While you travel

COVID-19 testing: Visit kp.org/covidtesting to learn more about your options and schedule a COVID-19 test from Kaiser Permanente.

If you’re outside a Kaiser Permanente area, visit covidtests.gov to find a licensed, independent testing facility near you.  

You may also choose to pack COVID-19 self-tests for personal use. But remember that not all travel agencies accept self-tests as proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Be sure to check your trip’s travel requirements. 

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination: Visit kp.org/covidvaccine, choose your region, and select “Get your digital COVID-19 vaccine card.”

You can also access your proof of vaccination in the Kaiser Permanente app.

For the latest updates on COVID-19, including vaccines and how to get care, visit kp.org/covid.

Before getting care in another Kaiser Permanente area, you’ll need to create a new medical record number for the area you’re visiting.

• Sign in to you kp.org account on a desktop computer. Select “Add a region of care” from the region drop down menu and follow the prompts to create a medical record number and add the new region of care to your account. 
• If you need additional assistance, please call the Visiting Member line at 1-800-446-4296 (TTY 711).

After you get your medical record number, you’ll be able to schedule appointments right away, access 24/7 care by phone or online, and track and manage the Kaiser Permanente care you get while traveling.

If you're not in a Kaiser Permanente service area, you can get your medication refilled at a local pharmacy as long as you have refills left on your prescription. 

When you go to the pharmacy, please have the following information ready:

• Your Kaiser Permanente Health/Medical Record number
• Your current pharmacy's name and phone number
• Your prescribed medication's name, strength, and directions for use
• The name and phone number of the doctor who gave you the prescription

Once the local pharmacy has this information, they'll call your Kaiser Permanente pharmacy to transfer your prescription. You'll need to pay for the medication and file a claim for reimbursement later.²

If you're in a Kaiser Permanente service area, call Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711). We'll help you find a pharmacy nearby. Depending on your plan, you may need to pay for your medication upfront and file a claim for reimbursement later.²  You'll also need to pay any copays, coinsurance, or deductible payments you would pay at home.

Kaiser Permanente provides care in many states across the country, including all or parts of: 

• California
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Maryland
• Oregon
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington, D.C.

If you travel out of Washington state, virtual care could be limited due to state laws that may prevent doctors from providing care across state lines. Laws differ by state.

You can get in-person care at any Kaiser Permanente medical facility in the country, in-network urgent care facility, or at CVS MinuteClinic,® Concentra urgent care center and The Little Clinic locations in states without Kaiser Permanente facilities. You do not need a referral for these in-person care options, but you will have a cost depending on your plan benefits.

To learn about your options for care outside of the Kaiser Permanente Washington region, call Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711) before seeking care, whether in-person or virtual. If you’re a Medicare Advantage member, call Medicare Member Services at 1-888-901-4600 (TTY 711). We’ll guide you to your best care option.

If you have a medical emergency, immediately go to the nearest hospital or any facility that can give you the care you need.¹ In the United States, you can call 911.

Always use the emergency services available where you are. You don’t have to get approval first to get emergency or urgent care.

If you get care from a non–Kaiser Permanente provider, call us once your condition is stable to let us know you’ve received emergency care or have been admitted to a hospital. If appropriate, the doctor treating you can call instead.

If you’ve been hospitalized and need post-stabilization care, you’ll need approval first. Your call starts this process and helps protect you financially.

Getting care in a Kaiser Permanente service area

• Visit a Kaiser Permanente urgent care clinic location. Find urgent care locations by visiting kp.org/locations or calling Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711).

Getting care outside a Kaiser Permanente service area (United States/outside of the United States)

• Go to the nearest hospital or any facility that can give you the care you need. We’ll cover urgent care at non–Kaiser Permanente facilities anywhere in the United States while you are temporarily outside of your service area.

Also see: How to get care in a state without Kaiser Permanente providers (below)

Whether you need emergency care or a hospital stay, Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711) can offer you advice and assistance.

If you get care from a non–Kaiser Permanente provider, call us once your condition is stable to let us know you've received emergency care or have been admitted to a hospital. If appropriate, the doctor treating you can call instead. Call our Hospital Notification Line for the United States at 1-888-457-9516, option #3 and option #4, so we can follow up on your care. Failure to contact our inpatient notification line after stabilization will result in non-coverage of the hospital stay.

If you need to be hospitalized for post stabilization care, you'll need to contact us for approval first. Your call starts this process and helps protect you financially.

As a Kaiser Permanente member, you have many ways to get care away from home. Email your doctor’s office with nonurgent questions, meet your personal doctor by phone or video³, or connect with a licensed care provider 24/7 for medical advice.

If you need urgent care in a state without Kaiser Permanente providers, go to the nearest MinuteClinic® (in select CVS and Target stores), Concentra urgent care center,  The Little Clinic (in select Kroger stores),  or urgent care facility.

For care at a MinuteClinic®, Concentra, or The Little Clinic urgent care center,  you’ll be charged your standard copay or coinsurance. Be sure to bring your Kaiser Permanente ID card and a method of payment.

For care at an urgent care or retail clinic location other than a MinuteClinic, Concentra urgent care center, or The Little Clinic,  you’ll be asked to pay up front for services you receive and you’ll need to file a claim for reimbursement.

Note: If you get urgent care at a MinuteClinic® , Concentra urgent care center, or The Little Clinic within a state that has Kaiser Permanente providers, you’ll be asked to pay up front for services you receive and you’ll need to file a claim for reimbursement.

A little planning makes a big difference. Here are a few easy ways to prepare:

• Take care of any routine care needs before heading to school — like checkups and flu shots, as well as support for mental health, sleep issues, and infectious diseases.
• Refill your prescriptions, including contact lenses. Be sure to order refills at least 1 or 2 weeks before you need them so there’s time to process your request.
• If you’re managing a health condition, see your doctor before you go.
• Check with your school to see if you need a student health plan or international travel coverage.
• Get support with your questions about health coverage, care, and claims. Call today at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711).

Explore more tips for a healthy experience away from home as a Kaiser Permanente member.

When you stay in another Kaiser Permanente area, you can get most of the same services that you would get close to home.

We’ve got you covered. When you need care, go to the nearest Kaiser Permanente location. When you come home, you’ll be able to use your existing care team.

There are Kaiser Permanente locations in:

• California
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Maryland
• Oregon
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington, D.C.

You can find our facilities at kp.org/locations.

Most Kaiser Permanente plans will still cover urgent and emergency care while you’re outside your area.³

Note: Certain plans offer out-of-area dependent coverage. If you’re in one of these plans, you may be able to get routine, nonurgent services even if your school isn’t near a Kaiser Permanente facility. To find out if your plan qualifies, call Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711).

For routine care (such as checkups, preventive screenings, and flu shots), consider signing up for a student health plan through your college. Keeping up with routine care means you can:

• Get routine physical exams
• Get tested for STIs (like chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV), and receive prevention information
• Keep track of your mental health, such as your risk for depression
• Learn about substance use disorder and how to avoid it
• Discuss your weight management and fitness needs

Routine care also includes:

• Office visits
• Outpatient surgery (with certain exceptions)
• Allergy test and allergy injections
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Prenatal and postnatal care

Keep your Kaiser Permanente coverage, so you can:

• Get care at home during breaks
• Keep in touch with your doctor
• Access your electronic health record
• Call Member Services at 1-888-901-4636 (TTY 711) for help with coverage and care questions while you’re away

Review our frequently asked questions about getting care when you’re away at college. 

Learn how to get urgent care in a state without Kaiser Permanente providers.