Three customers who bought travel insurance from Canadian banks are outraged after being left with large foreign medical bills.
“They’re like a good gambler who never loses,” said Cyrus Derakhshan of Oakville, Ont. He is fighting RBC over a $16,500 claim denial for his 70-year-old mother. “For them it’s ‘Heads I win, tails you lose.’”
Cyrus Derakhshan is suing RBC after it denied his mom’s travel health insurance claim, citing ‘misrepresentation’ of her medical history. (CBC)
The banks refused to pay in these cases, based on how the customers answered broad-ranging questions about their health when they bought their policies.
“They hold all the cards in their hand. It’s a poker game, and I don’t think we are the winners,” said Jean Tetiuk, of Toronto, whose $12,000 claim was rejected by CIBC.
In each case, the medical emergencies abroad had nothing to do with any pre-existing conditions they were asked about.
Paid extra, claim still denied
Another CIBC travel insurance customer, Carmen Peixoto of Chilliwack, BC, fights back tears when she talks about the $10,000 medical bill she is stuck with.
Carmen Peixoto wipes away tears as she talks about the $10,000 hospital bill she is left with, after CIBC refused to pay her claim. (CBC)
“I worked too hard, all my life. And this bank is taking advantage of me? I’m really upset. Really, really upset.”
The 69-year-old has high blood pressure. She paid CIBC an extra $100 premium to make sure her travel insurance would cover her for that. When her blood pressure soared, on her trip last year, she was taken by ambulance to a Geneva hospital.
Submit your story ideas:
Go Public is an investigative news segment on CBC-TV, radio and the web.
We tell your stories and hold the powers that be accountable.
We want to hear from people across the country with stories they want to make public.
Submit your story ideas to Kathy Tomlinson at Go Public
CIBC later refused to pay, because Peixoto filled out a CIBC questionnaire — sent to her after she returned from her trip — answering that she had not been treated for a heart condition. Before buying the policy, she had only answered health questions over the phone.
Records show she was tested for heart problems in 2011, after she had pain in her arm, but doctors found nothing significant. Because of those tests, CIBC said Peixoto should have answered yes to the heart condition question.
“I was never treated for a heart condition. I’ve never had a heart condition. I’ve tested and different things but I never had a problem before. And I still don’t have a heart problem,” said Peixoto.
She is also upset because CIBC was asking her health questions after the fact, while at the same time adjudicating her claim.
“I was tricked, because they never had any intention of paying this claim. And I find that totally incredible.”
Tetiuk, another senior, is also furious at CIBC for refusing to pay her $12,000 US medical bill, after she was treated for a blood clot in her lung in Cape Cod, Mass., in 2012.
Unrelated minor health issues cited
Insurance investigators dug into her medical records and found a routine colonoscopy had detected a mild condition called diverticulosis, which caused no symptoms and required no medication.
CIBC said that because of that, she should have said yes to her question about whether she has a bowel disease. It also said she should have disclosed that she has ostopenia, or low bone density.
Toronto resident Jean Tetiuk’s $12,000 travel insurance claim was rejected by CIBC. (CBC)
“Everyone over 60 has this condition, for sure. And diverticulosis was determined when I had a colonoscopy — and I was told to eat a high-fibre diet and come back in another 10 years,” said Tetiuk, who has appealed the denial, with no success.
“If I’m not being treated and I am not taking prescription drugs, in my mind I don’t have a condition that I should be disclosing. I don’t even think about it.”
Go Public asked CIBC for a response to these cases, but didn’t hear back before deadline.
Suing the big banks
Derakhshan is taking RBC to court over the claim denial for his mother, Roghi Derakhshan. He bought the policy for her, and when asked over the phone about his mother’s medical history, he said no to a question about whether she had heart problems.
“RBC Insurance gives you the illusion that they are asking you questions in layman terms and that these are just general questions,” said Derakhshan.
His mom has atrial fibrillation — heart palpitations with no adverse effects — and, like many older people, takes baby Aspirin to prevent problems.
Derakhshan said he answered no to the question, because RBC’s questionnaire said a heart condition “does not include extra beats or palpitations, for which you have not taken medication or received treatment.”
RBC later said that because Derakhshan’s mother had cardiac checkups and tried other medications briefly, that counts as treatment.
Her $16,500 claim — for unrelated treatment of a bacterial lung infection in Zurich — has been denied, citing “misrepresentation” of her medical history.
“My mom was already paying close to $400 for one month of insurance. She was spending thousands of dollars to go on this European trip,” said Derakhshan.
“Do you think that for another measly $100 of insurance I would have any reason to misrepresent or lie on her behalf?”
Derakhshan is suing RBC for $25,000 in small claims court.
“My objective is bigger than my mom’s case. I want to stand up for people who have gone through the same thing, and my final goal is to change policy.”
RBC justifies denial
The head of RBC’s insurance division, Martha Turnbull, told Go Public that even though Derakhshan didn’t intend to answer the question incorrectly, the claim denial is justified.
Martha Turnbull, head of RBC’s insurance division, says that even though Derakhshan didn’t intend to answer a question incorrectly, it would be unfair for other customers to pay his mother’s claim. (CBC)
“It’s a very regrettable decision,” said Turnbull who added that RBC denies two per cent of claims, for all types of insurance it sells.
“Unfortunately, we need to make consistent decisions for all clients. Denying a claim is the most difficult decision we make in the claims department. We take our responsibility and accountability to our clients very seriously.”
She also said RBC will fight this case in court.
“We will not be settling it,” said Turnbull. “We are making sure that we treat every client with the same respect and care and that if the clients answer the questionnaire correctly they pay the correct premium, they’re not in turn subsidizing people who don’t answer the questions correctly.”
Insurers hold ‘legal weapons’
Insurance broker Bruce Cappon is lobbying for provincial regulators to force insurance companies to be more up front about what the medical questions really mean.
“The way the system is rigged right now is that insurers have a legal weapon. “The misrepresentation clause is a legal weapon,” said Cappon.
Ottawa insurance broker Bruce Cappon is lobbying regulators to make it tougher for insurance companies to reject claims for unrelated health issues. (CBC)
“I find it very unfair that you are asking these people to fight back when the remedy would be very simple, just to add a few changes to the regulations.”
He also thinks it should be illegal for insurers to refuse to pay for treatment unrelated to any pre-existing conditions.
