Does My Health Insurance Cover Me On A Cruise?

Travel insurance is essential for protecting you from unexpected events that may cause you to cancel or interrupt your cruise. You can purchase cruise insurance through your cruise line, but these plans are often basic with low limits for medical expenses and other coverages. Some health insurance policies offer limited coverage on cruises, but coverage often depends on where you’re cruising and your planned activities.

Many travel insurance policies will cover medical expenses you incur while on a cruise, and some even cover the cost of evacuating from a foreign destination if you’re in the midst of a medical emergency. However, your own health insurance may not cover cruise travel or medical attention onboard a ship.

One of the main reasons to buy cruise insurance is for medical emergencies. Once you’re on a cruise ship or visiting a destination outside the United States, your own U.S. health insurance plan will not apply. While we do not accept land-based health insurance plans onboard, you may be eligible to submit a claim with your health insurance provider.

Original Medicare (Parts A B) may cover medically necessary health care services on a cruise ship, if the ship youre on when you receive the care is in a hospital. If you have purchased a travel health insurance, you may be covered for unexpected illnesses and injuries that can cover while on your cruise.

Health insurance often does not cover medical care on cruises, but travel insurance might. Some cruise lines, like Carnival Cruise Lines, also offer medical travel insurance, but it’s usually limited to 10,000 in medical expenses and 30,000 for medical expenses. Once you get home, submit the documentation from your medical visit to your primary health insurance, which covers about 61 of the bill.