Have retired military TRICARE For Life (TFL) - supplement with Geo Blue or Allianz?

I have TRICARE and while it can be used I supplement my coverage with Blue Cross. What you'll find different is that you are required to pay the entire bill at anyplace that does not recognize your coverage and then do the paperwork for your insurance on your own.

Direct from the TRICARE website:

When you use TFL in all other overseas locations, whether you live or travel overseas:
TRICARE is the primary payer.
You’re responsible for paying TRICARE’s annual deductible and cost-shares.

Thanks - looks like TFL does cover us in OCONUS but we would have to pay up front in most cases. This would seem to make them primary, but if have other insurance like GeoBlue, Allianz, Mondasur TFL would be secondary?

https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/3742924/going-overseas-tricare-for-life-goes-with-you

You'll want to read each policy carefully. Many will say that they are secondary and will only pay if other primary coverage does not. Be careful that you're not buying a policy that would never be triggered to pay.

We have Tricare for Life and my major concern is evacuation for medical reasons and repatriation of remains. We just bought an inexpensive ($86 per person) yearly policy through a USAA affiliate, Travel Insured. The policy covers up to $100,000 in accident and medical expenses as well as normal things like trip delay and delayed baggage.

Do you recall which USAA affiliate?

Travel Insured is the USAA affiliate. I have their $86 annual policy as well, including medical evacuation. They also cover evacuation for some political situations and natural disasters.

I think the medical coverage is still secondary though I'm not certain and don't have my policy handy.

You'll want to log in through USAA.com to get the $86 price. Otherwise it's $94.

Ok, rub it in, that annual policy from USAA/Travel Insured is not an option in WA state.

That's a shame! Nationwide has a similar annual policy, without the political and marital disaster evacuation benefits.

ETA: that was intended to be natural disaster. I'm pretty sure you're on your own for marital disasters! :-)

CWsocial--For some reason, quite a few of the trip insurance companies exclude WA state from their annual policies. We can get it with DAN (and usually do), but I am always on the lookout for comparisons.

Quick summary - not all coverages the same, details in the plans docs - the below is from the websites.

USAA's affiliate $86 for combo of travel and medical insurance for one year
- Trip delay $200/day up to $5000
- Missed tour or cruise connection $500 per trip
- Medical evacuation and Repatriation of remains $100,000 per trip, two occurrences per plan term
- Political/Security Evacuation and Natural Disaster Evacuation $150,000 per trip, two occurrences per plan term
- Baggage and Personal Effects $2,500 per trip
- Accident and Sickness Medical Expense $100,000 per trip
- 24 hour accidental D&D other than air flight $50,000 per trip
- Accidental D&D air flight only $25,000 per trip

GeoBlue Medical Benefits (only - no "travel insurance" $386 per person for one year
- Primary health plan is required (I am assuming this would be TFL OCONUS?)
- Max per person per policy period $200,000 age 70-95, and $1,000,000 less than 70 years of age
- Deductible $100
- 100% - surgery, anesthesia, inhospitable doctor visits, diagnostic x-ray and lab, Office visits including X-ray and labs, inpatient hospital surgery, X-rays, docs, medical emergency, ambulatory surgical, ambulance for non medical evacuation
- Drugs 100% to $5,000
- PT 6 visits, $100 per visit
- Dental due to injury and relief of pain 100% reasonable with max of $300 per trip
- Medical evacuation maximum of $500,000 per trip perior
- A D&D max $25,000
- Emergency family travel $2,500 one round trip ticket to place of the hospital
- Hazardous activities $25,000
- Lost baggage and personal effects $100 per bag to max $500
- Repatriation of remains $25,000
- No preexisting conditions restrictions
- Refund policy full refund if trip cancelled completely, can change coverage dates

Allianz required estimate of costs for each component of trip - between air, cruise, etc I used $80,000 (more than one trip in one year period) $8,122 per person
- Epidemic coverage includes
- Trip cancellation $0,000
- Trip interruption $60,000
- Trip change $1,000
- Emergency medical, dental $75,000
- Emergency Transportation $1,000,000
- Baggage $2,000
- Baggage delay $600
- Travel delay $1,600