The industry association wouldn’t say what percentage of travel medical claims are denied for misrepresentation, but that it is trying to educate consumers on the pitfalls.
“Know your health and consult a health-care provider if you have any questions,” said a spokesperson for the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada.
Cappon advises people to go as far as checking their medical records before purchasing policies, because that is what the insurance companies look at.
“There’s no advantage on the insurance providers to first provide the consumer with the information they need to make an accurate response. And that’s what’s got to change.”
Submit your story ideas to Kathy Tomlinson at Go Public
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of more than 7,000 islands located 500 miles off the coast of Vietnam. It promises travelers a paradise of beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, underground rivers and rice terrace amphitheaters. There’s also the chance to experience the culture of indigenous tribes who still practice ancient traditions.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance For 2024
Compare Quotes With Over 22 Travel Insurers
Prepping for a Trip to the Philippines
If you’re planning a trip to the Pearl of the Orient, it’s smart to look for the best travel insurance plan that provides coverage beyond the minimum mandated. A good package of travel insurance benefits should include coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation and baggage protection, says Scott Adamski, a spokesperson with AIG Travel.
“Also, travel insurance ideally should be purchased within 15 days of the initial deposit date for the trip, so that early-purchase provisions of the travel insurance policy, such as the waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion, can apply,” he says.
However, procrastinators can take solace in knowing travel insurance can be purchased up to 24 hours before your trip departure date.
Here’s what to look for when selecting a travel insurance policy for a trip to the Philippines.
Trip Cancellation Insurance When It’s a No Go to the Archipelago
You may have your heart set on bar-hopping in Manila after beach hopping in Boracay, but as momentum is building for your faraway travels, unforeseen events at home may arise that halt your once-in-a-lifetime journey. For example, if four days before your vacation your brother passes away, you would likely cancel your trip. You could then turn to your trip cancellation travel insurance to recoup your lost trip deposits
Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you 100% for prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you cancel your trip due to unanticipated events covered by your policy. Acceptable reasons for trip cancellation claims vary by insurance company but generally include death, illness or injury to you, a travel companion or close family member and severe weather, among other problems.
“Severe weather might be one of the top considerations for a trip to the Philippines, as the region has a very active typhoon season from June through September,” says Adamski.
Also, the Philippines are prone to typhoons, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, says Clay Coomer, a spokesperson with WorldTrips, a travel insurance company.
“Travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits may offer coverage for a natural disaster that occurs after the policy has been purchased,” Coomer says. “In the event an earthquake or typhoon hits the region and makes it uninhabitable and you no longer can go on your trip, those trip cancellation benefits may come in handy. ”
Not all reasons to cancel will be covered by a standard travel insurance plan. For example, if you decide not to go to the Philippines because you are not vaccinated and don’t want to quarantine, you would not be eligible to file a claim.
If you want the flexibility to make a trip cancellation claim regardless of the reason, you may want to upgrade your travel insurance plan with “cancel for any reason” travel insurance. This add-on will boost the cost of your travel insurance by an average of 50% but will allow you to cancel for any reason and get some reimbursement. You must cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure to make a “cancel for any reason” claim.
If you meet the requirements, you can file a claim to receive 50% or 75% percent of your trip deposits. The percentage will be specified in your plan.
Travel Insurance With Cancel For Any Reason Cover
Recommended plan
Platinum
CFAR purchase deadline
Within 14 days
Recommended plan
iTraveledInsured LX
CFAR purchase deadline
Within 20 days
3
John Hancock Insurance Agency
CFAR purchase deadline
Within 14 days
3
John Hancock Insurance Agency
Trip Delay Insurance: Hanging Back Instead of Hanging Coffins
Patience is a virtue, and that’s especially true when a travel delay disrupts your itinerary. But even the most virtuous among us might want to be comfortable if stranded in an airport overnight due to bad weather, flight delays or other unpredictable events. That’s where trip delay insurance can help.
Let’s say your flight from Charlotte to Los Angeles is delayed because of a storm and you miss your flight from Los Angeles to Manila. Your travel delay benefits can help pay for extra costs. These could include a hotel room, meals and a few personal necessities to hold you over until you can resume your travels. Save all receipts associated with your delay as this documentation will be required if you submit a claim.
Most travel delay insurance policies have a waiting period before benefits kick in. For example, it may be six or 12 hours. Read your policy carefully so you are aware of waiting times.
Trip delay benefits also compensate for prepaid activities you miss by arriving late at your destination. For example, if you miss your booked excursion to see the Igorot tribe’s hanging coffins—which are nailed or tied to the cliff sides to bring the dead closer to their ancestral spirits—you can file a travel delay insurance claim.
Not even Bulul—the divinities believed to protect the seeds and harvest of the indigenous Ifugao Philippines tribes—can prevent misfortune all the time. Your enchanted visit to the Philippines could turn to heartache if you receive word there’s a family emergency back home.
For instance, if your college-aged son was hit by a car while riding his bicycle on campus, you would want to return to the U.S. as soon as possible. In this emergency situation, your trip interruption insurance can cover the cost of re-booking a last-minute flight, plus reimburse you for unused, prepaid trip expenses.
You might be disappointed you couldn’t meet your guide in Banaue, home to the centuries-old, hillside rice terraces often called the eighth wonder of the world. But you could take some solace in filing a trip interruption claim to get back funds you paid in advance for lodging and tours.
It’s important to recognize that not all reasons for ending a trip early will be covered by a travel insurance policy. For example, if your granddaughter is the lead role of Annie in her school play and you want to get back in time for the show, travel insurance won’t cover this.
Travel Medical Insurance: Just What the Doctor Ordered
It will come as an unpleasant surprise if you discover your health plan doesn’t travel with you across U.S. borders. Make sure to check the global coverage your health plan has when you’re planning your travel insurance purchase.
“The first thing that comes as a shock to many is learning that their U.S.-based health insurance policy may not provide coverage, or may provide very limited coverage, if they’re traveling out of the country,” Adamski says. It’s best to check with your health care provider to see if your health plan provides any global benefits. In addition, Medicare is not accepted in foreign countries.
That’s why travel medical insurance is such a useful type of protection to have when going to destinations outside the U.S. If you get injured or become ill during your trip, this insurance can cover medical-related costs such as drugs, hospital and doctor bills, X-rays and lab work, up to the medical limits in your policy.
