Any insurance covers out-of-country treatments / diagnostics ?

Valery13

Hello dear forum members,

Do you know of any insurance that would cover out-of-country treatments / diagnostics at least partially?

Castigame

none I know of. 

I asked whether breast biopsy abroad (about $1000 at a hospital and $2000 for airfare abroad) could be counted. not a single penny I was told unless it is emergency such as car accidents or appendix removal. My insurance company paid I believe $18,000 done in the U.S.

MIMI

Valery13

Quite sad as they do waste lots of $ for this.

Valery13

I have heard that some plans allow out of country treatment if you fill special requisition form beforehand, but not sure if this will cover Cancer...

Lula73

Valery-are you living out of the country or are you wanting to go out of the country for treatment/procedures? There are a lot of people from various countries on this board so forgive me for asking, but are you a US citizen or from a different country? Each country handles it differently just like each insurance plan in the US handles it dufferently

Icietla

Valery13, is this about a case already diagnosed? What Nationality? In what part of the World is contemplated treatment?

There are certain calendar time intervals to enroll in ACA-qualified health care insurance plans that would cover care in the United States.

If I were without health care insurance coverage for a new breast cancer diagnosis, I would likely go to Panama City, Republic of Panama. Health care services -- even specialized health care services -- are first-rate and a (relative) bargain in Panama, and so many (if not most) medicines are sold there for around a twelfth to a tenth what they would cost in the United States. As an example, less than twenty years ago, the (total) cost of my radionuclear scanning (and its interpretation) was forty dollars.

https://www.health-tourism.com/cancer-treatment/panama/

Kicks

Valery13 -

Which countries are you asking about? Asking about an American going to another country for TX? Some one in another country wanting to come to the USA for TX? What country wanting to go to for TX? Are the 'out of country' Facilities accredited (by what organization)? What about costs of airfare to go to another county repeatedly for TX and/or cost of remaining/liviing in a foreign country for months on end away from family and friends? Years of follow up appts and cost of travel and other expenses each time?

What initially sounded like a simplistic question isn't at all with so many variables.

Valery13

Thank you all for chipping in.

Country of residence - USA
Current insurance - none
Diagnosis - Yes, Invasive Ductal Carcenoma with metastases... uh....
Which country considering going to - anywhere where I can find cure !

Icietla

Valery13, we are so sorry about your diagnosis.

If you do not qualify for the Special Enrollment Period to get Minimum Essential Coverage (ACA-qualified coverage) for this calendar year, you might go to a place offering the same or similar standard of care and treatments as would be done in the United States, then return to the United States in January, having already arranged for an ACA-qualified health care plan to take effect then.

https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-ready-to-apply/

Icietla

http://www.breastcancer.org/questions/insurance

Icietla

Valery13, another possibility for getting treatment in the interim (before a calendar year 2018 ACA-qualified policy would take effect) is enrollment in a Clinical Trial. Your Doctor, a Breast Health Navigator, a Social Worker, or some of the BCO members here might be able to help you find a Clinical Trial for which your case would meet enrollment criteria.