It is very important to note for senior citizen travel, that the Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States. If you have private health insurance, before you travel outside the country you should find out if your health insurance will travel along with you! Make sure to contact your insurance company and ask them the following two questions:

1. Does my policy apply when I’m outside the United States?
2. Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?

If you have the Social Security Medicare Program or find out that your private insurance policy does not cover you when you travel, it is a good idea to purchase a separate policy for your trip. Many foreign doctors and  foreign medical care providers require payment in cash prior to providing medical services and some countries do require tourists to carry accident or travel insurance.

To get more senior travel insurance tips and a list of companies that provide international senior travel insurance and medical services outside of the United States, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html