Benefits while traveling

Most PEBB medical plans provide coverage over a wide area. This helps you get the care you may need when traveling. However, some plans do not have coverage outside their service area, except for urgent and emergency services.

Research the health care options at your destination in case you have a medical emergency or need a health care provider. Thinking ahead can save you time and confusion if you end up needing care.

Before you travel

  • Pack your medical plan ID card. (If you need an ID card, contact your plan.)
  • Note your plans’ toll-free and local numbers in case you need to use them. If you are traveling internationally, be sure you are comfortable with making international calls. Visit Country Code’s How to dial internationally webpage to learn how to make international calls before traveling outside the U.S.
  • Pack prescription drugs and medications in the original bottle or package, and if you are going to be gone for an extended time, ask your plan about getting extra refills.
  • Wear a medical ID bracelet for any allergies or special medical needs.
  • Research any travel restrictions or other requirements, such as required vaccinations.

While you're traveling

  • You pay your copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other costs for covered services received outside the plans’ service areas.
  • If you seek medical care while traveling, contact your plan. They can help answer your questions, help you find providers or access care, and provide details on requirements for submitting claims from another country.
  • In most cases, Medicare won’t pay for health care or supplies you receive outside the U.S. Visit Medicare’s Travel outside the U.S. webpage for more information.

Medical services

Kaiser Permanente NW

For more information visit Kaiser’s Care while traveling webpage.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

  • Emergency care is covered. After emergency admission, call Kaiser Permanente NW at 1-800-813-2000 (TRS: 711) as soon as possible.
  • Urgent care is covered at out-of-network facilities when you are outside the Kaiser Permanente service area. You may also visit any Kaiser Permanente urgent care clinic in other Kaiser Permanente regions. In states without Kaiser Permanente providers, you can receive urgent care at a CVS MinuteClinic.
  • Nonemergency care may also be covered in limited situations with approval from your plan. Call the Away from Home Travel Line at 1-951-268-3900 (TRS: 711) to confirm you are in a location that qualifies.

Outside U.S.

  • Emergency and urgent care are covered worldwide. After emergency admission call Kaiser Permanente NW at 1-800-813-2000 as soon as possible.
  • For urgent care call the Away from Home Travel Line at 1-951-268-3900. Long-distance charges may apply; no collect calls.
  • If you’ve received care or are in the hospital, call Kaiser Permanente NW at 1-800-225-8883 to let them know.

Prescription drugs

Ask for an early or extra refill 1 to 2 weeks before you travel. Travel immunizations are not covered.

Kaiser Permanente WA

For more information visit Kaiser’s Care while traveling webpage.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

  • Emergency and urgent care are covered at network and nonnetwork facilities. After emergency admission, call Kaiser Permanente WA’s Hospital Notification Line at 1-888-457-9516 within 24 hours, or as soon as possible.
  • Nonemergency care is covered at Kaiser Permanente facilities in other Kaiser regions as a visiting member. To set up visiting member access, call Kaiser Permanente WA member services at 1-866-648-1928.
  • In states without Kaiser Permanente providers, you can receive care at any urgent care location, retail clinic, or CVS MinuteClinic.

Outside U.S.

  • Emergency and urgent care are covered worldwide. After emergency admission call Kaiser Permanente WA’s Hospital Notification Line at 1-888-457-9516 within 24 hours or as soon as possible.
  • Nonemergency care is covered with approval from your plan. Call Kaiser Permanente WA member services at 1-866-648-1928.

Prescription drugs

Ask for an early or extra refill from pharmacy 1 to 2 weeks before you travel. You can ask for up to a 90-day supply. Prescriptions filled outside the Kaiser Permanente service area may not be covered.

Uniform Medical Plan (UMP)

Call UMP Customer Service at 1-888-849-3681 (TRS: 711) or refer to your plan’s certificate of coverage for more information.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

UMP has nationwide coverage, which means you can get coverage anywhere while you travel within the U.S. However, a few benefits are covered at the network rate, regardless of network status:

  • Emergency care.
  • Urgent care at Regence BlueShield preferred providers (network providers for UMP Plus) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan providers.