For example, if you buckle up for a Pagsanjan Falls adventure trip, fall off your bamboo raft while shooting under the Devil’s Cave cascade, and hit your head on a rock, you would be eligible to file a medical expense claim.
Travel medical insurance will be included in a comprehensive travel insurance plan, but plans will vary on the amount of coverage provided.
The most generous travel insurance plans provide $500,000 per person for emergency medical expenses. Other decent travel insurance plans have medical coverage of $250,000 or $100,000 per person. And some have much less, which might suffice.
If you want a waiver for a pre-existing medical condition exclusion, you typically must buy your travel insurance plan within 15 days of making your first trip deposit.
Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance for Philippine Trips
Emergency medical evacuation insurance is also wise to have when traveling abroad, especially if you are participating in activities in a remote area. If you’re exploring underwater caves and reefs off Balicasag Island, or the volcanic sands of Dumaguete, and have a medical emergency requiring urgent care, your medical evacuation insurance can pay to medevac you to the nearest treatment facility.
Even if your injury or illness isn’t life-threatening, access to medical care may still be challenging.
“While the Philippines has modern medical facilities and excellent doctors, those may only be found in Manila or larger cities,” cautions Adamski. “If you are on a remote island, getting to a facility that is fully equipped and staffed to meet your medical needs may require transportation from a number of different aircraft (or other conveyances) in order to get you appropriate treatment, which—depending on the condition—could be a considerable distance from the archipelago and very expensive.”
You can find medical evacuation coverage that provides $1 million in benefits per person. Or you can find a plan with much less if you feel you don’t need that much.
Insurance for Baggage and Belongings
No one wants to go island-hopping in the sweatpants and hoodie they wore on the plane. If your bags take a detour and don’t arrive on time, or never show up, you can turn to baggage insurance. This is typically included in a comprehensive travel insurance plan. It can help cover the cost to buy clothes and other replacement items you may need.
Baggage loss insurance covers lost, stolen or damaged luggage. Baggage delay insurance helps pay for necessities if your luggage arrives after a specified waiting time, such as 12 hours. Both types of coverage have overall limits and per item limits, pay only the depreciated value of your items and have exclusions. Be sure to check the details of your policy.
Baggage insurance can also protect your possessions while you travel. For instance, your mood may dim if your purse gets taken while you’re on a boat tour down the Iwahig River, where thousands of fireflies illuminate the night sky against the backdrop of mangrove trees. But at least you can file a claim for reimbursement.
If personal items are damaged or stolen, you can be compensated for the depreciated value. Like baggage coverage, there are exclusions. Be sure to file a report with your tour director, hotel or local police if you have something stolen. You will need this documentation when filing your claim.
As with many international locations, it’s smart to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Refrain from wearing flashy jewelry or drawing attention. Pickpockets and scammers are on the prowl for unsuspecting visitors so be sure to use a concealed money belt to hold valuables and money.
“If staying in Manila or other large cities, there may be a concern about safety, and the U.S. Department of State actually has active travel safety warnings for areas in and around Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago,” says Adamski.
Sports Equipment and Adventure Packages
If you are planning to participate in outdoor activities like deep-sea scuba diving, a standard travel insurance may not cover these activities, says Megan Moncrief, a spokesperson with Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.
“Squaremouth recommends adventure and sports travel insurance for travelers planning these pursuits,” she says.
That means if swimming with the whale sharks off the coast of Donsol is on your itinerary, you might want to consider an adventure upgrade or a plan that provides medical expense coverage for adventure activities. For example, World Nomads’ Standard and Explorer plans provide coverage for approximately 200 types of adventurous activities.
Another option is the Adventure Sports Bundle upgrade from AIG travel insurance. If you buy a AIG’s Preferred plan, you can add on the bundled coverage, which removes exclusions for adventure and extreme activities from all benefits on the policy.
Plus, if you are packing hiking, climbing, or diving equipment, Moncrief says that Squaremouth recommends investing in a policy with a sports equipment and fees benefit. “Policies with this benefit may cover the cost of the equipment if it gets lost or damaged during the trip. And, depending on the policy, this benefit can cover both equipment brought with you, or rented at your destination,” Moncrief says.
Travel Insurance Requirements for the Philippines
Yes, travel to the Philippines is allowed, but entry is easiest for vaccinated travelers. The Philippines will allow entry to fully vaccinated visitors without quarantine or testing.
Unvaccinated (or partially vaccinated travelers) travelers may instead enter with proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure. Rapid antigen tests are accepted. A second rapid antigen test must be taken upon arrival.
Regardless of vaccination status, all travelers must register prior to their trip at etravel.gov.ph a minimum of 72 hours prior to their trip. This will streamline health checks upon arrival.
Travelers who don’t need visas (which includes U.S. citizens traveling for tourism purposes) must have a valid ticket to leave the country and a passport that’s valid for at least six months from arrival.
Related: Best At-Home Covid Tests
Testing and Vaccination Requirements to Enter the Philippines from the U.S.
Travelers must show proof of vaccination or negative results from a test taken within 24 hours of departure from their country of origin.
Specifically, proof of vaccination include any of these documents:
World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis
VaxCertPH
National or State digital certificate of the country/foreign government, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement
Other proof of vaccination permitted by the IATF
Travelers entering via testing rather than proof of vaccination must specifically present test results from a test administered and certified by a healthcare professional. Remotely supervised tests are acceptable, but otherwise home tests will not count
Testing and Vaccination Requirements to Enter the U.S. from the Philippines
U.S. citizens returning from the Philippines to the United States no longer need to provide a negative Covid-19 test in order to return home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted the previous mandate that had required travelers to supply a negative Covid test or documentation of recovery in order to re-enter the U.S.
However, if you’re not a U.S. citizen or are on an immigrant visa, you’ll still need to show proof of vaccination to fly to the U.S. from the Philippines.
Face masks are required by government mandate on public transportation and medical facilities.
Related: When Should I Use a Home Covid Test?
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance
Helping You Make Smart Insurance Decisions
Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.
Thanks & Welcome to the Forbes Advisor Community!
By providing my email I agree to receive Forbes Advisor promotions, offers and additional Forbes Marketplace services. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information and details on how to opt out.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance
Make Sure Your Trip Is Covered For Any Unexpected Disappointments. Compare & Buy Travel Insurance From Over 22 Insurers
Martinique Lewis will include urban Jacksonville locations in articles and social media posts geared towards black tourists leading up to Juneteenth.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In May the NAACP issued a travel advisory for the state of Florida. The organization did this after what it called “aggressive attempts to erase black history and restrict diversity in Florida schools” by Governor Ron DeSantis.
