospital stays, and emergency treatment you receive while traveling, especially outside the U.S. where your regular health insurance may not apply.
• Medical Evacuation Coverage — If you need to be airlifted to a hospital or transported back to the U.S. for care, medical evacuation coverage handles those costs. A single air evacuation can run $50,000 or more.
• Trip Cancellation Coverage — Reimburses your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses — flights, hotels, cruises — if you have to cancel for a covered reason, like a sudden illness or a family emergency.
• Trip Interruption Coverage — Similar to cancellation, but applies when something goes wrong after your trip has already started.
• Baggage and Delay Protection — Covers lost luggage and out-of-pocket costs when flights are significantly delayed.

Not every traveler needs every layer of coverage. We'll walk you through what makes sense for your trip and your health situation — no guesswork required.

Why Seniors and Medicare Beneficiaries Need This More Than Anyone

Original Medicare — Parts A and B — was designed for care received inside the United States. With very limited exceptions, it does not pay for medical services you receive in a foreign country. That means if you're on a cruise that docks in the Bahamas, traveling through Europe, or visiting family in Canada and something goes wrong, you're largely on your own.

Some Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans include a foreign travel emergency benefit, but it typically comes with a lifetime cap of $50,000, a $250 deductible, and an 80/20 cost-sharing structure. That's meaningful coverage — but it may not be enough if you're facing a serious medical event abroad. A standalone travel medical insurance policy can work alongside your Medigap plan to close whatever gap remains.

If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage is even more restricted outside your plan's service area. Travel insurance isn't a luxury for Medicare beneficiaries — it's a practical layer of protection that your existing coverage simply doesn't provide.

Snowbirds and Frequent Travelers: This One's for You

A lot of East Texans spend part of the year somewhere warmer — the Gulf Coast, Florida, Arizona, or beyond. If that sounds like you, you may already know the anxiety of wondering whether your health coverage travels with you. The short answer: it depends on your plan, and often not as well as you'd hope.

Snowbird travel insurance is designed specifically for people who spend extended periods away from home. It can cover you for the full length of your stay, protect your trip investment if plans change, and make sure a medical emergency doesn't derail the lifestyle you've worked hard to build. Whether you're gone for six weeks or six months, we can find a policy that keeps up with your schedule.

How We Help You Find the Right Travel Coverage

We're an independent agency, which means we're not locked into one carrier or one product. We compare options across multiple travel insurance providers to find coverage that fits your trip, your health, and your budget. Here's how a typical conversation goes:

• We ask where you're going, how long you'll be away, and what you've already got booked.
• We review what your current Medicare or health insurance actually covers while you travel.
• We identify the gaps — medical, financial, or both — and show you options that address them.
• We explain everything in plain language so you can make a confident decision before you leave.

There's no obligation to buy, and no pressure to add coverage you don't need. Our job is to make sure you understand your options — not to sell you something for the sake of it.

Most travel insurance policies need to be purchased before your departure date — and some of the best benefits, like pre-existing condition waivers, are only available if you buy within a certain window of making your first trip deposit. Waiting until the week before you leave limits your options and may cost you coverage you'd otherwise qualify for.

If you have a trip on the calendar — or you're just starting to plan one — now is the right time to have this conversation. We serve travelers across Northeast Texas, including clients in Longview, Tyler, Marshall, Texarkana, and the surrounding communities, and we're happy to meet in person at our Gilmer office or connect by phone.