Q: My wife is a member of TexanPlus, and I am a member of Texas HealthSpring. What emergency health care and prescription coverage do we have while traveling abroad this summer?

A: Texas HealthSpring covers emergency medical treatment worldwide. TexanPlus covers emergency medical treatments only within the United States and the U.S. territories.

Costs vary for emergency care and urgent care while traveling outside of the service area, including foreign countries. Generally, the member must pay the bill and submit a claim form to Texas HealthSpring or TexanPlus for reimbursement. If you are admitted to a hospital, that emergency care copayment is waived, and your group plan’s hospital copayment applies.

Get prescriptions at your plan’s copayments by using network pharmacies such as Walgreen’s, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, CVS or Target. If you use a non-network pharmacy in an emergency, you will pay full price. You can be reimbursed, less your plan copayment, by submitting a claim form to TexanPlus or Texas HealthSpring with original itemized receipts.

For more information, contact Texas HealthSpring, (800) 846-2098 or TexanPlus, (866) 556-4614, or the city’s benefits office, (888) 205-9266.