While this advisory is meant to keep black people safe and inflict economic impacts on the state, it may also be damaging to black owned businesses that rely on tourism dollars.
It’s summertime across the country, millions of Americans are going to travel and many of them planned to come to Florida… and then the NAACP issued a travel advisory against the state.
But that’s not keeping everyone away from the Sunshine State.
“Every time I went somewhere new it was shocking,” said Martinique Lewis, “tons of favorite moments.”
Lewis is a diversity and travel consultant who published the ABC Travel Greenbook in 2020 with the goal of highlighting black communities that can become travel destinations. Her latest visit was Jacksonville, but not the location that may come to mind first.
“I didn’t go to the beaches at all,” said Lewis, “actually I prefer it that way because that’s what people already know. As a travel content creator I want to tell the stories of places that are lesser known.”
Lewis plans to release a series of articles and social media video content leading to Juneteenth that features places like White Harvest Farms on Moncrief Road.
“It’s such a major player in how Jacksonville will change because it’s there,” said Lewis, “I really enjoyed that, it was the first time I’ve ever seen bees, the first time I’ve ever met a black bee keeper, it was truly inspiring.”
Lewis has an international following on social media and released a documentary on Disney+ earlier this year based on the 1940 book The Negro Motorist Green Book. While she understands why a travel advisory was created, she thinks there may be unintended consequences.
“It hurts black owned businesses the most,” said Lewis, “and that’s why the Black Travel Alliance was created and I do what I do in the content creator space to help amplify black owned businesses. The way I’m able to combat it on my own is to tell the story of these black owned businesses. I will continue to use my voice to help combat people’s fears of traveling to Florida.”
More information about Martinique Lewis, the ABC Travel Green Book and the Black Travel Alliance can be found here: https://www.martysandiego.com/
To learn more about the Clara White Mission and White Harvest Farms visit this website: https://www.clarawhitemission.org/white-harvest-farms.
Domestic and foreign media are looking at Da Nang with admiration and expectations as the city has been named as the most liveable city in Viet Nam, a beautiful place that looks like Singapore, and more. The past decade was considered as the golden period of the city’s tourism as the city has received countless international awards.
Da Nang is attracting tourists from far and wide with bookings soaring for this summer. Photo: ST
In 2022 alone, Da Nang was honored with prestigious international titles, including ‘Asia’s Leading Festival and Event Destination 2022’ awarded by World Travel Awards; the 21st position in the list of 25 most popular tourist destinations in Asia voted by Tripadvisor; one of 10 best cities in Southeast Asia voted by New York-based Travel & Leisure Magazine. Recently, Booking.com has unveiled that Da Nang on par with Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, has been named among the most visited destinations by Vietnamese tourists. Hence, Da Nang has been able to deliver unbelievable results in its tourism industry.
Da Nang has emerged as one of the hottest travel destinations this summer. The city is attracting tourists from far and wide, with bookings soaring for the summer months. The attractiveness of the city is mainly attributed to a series of world-class events during this summer. Most notably, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2023 attracted a large number of tourists at both home and abroad.
Data provided by the Da Nang Statistics Department showed that the city saw an increase of 95.6% over the same period in 2022 in the number of tourist arrivals to reach more than 700,000, in May 2023. In which, international visitor arrivals in the city were estimated at over 169,000. In particular, the number of visitor arrivals at tourist accommodation establishments was more than 2.8 million in the first 5 months of 2023, 3.1 times more than in the corresponding period of 2022.
In fact, Da Nang has recorded vertical growth in its tourism industry not only in recent years, but also in more than a decade ago. For the first time ever, Da Nang has set a target in 2016 to attract more than 5 million tourist arrivals.
However, in the first 9 months of 2016, tourist arrivals in the city reached 4.5 million, an 18.3% rise compared with the previous year. It is quite interesting that Da Nang has maintained such a high growth rate of tourist arrivals in the following years. Most notably, nearly 8.6 million tourist arrivals were recorded in 2019, of whom, 3.5 million were foreigners. For the first time in history, Da Nang has welcomed such a high number of international arrivals.
The Politburo’s Resolution No. 33 on the construction and development of Da Nang during the process of industrialization and modernization in Viet Nam, identified the tourism industry as Da Nang’s key economic sector, as well as identified Da Nang as a tourism hub of the country.
In its efforts to achieve the above-mentioned goals, the Da Nang government has recently created a tourism development strategy in Da Nang to 2030, with a vision to 2045. Under this strategy, by 2030, Da Nang will strive to become a hub for tourism and high-quality services, an innovative destination of Viet Nam and Southeast Asia. By 2045, the city will be named as the best place to visit in Asia.
It is clear that, Da Nang has developed its tourism development policy with a focus on promoting the development of the tourism industry at the regional and Asian level. Da Nang can use its subjective and objective factors to make it the top tourist destination in Asia. The city will adopt bold solutions in order to turn its goals into reality.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned goals, local residents have an important role to play in implementing the sustainable development goals for the tourism sector in addition to the determination of the city’s leaders and efforts of the tourism industry itself.
So many places to see in the world. So many people eager to see them.
International tourism reached about 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, and the United States issued a record number of passports. And if you visited any popular destination over the summer, you’d probably argue it was more crowded than ever.
So maybe it’s time to look at places that are still largely undiscovered, or alluring in the offseason, or frequently overlooked for their larger first cities or neighbors. Maybe it’s time to head to places that are making it easier for tourists to visit and those that pay close attention to encouraging tourism that’s sustainable.
With those things in mind, CNN Travel chose 24 places to consider as you make your 2024 plans:
Sumba, Indonesia
These dancing trees can be found along the mangrove forest near Walakiri Beach in Sumba Island, Indonesia.(Tengguo Wu/iStockphoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto via CNN)
For those looking for a beach destination that prioritizes community consciousness and sustainability, the Indonesian island of Sumba delivers.
RELATED: 8 of 2023’s worst destinations for overtourism. Here’s how to avoid the crowds next year
With its remote villages, untouched forests, ancient rituals and world-class surf breaks, Sumba is the perfect antidote to the crowds of Bali, which is just an hour’s flight away. It might not be internationally famous yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s small. Sumba is more than 4,000 square miles in size (more than 10,000 square kilometers) – twice the size of Bali.
