Costs and claims for care while traveling

As a Kaiser Permanente member, you’re covered for urgent and emergency care when and where you need it.1,2 For most plans, routine care is also covered if you’re traveling in a Kaiser Permanente area.

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Your care cost and payment details

How much you pay for care depends on your plan, but how and when you pay can depend on where you get care. Know what to expect when getting care away from home, so you can avoid financial surprises later.

If your plan covers care in other Kaiser Permanente areas, you’ll pay what you normally do when you get care — for example, a copay, coinsurance, or deductible. If you owe more, you’ll get a bill later. For more specific information about your plan, review your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents.

Please note that Medicaid/Medi-Cal members aren’t eligible for routine in-person care outside of their home area. But they can still get 24/7 virtual care.3 

Learn more about how to get care in Kaiser Permanente areas. 

For urgent or emergency care in the U.S., you may be asked to pay the full cost of your care upfront. If so, you’ll need to file a claim for reimbursement later. In some cases, the health care provider may bill Kaiser Permanente directly.1,2 You’ll still need to pay any copays, coinsurance, or deductibles that apply under your plan.

Learn more about how to get care outside Kaiser Permanente areas. 

Most Kaiser Permanente plans cover urgent and emergency care anywhere in the world.1,2 When you’re traveling internationally, you may need to pay the full cost of your care upfront and file a claim for reimbursement later. You'll also need to submit any bills and invoices as part of your claim.

Please note: Outside the U.S., Medicaid members aren’t covered for care, and Medi-Cal members are only covered for emergency care in Canada and Mexico that requires hospitalization. If you have one of these plans and are planning to travel internationally, you may want to consider travel insurance for extra health coverage.

If you need help coordinating your care or payment while traveling, call 951-268-39004 (TTY 711).

Learn more about how to get care internationally. 

 
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Request reimbursement after your trip

If you pay for emergency or urgent care when traveling, you can file a claim to request reimbursement.1,2 The amount you’re reimbursed depends on your plan’s coverage. 

How to file a claim for reimbursement

The following information is required for all claims:

  • Itemized bills, including dates, services, and costs
  • Medical records, like copies of your original medical reports, admission notes, emergency room records, or consultation reports
  • Proof of payment, like receipts or bank or credit card statements

If you received emergency care outside the U.S., you’ll also need:

  • Proof of travel, like a copy of your itinerary or airline tickets

Please include all the proper documents to make sure your claim gets processed as fast as possible. Any missing or incomplete information may cause delays.

To request reimbursement for emergency or urgent care you received while traveling:1,2

  • Sign in to your kp.org account
  • Visit kp.org/billing
  • Under “Understand your costs,” click “Submit a claim”

If you don’t have a kp.org account or have other questions about filing a claim, call 951-268-39004 (TTY 711).

You can check the status of your claim:

  • Online: Sign in to your kp.org account and visit the “Billing and Claims” page. 
  • By phone: Call the member services number on your ID card.

Note: Claims can take about 45 days to process. If your claim was incomplete or missing information, it could take longer.

If you feel your claim was wrongly denied or the amount you received was incorrect, you have the right to appeal. To file an appeal, follow the instructions on the back of your Explanation of Benefits, or contact Member Services. 

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Review your care options

Your care options depend on where you travel.

Get care in Kaiser Permanente areas ⓘ
Get care outside Kaiser Permanente areas

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Review your plan’s coverage

Find more detailed information about your plan’s coverage online or in your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents.

View benefits and coverage

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Get virtual care 24/7

Talk to a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online.3

Get care now

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Use your digital ID card

Download our mobile app to access Kaiser Permanente care on the go.

Download the app

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Call the travel line

Speak with a customer service representative about your travel care options.

Call 951-268-3900 (TTY 711)4

Footnotes
1If you believe you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. For the complete definition of an emergency medical condition, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents.

2When you’re in your home Kaiser Permanente area (California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, or Washington, D.C.), urgent care is covered only when it’s from a Kaiser Permanente provider. If you’re outside your home Kaiser Permanente area, urgent care is covered from any provider. For more information, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents.

3When appropriate and available. If you travel out of state, virtual care may be limited due to state laws that may prevent doctors from providing care across state lines. Laws differ by state.

4This number can be dialed inside and outside the United States. Before the phone number, dial “001” for landlines and “+1” for mobile lines if you’re outside the country. Long-distance charges may apply, and we can’t accept collect calls. The phone line is closed on major holidays (New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). It closes early the day before a holiday at 10 p.m. Pacific time (PT), and it reopens the day after a holiday at 4 a.m. PT.

 

Kaiser Permanente areas include California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.