Does Us Health Insurance Apply In Puerto Rico?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can I keep my U.S. plan in Puerto Rico?

If you are traveling to Puerto Rico for a short amount of time, your U.S. health insurance plan will continue to cover you

. If you plan on moving to Puerto Rico from the U.S., you will most likely need a new health care company.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage in Puerto Rico?

The 34 independent and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies

deliver health insurance coverage to one in three Americans across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico

. In addition, the BCBS Federal Employee Program® insures over five million federal employees, retirees and their families.

Can you use U.S. health insurance in another country?

Unfortunately,

most domestic health insurance policies dont provide coverage outside your home country

. In general, domestic plans limit their coverage to specific geographic areas.

Does U.S. Medicaid work in Puerto Rico?


All 50 states and all U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands) have access to the United States Medicare and Medicaid programs

, though it may be a little different in each place.

Does Puerto Rico have health insurance?

Public Healthcare in Puerto Rico

The public healthcare sector in Puerto Rico is generally well managed and is handled via a government-run program. No, healthcare is not free. However,

the government provides insurance for those who qualify for the “la Reforma”, a government-funded program

.

What kind of health insurance does Puerto Rico have?


The Puerto Rican Medicaid program

is a unique health care program that provides services for approximately half of Puerto Rico's 3.2 million population. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is the chief provider of health services for the indigent population, principally through the Medicaid program.

Can I use Florida Blue in Puerto Rico?


Triple-S Management has the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross Blue Shield name and mark throughout Puerto Rico

, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla, and offers a broad portfolio of managed care and related products in the commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid segments.

Does Florida Blue work in Puerto Rico?

Triple-S brings to GuideWell

more than 1 million customers in Puerto Rico

and the rights to use the Blue Cross Blue Shield name throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

Does Medicare cover overseas?

Yes. Because

Medicare has limited coverage of health care services outside the U.S.

, you can choose to buy a travel insurance policy to get more coverage.

Can I buy health insurance in another country?


International health insurance plans provide substantial medical coverage for anyone living or working outside their country of citizenship

. The plans are not Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant, this means the plans are medically underwritten and pre-existing conditions may or may not be covered.

How do I know if my health insurance covers me internationally?


Call Your Health Insurance Company

The first step is to contact your health insurance company to verify whether your emergency medical coverage extends outside the U.S. Contact the customer service department and ask these kinds of questions: If I get sick or injured abroad, will my policy cover me?

Does Obamacare cover overseas?


U.S. citizens living in a foreign country are not required to get health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act

. If you're uninsured and living abroad, you don't have to pay the fee that other uninsured U.S. citizens may have to pay.

Does Medicare work in Puerto Rico?


If you have Original Medicare, you have coverage anywhere in the U.S. and its territories

. This includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Most doctors and hospitals take Original Medicare.

Are people in Puerto Rico eligible for Medicare?

In Puerto Rico, as in the United States, residents are generally first eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 or through disability if they're younger than 65 and have been receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least two years.

Does Puerto Rico have Medicare and Medicaid?


Nearly all Puerto Ricans dually eligible for Medicare and full Medicaid benefits

choose to enroll in Medicare Platino, a Medicare Advantage special needs plan, which covers Part A and B services as well as prescription drugs.

Is Obamacare available in Puerto Rico?

The administration waives the law's requirements for insurers selling policies in the U.S. territories since it does not require residents there to get coverage or provide subsidies.

Is healthcare in Puerto Rico good?

Public healthcare in Puerto Rico


The quality of public healthcare is generally good

, but due to the shortage of doctors, expats should expect long waiting times even if they've made an appointment in advance. Most expats opt for private healthcare instead.

Is healthcare expensive in Puerto Rico?

In the latest report, Puerto Rico ranked 298 of 298 in health care costs, making it

the most inexpensive area in this category

. Compared to the U.S. index average of 100.0, the island had an index of 68.7.

Does Florida Blue PPO cover out of state?

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield members can rest easy since

Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage opens doors in all 50 states

and is accepted by over 90 percent of doctors and specialists. And if your extended travel plans take you abroad, you can ensure you have access to quality care through GeoBlue.

Can I use Florida blue if I move to another state?

If you recently moved to a new state,

you can't keep a health insurance plan from your old one

. To make sure you stay covered, report your move to the Marketplace as soon as possible. This way, you can enroll in a new plan without a break in coverage and avoid paying for coverage you can't use in your new state.

Does Florida Blue insurance cover out of state?


You can get access to covered services wherever you are, including urgent and emergency services, through the BlueCard and Away From Home Care programs

. As a Blue Shield member, you have access to coverage through the BlueCard

®

Program, no matter where you live or travel.

Who bought Triple-S in PR?

Once the deal is finalized, Triple-S will operate as a

GuideWell

subsidiary under its current branding, according to an announcement. GuideWell will purchase all of the outstanding common stock in Triple-S at $36 per share in cash, which equates to about 40% of the company's 90-day weighted average trading price.

What is the parent company of Florida Blue?

GuideWell

Does GuideWell own Florida Blue?


GuideWell is a not-for-profit mutual holding company and the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies, including Florida Blue

, that are focused on transforming health care. In total, GuideWell companies serve more than 45 million people in 45 states.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.