It was the Nihi Sumba resort that brought this island into luxury seekers’ sights when it first opened in 2012. More than a decade on, Sumba has welcomed several new luxury eco-resorts. These include The Sanubari, a series of beachfront villas that opened in 2022, and Cap Karoso, located on the island’s southwest. —Karla Cripps
Turkey’s Black Sea coast
Frescoes cover the interior of the Rock Church at Sumela Monastery in Turkey’s Black Sea region.(imageBROKER.com/Alamy via CNN)
Far less known than the Mediterranean yacht-magnet resorts of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, the Black Sea region, also known as Karadeniz, offers a very different side of the country. Less touristed and with a cooler, damper climate that produces verdant scenery and delicious black tea, the region has historic towns and villages as well as beaches and adrenaline-producing activities.
In summer, it’s a refreshing escape from Turkey’s more sweltering regions. Visitors can explore ancient streets that still echo to the clang of blacksmith hammers in Safranbolu, soak up beach life in Amasra and climb to where one of the world’s oldest monasteries clings to a cliff at Sumela.
For thrill-seekers, there’s white water rafting, and when winter brings heavy snowfalls, the region’s eastern Kaçkar Mountains transform into a heli-skiing paradise. —Barry Neild
Tartu, Estonia
Tartu is a 2024 European Capital of Culture.(Mana Kaasik/European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 via CNN)
Pucker up. Tartu, in southern Estonia, has been named a European Capital of Culture for 2024 — with special attention paid to kissing. One of this university city’s most celebrated sights is its statue of two students locked in a passionate embrace, but herein the “City of Good Thoughts,” the love-in is more high-minded than carnal.
Tartu is renowned as Estonia’s intellectual center, home to its oldest university as well as the must-visit Estonian National Museum and the impressive Science Centre AHHAA, the largest science museum in the Baltics.
The Old Town is the perfect place to base yourself, but just north of the city center on the banks of the Emajõgi River, Supilinn (“Soup Town”) is also worth a visit. This historic neighborhood filled with pretty, wooden houses was formerly a slum but is now becoming one of the city’s most desirable addresses. —Maureen O’Hare
Tainan, Taiwan
Tainan is known for its thriving street food scene. Pedestrian Fuzhong street is pictured here.(Keitma/Alamy via CNN)
Celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2024, Tainan has become a Taiwan hotspot on the international stage. This southern city has surpassed the capital, Taipei, to boast the highest overall hotel occupancy rate in Taiwan in the past two years.
What makes it so special? Tainan is considered the street food capital of Taiwan and is loved for its beef soups and oyster omelets, otherworldly natural landscapes (check out Tsao Shan Moon World), scenic sunsets over salt farms, colorful old temples and cool new museums.
It was also listed among Booking.com’s top 10 sustainable tourism destinations in 2023. —Maggie Hiufu Wong
Northwest Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore boasts a number of hikes, including a strenuous one over the towering dunes that leads to Lake Michigan.(Deb Snelson/Moment RF/Getty Images)
Refreshing, unsalty Lake Michigan lures boatloads of tourists in summer, but the shoreline, quaint towns and rolling countryside of Northwest Michigan have plenty to offer year-round. On Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City makes a great home base for exploring wineries on the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas or picking cherries or apples in season. Then fall’s foliage is ripe for peeping, followed by winter’s inviting blankets of snow.
From Traverse City, the scenic M-22 highway winds up the Leelanau Peninsula and hooks back down through Leland, home to a historic fishing village and a collection of interesting shops and galleries. Glen Arbor is another town worth perusing on the way to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where off M-109 an all-sand, 3.5-mile hike over massive dunes to the Great Lake and back preps hardy hikers for a delicious dinner.
Farm Club, a farm-restaurant hybrid seven miles from downtown Traverse City, serves beautifully prepared dishes showcasing the region’s ingredients — many grown on site — in a minimalist, barnlike space that spills outdoors. —Marnie Hunter
Trans Dinarica Cycle Route, Balkans
Launching in 2024, the Trans Dinarica Cycle Route will be the first and only bike route to link all eight countries of the Western Balkans. The 100-stage trail is designed for cyclists of all abilities and its 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) is made up of quiet asphalt roads, forest trails and bike paths.
Riders can enjoy Albania and Croatia’s spectacular coastlines, Kosovo’s national parks, Montenegro’s rugged mountains and lush woodland and sparkling rivers throughout Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Riders can get more information and sign up for news of route updates, maps, accommodation and services at transdinarica.com. —MO
Culebra, Puerto Rico
A rusting tank makes for unusual beachcombing on Culebra’s Flamenco Beach.(cdwheatley/iStockphoto/Getty Images)
Puerto Rico is large and makes for a great island escape. But what if you want an escape from your great island escape? That’s where little Culebra comes in. It’s about 20 miles (32 kilometers) off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico and world away from San Juan’s noisy, rum-soaked nightlife.
The emphasis here is on outdoor activities and unwinding. Be sure to check out Flamenco Beach, curving for about a mile around a sheltered bay. It has little in the way of waves, making it a superb spot for snorkeling and swimming. And a graffitied tank — a US military relic — offers a striking photo op.
Much of the island is a natural refuge, and you can also go hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and fishing. Take a day trip or stay over and make it your main destination. —Forrest Brown
Angola
Cristo Rei in Lubango towers over a landscape that most tourists have yet to discover.(Eric Lafforgue/Art In All Of Us/Corbis/Getty Images)
This southern African nation is trying hard to make a break on the tourism scene, having recently introduced a quick-approval tourism e-visa. While major tourism infrastructure might not be up to speed yet, it’s a chance to explore a country still off the travel radar.
The capital of Luanda has a reputation as a pricey party city, but out in the wide-open spaces beyond, Angola has some jaw-droppingly spectacular scenery and cultural treats. Second city Lubango offers Portuguese colonial architecture, an impressive Rio-style Christ the King hilltop statue and access to the Tundavala Gap, a giddying plunge from cool tablelands into shimmering dusty plains.
