Prepare the coverage questions before you travel.

Emergency care comes first

For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not delay emergency treatment to compare insurance options.

VA explains the conditions for non-VA emergency-care payment and asks that VA be notified within 72 hours. Notification alone does not establish that every service meets coverage requirements; review the official instructions and follow-up process.

VA urgent care has its own requirements

VA describes urgent-care eligibility in terms of enrollment and receiving VA or in-network care during the prior 24 months. An in-network urgent-care provider must be used for that benefit.

Before a trip, locate appropriate facilities and confirm which benefit you would be using. A clinic participating in a Medicare plan is not automatically a VA in-network urgent-care clinic.

Check international care separately

Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States except in limited circumstances. Additional coverage under a Medicare Advantage or other policy must be checked in that plan's documents.

TFL is available worldwide for eligible beneficiaries, but that does not make Medicare a worldwide payer. Ask the relevant program about providers, payment, claims and medications before departure.

Bring these questions to the review.

• Where can I receive routine care away from home?
• Which benefit would pay for an urgent-care visit?
• What are the emergency notification instructions?
• Who pays for covered care outside the country?