Out-of-network providers for covered services are paid at the out-of-network rate.

UMP Plus members: These plans are for services inside Washington State. If you travel outside of the state and have a medical emergency, the plan will cover at the same rate. For nonemergent services, the plan will pay 50% of the allowed amount after deductible, as there are no in-network providers outside of Washington State.

Outside U.S.

Call Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Service Center at 1-800-810-2583 or call collect at 1-804-673-1177 to find providers outside the U.S. You can also use the online provider search tool on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core website.

UMP has worldwide coverage so you can get coverage anywhere while you travel outside of the U.S. However, a few benefits are covered at the network rate, regardless of network status:

  • Emergency care.
  • Urgent care at Regence BlueShield preferred providers (network providers for UMP Plus) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan providers.

Out-of-network providers for covered services are paid at the out-of-network rate.

UMP Plus members: These plans are for services inside Washington State. If you travel outside of the state and have a medical emergency, the plan will cover at the same rate. For nonemergent services, the plan will pay 50% of the allowed amount after deductible, as there are no in-network providers outside of Washington State.

Prescription drugs

Ask for an early refill or extra supply of prescription drugs up to two weeks before your trip. To request a travel override, call Washington State Rx Services at 1-888-361-1611 (TRS: 711).

A maximum of two travel override requests per year are allowed (includes travel within or outside U.S.). Benefits are limited to prescription drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the U.S. You will pay applicable charges (deductible and coinsurance) for each extra supply received.

Travel immunizations are not covered.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

Request up to a 90-day supply per prescription (or as allowed under that prescription). You may access network pharmacies across the U.S.

Outside U.S.

Request up to a six-month supply (or as allowed under that prescription). You may purchase prescription drugs worldwide. You will pay the difference between the allowed amount and what the pharmacy charges. It will not apply to your prescription drug deductible or prescription drug out-of-pocket limit for prescriptions purchased outside the U.S. since there are no international pharmacies in the network.

Dental services

DeltaCare

Call DeltaCare at 1-800-650-1583 after receiving emergency care.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

Your network primary care dentist provides urgent and emergency dental care or a referral within 24 hours of being contacted. You must visit a DeltaCare network provider for all dental care. Note: The DeltaCare service area is limited to Washington.

Urgent care from a non-DeltaCare dentist is covered when you are more than 50 miles from a DeltaCare network office. Treatment is limited to the care necessary to evaluate and stabilize your condition until you can get to your primary care dentist.

Outside U.S.

Urgent dental care outside the U.S. is covered. Treatment is limited to the care necessary to evaluate and stabilize your condition until you can get to your primary care dentist.

Uniform Dental Plan

Call 1-800-537-3406 (TRS: 711) before you travel for details.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

Use Delta Dental preferred provider organization (PPO) network dentists for the best rates. The PPO network includes over 104,000 dentists nationwide. You may see any licensed dentist within the U.S. for care, but out-of-network dentists will cost you more.

Outside U.S.

Emergency dental care outside the U.S. is covered. Submit an out-of-country claim form within six months of treatment for reimbursement. Claims are processed on the same basis as non-participating dentist claims.

Willamette Dental

Call Willamette Dental at 1-855-433-6825 (TRS: 711) after receiving emergency care.

Out-of-area (within U.S.)

Willamette Dental Group’s offices in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho provide care for dental emergencies while you are traveling. Call Willamette Dental at 1-855-433-6825 (TRS: 711) to make an appointment.

If you are more than 50 miles from a Willamette Dental Group office, visit any licensed dentist for emergency treatment and Willamette will reimburse up to $200 (minus your copays).

Outside U.S.

Visit any licensed dentist for emergency treatment and Willamette will reimburse up to $100 (minus your copays).