Also worth a look: the dramatic 1,300-foot-wide (396 meters) Calendula Falls and Atlantic coastline surfing paradises such as Barra do Kwanza and Cabo Ledo. —BN
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Tourists walk among the Hopewell Rocks at low tide along the Bay of Fundy.(Eric Carr/Alamy via CNN)
Not to be confused with St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland, Saint John is located in New Brunswick — also on Canada’s east coast. This charming little city is an excellent base from which to enjoy the nearby Bay of Fundy, famed for having the world’s highest tides.
The city itself is filled with historic architecture, including the Saint John City Market, a National Historic Site of Canada. Built from 1874 to 1876, it’s filled with shops and food venues. A five-minute walk away is the Saint John Arts Centre. Set in the city’s historic Carnegie Building, it’s the only former Carnegie Library in eastern Canada.
In terms of accommodation, there are seaside cottages, hotels, motels, campgrounds, historic inns and B&Bs. Food here is as excellent as you’d expect from a maritime city in Canada, with a broad range from cheap eats to fine dining. —KC
South Korea
Andong Hahoe Folk Village showcases the traditional side of South Korea.(Sanga Park/iStock/Getty Images)
With word that “Squid Game” — still the most-watched show on Netflix — is set to return with a new season in 2024, it’s time once again to embrace the K-wave.
Thankfully, travel to the country is easier than ever before. The government is waiving its K-ETA requirement — the electronic travel visa for South Korea — for travelers from 22 countries till the end of 2024 as part of its Visit Korea Year campaign.
This is a country that truly has it all. After exploring futuristic cities such as Seoul and Busan, the cultural and historic side of old Korea awaits at Andong, dubbed the “Spirit of South Korea,” or the seven cemeteries of the ancient Gaya Tumuli, newly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023. —MHW
Albania
Theth National Park. Albania. One of the most beautiful travel destinations in Europe.(SzymonBartosz/iStock/Getty Images)
Sandwiched on the Adriatic coast between Greece and Montenegro, it’s astonishing that Albania wasn’t more popular as a beach destination before. But its wallet-friendly prices have seen tourism boom here over the past few years — so much so that in 2023, record numbers of Italians flocked across the Adriatic for their bargain summer breaks.
2024 sees the opening of a new airport at Vlorë, on the coast, which will make those beach trips easier. But there’s far more to Albania than its coast. The country has a rich culture, including Christian and Muslim history, with historical centers in towns such as Berat and Gjirokastër, as well as jaw-dropping mountain landscapes (Theth is the most popular).
In 2023, Albania got Europe’s first wild river national park, around the 168-mile (270-kilometer) Vjosa River — or to go really off the beaten track book a self-drive tour with Drive Albania. —Julia Buckley
Chile
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is a pilgrimage site for hundreds of thousands of long-distance walkers each year.(samael334/iStockphoto/Getty Images)
Stretching about 2,700 miles from top to toe, long and slim Chile offers a little something for everyone. In the north, spectacular landscapes simulate Mars on Earth in the Atacama Desert, where the 51-room Our Habitas Atacama emphasizes sustainability. The new hotel is a good fit for the “world’s leading green destination,” a title Chile just picked up at the World Travel Awards for the second year in a row.
The natural world puts its best foot forward all over the country: Thousands of miles of Pacific coastline to the west, the towering Andes in the east and lakes, volcanoes and wild Patagonia in the south.
World-class skiing in July and August — a welcome break from the sweltering Northern Hemisphere — is two hours or less from the capital, Santiago. And the new high-altitude Parque Nacional Glaciares near the city protects land in the country’s most populous and historically little-protected area. —MH
Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia
The biodiverse Abrolhos Islands are home to sea lions, dolphins, wallabies, lizards and more.(Bill Bachman/Alamy via CNN)
Every year there’s another installment in the soap opera surrounding the Great Barrier Reef — will it be de-listed by UNESCO? Has the coral regrowth gone well this season?
For tourists who’d rather not wade into the situation, there’s another way to experience some of Australia’s gorgeous underwater bounty. About 37 miles (60 kilometers) off the coast of Western Australia, the lesser-known Abrolhos Islands are home to some of the most beautiful scenery of the country’s Coral Coast, above and below the water.
Humpback whales pass through in the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, and lucky travelers may catch a glimpse of Australian Sea Lions. There are no hotels on the islands, so intrepid visitors can either overnight in the town of Geraldton or splash out for a liveaboard boat, which provides opportunities to watch brilliant sunsets over the Indian Ocean and scuba dive in the early hours when the fish are at their most active. —Lilit Marcus
Macedonia, Greece
People promenade by the sea in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city.(Hemis/Alamy via CNN)
Athens and the islands get more crowded every year, but in northern Greece, the region of Macedonia is relatively free from overtourism. Yet it has everything visitors flock elsewhere in Greece to see: archaeological sites, history-rich towns and beaches galore.
This was the land of Alexander the Great. His father, Philip II of Macedon, is buried at Vergina, where his tomb has been turned into a world-class subterranean museum displaying the finds. Nearby, there are Byzantine remains in the hilltop city Veria, and superb wineries such as Kir-Yianni in the rolling hills around Naousa.
Thessaloniki — the region’s capital and Greece’s second city — is a gastro hub as well as a mishmash of architectural and archaeological eras. Near the city are the sandy beaches of Halkidiki; toward the border with Thrace are archaeological spots like ancient Philippi, and the city of Kavala, whose Ottoman past shows in every building. —JB
Panama
It may be most famous for the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal, but this Central American country is so much more than a transit destination.
Not only does Panama have a vibrant capital city with a historic old quarter that’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the country also holds over a dozen national parks, including Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, the highest point in Panama.
Panama City is also the only world capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits. Visitors keen to delve further into Panama’s cultural landscape in a sustainable way can book community-based tourist adventures through a digital portal called SOSTUR Network, which connects travelers with rural communities and tourism businesses. —Tamara Hardingham-Gill
Galicia, Spain
People bike along a bicycle route on Paseo de Montejo in Mérida, the capital of Yucatán state.(megapress images/Alamy via CNN)
Empty beaches bordered by the wild Atlantic Ocean and framed by the rugged landscape of the Islas Atlánticas National Park. Mouth-watering seafood. And a historic city forever entwined with the famed Camino de Santiago. Welcome to Galicia, an autonomous region in the northwest tip of Spain.
Galicia’s regional capital city, Santiago de Compostela, has long been on the tourist map thanks to its striking 12th-century cathedral, which is the endpoint for the hundreds of thousands of walkers who embark on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage each year. But even if you weren’t planning on packing your walking boots, bustling Santiago should be on your radar.