My initial thoughts:
- USAA affiliate is very inexpensive, covers a mixture of travel and medical, and may be sufficient - it sort of subsidizes some changes and cancellations and losses, while providing some medical coverage. Not sure if it is primary or secondary - but, seems like it would be secondary to TFL? Lots of details left out of their summary info, and not clear how to get more info without purchasing the $86 plan
- GeoBlue has more coverage for medical costs, but only baggage is covered for the travel. $200,000 medical max vs $100,000 with USAA. More detail. More expensive - looks like more medical coverage than the USAA plan, but costs four times as much.

Good info!

I'm cruising from Europe in NOV and will look into that insurance.

Not sure if it is primary or secondary - but, seems like it would be secondary to TFL?

I found this language in the General Provisions of my Travel Insured annual policy.

"Primary Insurance: The insurance provided by this certificate will be paid on a primary basis, regardless of any other coverage. We will pay the applicable eligible benefit, subject to any Deductible amount. We will pay first but reserve the right to recover from any other insurance carrier with which You may be covered. We will pay the claim first then seek to recover any payments made by a Third Party."

My policy may be specific to my state, so of course you should contact them to verify for your situation.

CWsocial--That was hilarious;) Having trip insurance be the primary is what we need since we are still on regular Tricare, not the for life version.

mikliz97, I must admit I chuckled as well, and didn't have the heart to edit it completely out :-)

CWsocial--I am glad you didn't edit that:)

If you are a USAA member (and I guess you are considering you appear to be former military with TRICARE and that you're even discussing USAA affiliate), call Travel Insured with any questions you have about policy/coverage. I've found the customer service to be very helpful clearing up any misunderstanding or less-than-understandings.

Hi All Again!

Well, still digging - I didn't mention that we charge everything with Chase Sapphire Reserve card, so did a quick check to see what it covers. My sense is it is really good for travel insurance, but not much medical insurance, although it does have emergency evacuation coverage.

Given the coverage from TFL (https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/3742924/going-overseas-tricare-for-life-goes-with-you) would appreciate any thoughts on Chase (https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/chase-sapphire-travel-insurance-guide), combined with the USAA Travel Insured International?

Summary of CSR coverage:
- Trip Delay Reimbursement- unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per covered traveler
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption - sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.
- Baggage Delay - essential purchases like toiletries, clothing for delays over six hours up to $100 a day for 5 days
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement - up to $3,000 per covered traveler, repair/replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip
- Auto Rental - decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. For Sapphire Reserve cardmembers, coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad
- Travel Accident - accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000 for Sapphire Reserve
- Certain travel benefits, cancellation protection and emergency services are available to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers on eligible travel booked with their credit card. Here’s some more information about the benefits offered with the card.
- You or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip 100 miles or more from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000
- Roadside Assistance - tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas up to $50
- Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit - reimbursed up to $2,500 for medical expenses, subject to a $50 deductible

Part 1 - due to length ...

I am sooo far down the rabbit hole on this - so, I asked I asked ChatGPT - "compare and assess the costs, coverage, etc of annual travel insurance plans from IMG, GeoBlue, and Allianz given I already have insurance with Tricare for Life and Chase Sapphire Reserve card."

Quick summary

IMG (Patriot series) — best if you want very high emergency medical & evacuation limits (up to $8M) and strong remote/expat/long-stay coverage; cost varies by age/limit/deductible. IMG+1

GeoBlue (Voyager / Trekker / Xplorer) — strong international medical / expat network with US provider access and good pre-existing condition handling if you already have primary coverage (some plans show up to $1M or higher). Good for long/recurring international stays; price higher for older ages. InsureMyTrip+1

Allianz (AllTrips annual) — best value if you take many short trips and want single annual policy for cancellations + emergency medical/evacuation. Medical limits on common annual plans are lower than IMG (example: AllTrips Prime shows emergency medical ~$20k and evacuation $100k; other tiers raise medical limits). Pricing is often the cheapest per-year for frequent short trips. Allianz Travel Insurance+1

