Kaiser Permanente group medical insurance covers more people in California than any other insurance company. One challenge, however, is when members move out of California, such as when young adults go off to college, it is difficult to access care. Thankfully, Kaiser health insurance now offers their “care away from home” program, that allows Kaiser members in California to access Kaiser facilities in other states.
This PDF flyer, Care Away from Home, describes how the plan works. If a current Kaiser member moves to another part of California, (for example from Southern California to Northern California) that person can get medical services at a Kaiser facility in the new area.
If a Kaiser member moves to another state where there are Kaiser Permanente health insurance services, then the member would use the Kaiser facility in that state. The “Kaiser insurance states” that offer Care Away from Home Coverage include:
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Oregon
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
Using the KP.org app, members can obtain a “visiting medical record number” and use that to set up an appointment for medical services in the different state.
If someone is travelling to a non-Kaiser state, then their Kaiser coverage would reimburse them for emergency medical services according to the provisions of their contract. Kaiser does not cover routine medical care in non-Kaiser states.
One big beneficiary of the Kaiser insurance plans “Care Away from Home” program are college students who go off to college. If their college is in a Kaiser state, then travelling college students can continue receiving Kaiser medical services in the other state.
If you have a company with employees and would like assistance with setting up plans, please give us a call at (800)746-0045. We would love to help you out.