And for spectacular views, head to Cabo Fisterra, a rocky peninsula home to the picturesque Finisterre lighthouse. The former lighthouse residence is the Hotel O Semáforo de Fisterra. Lighthouses are a bit of a theme in Galicia — there are 19 in total, including the UNESCO-protected 1st-century Tower of Hercules, believed to be the world’s oldest surviving Roman lighthouse. —Francesca Street
Singapore’s offshore islands
The city-state of Singapore shows urbanism at its finest: biophilic skyscrapers, neon-lit supertrees and six-star hotels all outdoing each other to redefine “luxury.” But venturing off the peninsula is quickly becoming a more interesting option.
Singapore is developing some of its smaller, uninhabited islands by, well, not developing them. Just a ferry ride away from the mainland, Lazarus Island is now home to a few rentable tiny houses made with reconstituted wood and powered by solar energy. Nearby, Sisters’ Island will open the country’s first marine park — including a sea turtle hatchery and coral protection area — in 2024.
Already open for exploring is St. John’s Island, where a 1.7-mile trail highlights native plants and flowers while shining a light on the island’s colorful history, which included a period as a quarantine center during a cholera outbreak. It’s a fitting place to think about life after a pandemic. —LM
Mérida, Mexico
The Yucatán Peninsula is best known for its tropical beaches, but venture inland, and you’re in for an unexpected urban treat.
“Mérida’s uniqueness comes from a blend of Mayan and colonial heritage,” said David Casanova, who has a real estate YouTube channel on Yucatánstate’s capital citywith his wife, Megan Sequeira Casanova. “The city’s excitement starts with its diverse cuisine and friendly locals and expands to its year-long favorable weather.”
In town, Paseo de Montejo is lined with historic mansions, museums, art galleries and local vendors. The Casanovas tout the city’s boutique hotels, including Kuka y Naranjo. For nearby getaways, there’s Progreso Beach (less than an hour away), fascinating Mayan ruins and underground water caves called cenotes.
If you’re concerned about personal safety in Mexico, the US State Department rates Yucatán and Campache states as the two safest as of December. —FB
Morocco
Tétouan in northern Morocco is home to a UNESCO-listed medina.(Gordon Sinclair/Alamy via CNN)
A longtime travel favorite thanks to its diverse landscape and spectacular architecture, Morocco has bounced back determinedly after a devastating earthquake this past September.
While visitors tend to congregate in popular cities such as Marrakech, Rabat and Fes, the country certainly isn’t short of less crowded spots that are arguably just as alluring. Standouts include Tétouan, the city near the first Regis Hotels and Resorts Morocco property, and the historic Meknes, which is among the country’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Morocco is proving to be a world leader when it comes to sustainable tourism, with the launch of various initiatives to boost its renewable energy generation. The country is also home to a number of significant eco-friendly hotels, including the Berber-run Kasbah du Toubkal, located at the base of the spectacular High Atlas Mountains. —THG
Florida’s freshwater springs
Visitors at Wakulla Springs will find refreshing 70 F (21 C) degree water.(Yvette Cardozo/Alamy via CNN)
How would you like to immerse in water clear as gin any day of the year? You can do that in some of the 1,000 or more recognized fresh-water springs scattered around northern and central Florida.
These pristine natural pools provide stable temps and visibility for swimming, tubing, snorkeling, diving, wildlife viewing and more. Here are a few of the best:
Wakulla Springs has a swimming area in 70 F (21 C) degree water, and the state park offers a boat ride tour. The depth at the vent is about 185 feet (56 meters). Rainbow Springs is considered one of the most beautiful in the state. Ginnie Springs, a privately owned site, is renowned for its diving and cavern. —FB
Texas Hill Country
In the heart of Texas, Hill Country boasts its own natural springs. One prime spot, Krause Springs in Spicewood, lures visitors with more than its spring-fed pool and natural swimming hole — there’s also a butterfly garden full of magical wind chimes. And the Blue Bonnet Cafe — home to some of the world’s most divine cream pies — is just a short drive away in Marble Falls.
Meanderers will also find rolling hills and hiking trails, winding rivers, wineries, barbecue, music and dance halls, plus an explosion of wildflowers in March and April. And in 2024, April also brings a celestial spectacle to Hill Country — the total solar eclipse on April 8.
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels is legendary among Texas’ historic dance halls, and Luckenbach, a tiny hamlet outside the larger German-influenced town of Fredericksburg, has a dance hall and regular pickers’ circles under the oak trees. —MH
Fujairah
One of the smaller and lesser-known emirates of the United Arab Emirates, Fujairah is as mellow as it is beautiful. Filled with spectacular mountain ranges and pristine beaches, it’s significantly less developed than the likes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, offering an authentic and tranquil vibe that’s hard to beat.
Fujairah has a cooler climate compared with the other emirates because of its mountainous setting, but the winter months are definitely the most pleasant time to visit.
Snoopy Island, a snorkeling spot that looks like the famous cartoon dog lying on his back, is a top draw thanks to its crystal-clear waters and coral reefs, while the cascading waterfalls of the Wadi Wurayah National Park are another must-see. —THG
Greenland
The jaw-dropping landscapes of Greenland — an autonomous territory of Denmark situated northeast of Canada — are set to get a little more accessible for international travelers this year.
New international airports are opening in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and the coastal city of Ilulissat. These aviation hubs promise longer runways that will be able to handle larger commercial aircraft. The climate crisis is a visible, real threat in Greenland, and investment in the tourism sphere is increasing as changing climates pose roadblocks to traditional industries.
Learn more about how Greeenland is adapting, and the stories of the Inuit people who’ve lived in the region for thousands of years at the Icefjord Centre in Ilulissat on the West Coast. Colorful Ilulissat is also home to the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, which offers the staggering sight of a bay filled with floating icebergs. In general, nature is the main event in Greenland, with other highlights including whale watching, dog sledding and Aurora Borealis sightings. —FS
Uzbekistan
Shah-i-Zinda mausoleum in Samarkand is among the rich religious and cultural sites in Uzbekistan.(Tuul & Bruno Morandi/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images)
Before the pandemic, Uzbekistan was poised to be the next big thing in travel thanks to a series of ambitious reforms to transform the country into a world-class destination.
Now, its time has finally come.