Important facts that affect your choice

TRICARE For Life (TFL) and travel insurance order of payment

Medicare doesn’t generally cover care outside the U.S.; when you travel overseas TRICARE often becomes the primary payer only for TRICARE-covered services, BUT most private travel insurers pay first for overseas care — and if you have Other Health Insurance (OHI) that OHI pays first. In practice: if you buy travel medical insurance it will usually pay before TRICARE when you’re overseas. This matters for claims and pre-payment. Always read each travel policy’s coordination-of-benefits language. TRICARE Newsroom+1

Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) provides strong emergency evacuation + trip cancellation perks, but with limits & rules

CSR emergency evacuation/transportation benefit up to $100,000; trip cancellation/interruption coverage up to $10,000 per person (and up to a per-account/period max) — but these benefits normally require that the trip be paid with the card and you follow the card’s claims process. CSR can fill gaps but is not a replacement for full travel medical insurance in many cases. Chase+1

Part 2

Side-by-side

Feature IMG — Patriot (annual/multi) GeoBlue — Trekker / Voyager / Xplorer Allianz — AllTrips (annual)
Primary purpose Travel medical for international / long stays; evacuation; optional trip add-ons International medical & expat health; networked access to BCBS providers; multi-trip options Annual multi-trip (medical + trip cancellation/interruption) — mainstream consumer annual plan
Typical emergency medical max $2M–$8M (Patriot Platinum up to $8M). Deductible options wide. IMG+1 Often up to $1M (some GeoBlue products show high limits, $0 deductible options for some plans). InsureMyTrip+1 Varies by tier — common AllTrips Prime shows $20,000 emergency medical; higher tiers raise medical max. Evacuation limits often $100k–$500k depending on tier. Allianz Travel Insurance+1
Emergency medical evacuation Covered up to policy max (Patriot can cover evacuation up to max). Good for remote/expedition travel. IMG Strong evacuation + care coordination with global network; designed for medical access abroad. GeoBlue Evacuation typically covered (AllTrips Prime shows $100k; Premier higher). Good for short trips. Allianz Travel Insurance
Trip cancellation / interruption (annual cap) Optional add-on (you can add trip cancel/interruption on some IMG products) — not always included on base travel-medical products. IMG GeoBlue’s multi-trip plans are primarily medical; cancellation coverage may be limited or separate. Requires primary health plan to be eligible for some multi-trip products. GeoBlue+1 Designed for multi-trip cancellation — AllTrips Prime/Executive/Premier have annual caps for trip cancellation/interruption (AllTrips Prime = $3,000 per insured/year; other tiers higher). Good built-in cancellation protection. Allianz Travel Insurance+1
Pre-existing condition coverage / acute onset Patriot Platinum includes acute onset coverage for pre-existing conditions up to age limits (varies by age). betins.com GeoBlue often provides immediate/limited pre-existing coverage if you have qualifying primary coverage and enroll per rules. Good for expats with ongoing care. International Citizens Insurance Allianz typically excludes pre-existing conditions unless you buy within a time window (look for lookback period / waiver); annual plans vary. NerdWallet
Price (indicative) Wide range — daily prices may be $1.50–$8+/daydepending on age/limit/deductible; multi-trip annual variants cost more. International Citizens Insurance+1 GeoBlue daily/monthly varies by age — examples show $1–$32/day; Trekker annual examples: ~$138–$358/yr (varies by age & family size). Generally pricier as you age. International Citizens Insurance+1 Allianz annual multi-trip can be very cheap for basic plans (some reported <$100/yr for AllTrips Basic) or $200–$600+ for comprehensive annual Prime/Premier depending on options and trip limits. Average annual comprehensive ~$300–$600. Reddit+1
Best for Travelers going to remote locations, long stays, high medical risk, older travelers who need strong evacuation & high limits Expat/long-term stays, travelers who want U.S. provider access and global network; pre-existing coverage if you have primary health insurance Frequent short trips, want bundled trip cancellation + medical coverage at low annual cost; best for many short vacations/business trips
(Sources: provider pages and market summaries cited inline below.)

