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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case. You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101.
The rules say that plans may choose the networks of providers available to enrollees and may require enrollees to obtain authorization before receiving services. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.112. The rules say that the plan must pay for emergency and urgently needed services. This rule applies whether the services are obtained in or out of the plan's network. This rule applies whether or not there is prior authorization for the services. The rules say that an emergency is defined as when a prudent layperson would believe that without immediate medical attention there would be serious jeopardy to his or her health. The rules say that urgently needed services are those needed because of an unforeseen illness or condition and it is not reasonable to get the services from the plan. Generally, these services are needed while the enrollee is outside of the service area. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Section 422.113. The rules say that Medicare pays for air ambulance services only if the enrollee's medical condition is such that transportation by either basic, the provision of medically necessary supplies and services or advanced life support, an emergency medical technician (EMT) intermediate or EMT-Paramedic ground ambulance is not appropriate. Air ambulance services may be covered only if: 1. certain vehicle and crew requirements are met; 2. the enrollee's medical condition needed immediate and rapid ambulance transport that could not have been provided by ground ambulance; and 3. either the point of pickup is not accessible by ground vehicle or great distances or other obstacles are involved in getting the patient to the nearest hospital with appropriate facilities. You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 10, Sections 10.4, and 10.4.1, and 30.1.1. The rules state that items and services furnished outside the United States are excluded from coverage except for the following services, and certain services rendered on board a ship: - Emergency inpatient hospital services where the emergency occurred: o While the beneficiary was physically present in the United States; or o In Canada while the beneficiary was traveling without reasonable delay and by the most direct route
between Alaska and another State. - Emergency or nonemergency inpatient hospital services furnished by a hospital located outside the United States, if the hospital was closer to, or substantially more accessible from, the beneficiary's United States residence than the nearest participating United States hospital which was adequately equipped to deal with and available to provide treatment of the illness or injury; - Physician and ambulance services furnished in connection with a covered foreign hospitalization. Program payment may not be made for any other Part B medical and other health services, including outpatient services furnished outside the United States; - Services rendered on board a ship in a United States port, or within 6 hours of when the ship arrived at, or departed from, a United States port, are considered to have been furnished in United States territorial waters. Services not furnished in a United States port, or within 6 hours of when the ship arrived at, or departed from, a United States port, are considered to have been furnished outside United States territorial waters, even if the ship is of United States registry; and - The term "United States" means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and, for purposes of services rendered on a ship, includes the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the United States. You can find these rules in Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 16, Section 60.
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.
The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules. The Plan contract says that the Plan covers emergency services if you are traveling outside of the United States for less than six months. You can find this information on page 102 of the Plan's 2021 Evidence of Coverage.