Offering visa-free access to citizens of 86 countries, Uzbekistan’s untouched landscapes and well-preserved architecture are ready and waiting to awe visitors.
For greater insights into Uzbekistan’s position at the heart of the fabled Silk Road, a historic trade route that ran from China and India to the Mediterranean, the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva await. Meanwhile, the mountainous Uzbek village of Sentob — about 3.5 hours from Samarkand — was added to UNESCO’s list of “Best Tourism Villages” in 2023. It’s been cited for its commitment to sustainable development, with a focus on nature, organic food and eco and mountain tourism.
Getting around the country is easy thanks to the high-speed Afrosiyob Express train, connecting capital Tashkent with Samarkand and Bukhara. —KC
If you feel like everyone you know is going to the same handful of places on vacation this summer, it might be because they are. A new study from Price4Limo breaks down the top vacation destinations by state; revealing some overarching trends and surprising details about summer 2023 travel. Overall, the top domestic destination for US travelers is Las Vegas, Nevada while the number-one international destination is Paris, France.
One of the interesting but surprising details from the data is that Floridians don’t have much interest in heading to beaches or tropical destinations; their top summer domestic destination is New York City, and the top international destination is Paris. Georgia residents want to go to Miami and Jamaica, and Nevadans want to go to San Diego and Paris. People in Oregon are planning trips to Seattle and Florence, Italy, while New Yorkers are jetting to Miami and London, England.
Most states are choosing major cities in nearby states as their domestic destinations of choice—with Florida and New York being stand-out exceptions. Overall, 75% of respondents to the survey said they planned on only taking domestic trips.
“Though the percentage of international travelers was small, their destinations covered the globe and included cities on every continent except Antarctica,” the study states. “Some popular destinations were Cancun, Mexico; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Johannesburg, South Africa.”
You can check out the complete map, based on a survey of 1,000 people plus an analysis of Google search data, below:
About 40 percent of the 40.37 million outbound trips made by mainland Chinese tourists in the first six months of 2023 were to Macao, according to the state-backed China Tourism Academy – a research unit of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The academy’s Big Data Report on Outbound Tourism in the First Half of 2023, cited yesterday in a local government statement, suggests that mainland travelers made some 16.14 million visits to Macao between January and June.
It added that Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan accounted for almost 80 percent of all trips made by mainland travelers during the period, with Macao responsible for just over half of those visits.
If verified, the figures would make the territory of China’s most popular destination for outbound travel. However, numbers given by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) last month suggests that “cumulative visitor arrivals” from all markets stood at just 11.6 million for the first half of the year.
[See more:Airport expansion set to kick off in 2024]
In response to the academy’s report, the local government said it was “pleased to see mainland tourists choosing to come to Macao” but said that it would “spare no effort” in “advancing diversification of the city’s tourism industry.”
The MGTO has made no secret of its wish to reduce Macao’s overwhelming dependence on the mainland Chinese market and says it is launching initiatives to revive long-haul markets.
Data compiled by the Statistics and Census Service shows that foreign passport holders are represented less than four percent of the visitors to Macao during the first five months of 2023.
Do you have TRICARE For Life (TFL)? Are you living, moving, or planning to travel overseas? It’s important to know how your TFL coverage works outside of the US and US territories.
“TRICARE For Life works differently overseas,” said Michael Griffin, a program analyst with the TRICARE Overseas Program Office at the Defense Health Agency. “Knowing your options for getting care and how to file claims will help you avoid unexpected costs.”
Keep reading for an overview of TFL, how to get care overseas, and more.
TFL is available to military retirees and their eligible dependents who are eligible for TRICARE and have Medicare Part A and Part B. This is regardless of your age or where you live. TFL is Medicare wraparound coverage. This means that if both Medicare and TRICARE cover a health care service, TRICARE pays last.
Medicare provides coverage in the United States and US territories. It also covers health care services you get on ships in US territorial waters.
But Medicare doesn’t provide coverage in any other overseas locations. This means that TRICARE is the primary payer for TRICARE covered services you receive overseas, unless you have other health insurance (OHI). If you have OHI, that plan always pays first.
All TFL beneficiaries are subject to the TRICARE catastrophic cap, deductibles, and cost-shares. Pre-authorization may be required for some care. Use the TRICARE Compare Cost Tool to find the costs associated with TFL stateside and overseas.
You have options for where you get care overseas. You can get care at military hospitals and clinics, if space is available. You may also get care from civilian providers, as described in the TRICARE For Life Handbook. You can use the Overseas Provider Directory to find an International SOS network provider near you. International SOS is the TRICARE Overseas Program administrator. If you see a civilian provider, be prepared to pay up front. Be sure to ask the provider for an itemized bill and be sure to keep your receipt as proof of payment. If you’re traveling overseas, you may want to consider buying travel insurance if you don’t want to pay up front for health care.
If you live in or travel to the Philippines, you must get care from a Preferred Provider or Certified Provider. If you need to get emergency care in the Philippines, go to the nearest emergency facility. Contact Global 24 Network Services before leaving the facility, preferably within 24 hours or the next business day, to coordinate continued care. Global 24 Network Services is a subcontractor of International SOS.
After you pay for care, you can file a claim with International SOS for reimbursement. You must submit proof of payment with all claims for care you receive overseas. Additionally, you must file claims with the claims processor for the overseas areas where you got care. Remember to file within three years of either the date of service or the date of inpatient discharge. Contact your TRICARE Overseas Program Regional Call Center and choose option 2 for claims assistance.
There may be no limit on the amount TRICARE nonparticipating, non-network providers charge you overseas. Keep in mind, you’re responsible for paying your deductible, cost-shares, and any amount that exceeds the TRICARE-allowable charge.
TFL makes it easy to get your prescriptions overseas. You can fill prescriptions at military pharmacies or through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery, where available. Use the Find a Military Hospital or Clinic tool to find nearby military pharmacies.
Non-network overseas pharmacies can also fill your prescriptions. In this case, you’ll pay the full cost up front and file a claim with International SOS for reimbursement. Be sure to submit proof of payment with all overseas pharmacy claims. This includes an itemized bill or invoice.
No matter where you live or travel, TRICARE For Life has you covered. Check out the TRICARE For Life Handbook and the TRICARE For Life Cost Matrix to learn more.
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptionsand create your personalized profile to get benefit updates, news, and more.
