When you are traveling
Plan ahead and know what to do if you need medical help while you're traveling or temporarily living outside our region.
Need care while traveling? Before you seek care outside the Kaiser Permanente Washington region, call Member Services at 1-888-901-4636. They can help you find the closest in-network care option, whether you're traveling within the United States or internationally.
Travel within the United States
Emergency and urgent care within the United States
No matter what health plan you have, you're covered for emergency and urgent care when you're away from the Kaiser Permanente Washington region.
If you have a medical emergency while traveling, call 911 or the local emergency assistance number immediately. Then within 24 hours or as soon as reasonably possible, call our Hospital Notification Line for the United States at 1-888-457-9516 (206-901-4609), option #3 and option #4, so we can follow up on your care.
If you need urgent care while traveling, call your personal physician during office hours. And at any time, wherever you are, you can call the consulting nurse at the number on your Kaiser Permanente member identification card.
Non-emergency care within the United States
Getting non-emergency care outside your coverage area depends on your plan and network. You'll find your plan and network names on your member ID card.
- If you're a Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington member, you can get covered care at Kaiser Permanente facilities outside the Washington region. This includes Oregon, California, Hawaii, Colorado, Maryland, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Before seeking care in other Kaiser Permanente regions, call Member Services to start visiting member access. Remember Clark and Cowlitz counties in Washington state are in the Kaiser Permanente Northwest region.
- If you're a Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options, Inc. member, you may have access to in-network covered care outside the Kaiser Permanente Washington region from providers in our preferred regional and national networks. Care from other providers outside our region, including at Kaiser Permanente facilities in other regions, may be covered at your out-of-network level. This includes Kaiser Permanente facilities in Vancouver (Clark County) and Longview (Cowlitz County), which are part of the Kaiser Permanente Northwest region. Call Member Services to help you find in-network care wherever you are.
- If you're a Medicare Advantage member, call Medicare Member Services at 1-888-901-4600 for information about getting care outside the Kaiser Permanente Washington region.
Travel outside the United States
Emergency and urgent care outside the United States
If you have been hospitalized outside the United States and need assistance, call our international Hospital Notification Line at 1-888-457-9516 (206-901-4609), option #2.
If you're in an emergency situation outside the United States, you'll need to know how to contact the police, an ambulance, or even the fire department. For more information, visit the State Department website, international travel section.
Travel Advisory Service
Our Travel Advisory Service provides customized health recommendations for members traveling internationally, including information about travel vaccinations and medications.
Travel anywhere
Prescription medicine
Be sure to pack enough of your prescription medication before leaving on a trip. You can ask your doctor for up to a 90-day supply if you need it. You'll pay one copay for each 30-day supply.
Prescriptions that you fill outside our service area may not be covered. Contact Member Services for questions about your prescription benefits.