Part 3
How this stacks with TRICARE For Life + Chase Sapphire Reserve

TRICARE For Life (TFL): Medicare won’t cover most overseas care — TRICARE may be the payer in some cases but private travel insurers normally pay first. If you buy any private travel/medical policy, expect to file with that insurer first and then with TRICARE for any remaining TRICARE-covered amounts. If your travel plan has a primary coverage requirement (GeoBlue multi-trip often requires a primary health plan), your TFL/Medicare situation can affect eligibility — read the eligibility rules. TRICARE Newsroom+1

Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR): CSR already gives you emergency evacuation up to $100k and trip cancellation/interruption up to $10k per person (subject to conditions — trip must be charged to the card, etc.). That means:

For evacuation, CSR may cover many evacuations (up to $100k) — but CSR’s paperwork/availability and the requirement to have charged the trip can be constraints. A travel medical insurer with evacuation built in (IMG, GeoBlue, Allianz tiers) can remove ambiguity and often coordinates evacuations directly via its assistance provider. Chase+1

For trip cancellation/interruption, CSR limits can be helpful, but Allianz AllTrips (annual) specificallycovers cancellation across multiple trips, which CSR won’t do unless the trip was charged/qualifies under the card benefit rules. Allianz Travel Insurance+1

Bottom line: CSR + TFL help, but they don’t entirely replace a dedicated travel medical + evacuation policy if you need higher medical limits, pre-existing/acute onset protection, or multi-trip cancellation coverage. Private travel insurers also handle on-the-ground provider payments (important overseas), while CSR is more of a backup/benefit you must claim through card benefits.

Practical recommendations (pick based on what matters most to you)

If your priority = highest medical/evacuation limits & remote travel (and you’re older)
→ IMG Patriot Platinum (or Patriot multi-trip variant). Large medical max (up to $8M), strong evacuation, acute onset options; good if you need big limits and long stays. Note age limits for pre-existing coverage and higher premiums for older ages. IMG+1

If your priority = long/recurring international stays or expat coverage + access to U.S. providers
→ GeoBlue Xplorer / Trekker. GeoBlue integrates with BCBS networks, is tailored for expats and frequent international travelers, and can include pre-existing/ongoing care features (but often requires a primary health plan). Expect higher premiums as you age. International Citizens Insurance+1

If your priority = multiple short trips each year and good trip-cancellation protection at low annual cost
→ Allianz AllTrips (annual). Cost-effective for many short trips; built-in multi-trip cancellation/interruption and emergency medical/evacuation coverage. Watch medical limits (some AllTrips tiers have only modest emergency-medical limits). Use Premiere/Executive tiers if you want higher medical limits. Allianz Travel Insurance+1

Things to check before you buy (critical)

Who pays first overseas (your travel policy will typically pay first — verify coordination with TRICARE). TRICARE Newsroom

Evacuation wording — does the policy coordinate/arrange evacuation (preferred) or merely reimburse? (coordination via assistance provider is better in emergency).

Pre-existing condition / acute onset rules — look for “acute onset of a pre-existing condition” language and age limits (IMG lists age cutoffs; GeoBlue has rules tied to primary coverage). betins.com+1

Trip cancellation annual caps (Allianz annual plans have yearly caps for cancellation across all trips — verify if that fits your pattern). Allianz Travel Insurance

Proof for CSR — CSR’s benefits require that you’ve charged the trip to the card; getting “proof of insurance” for CSR benefits can be harder (benefit guides may be used). Reddit

Part 4

Concrete next steps I suggest (no questions — ready for you to run)

Decide your priority (highest medical limit / expat care / best annual cancellation value).

Get 2–3 quotes with your exact age(s), planned maximum trip length, deductible, and desired medical maximum from:

IMG Patriot Platinum (specify multi-trip / duration). IMG

GeoBlue Trekker/Xplorer (choose multi-trip if you make many trips; confirm eligibility given TFL). International Citizens Insurance

Allianz AllTrips Prime or Premier (compare Prime vs Premier medical limits & annual cancellation caps). Allianz Travel Insurance+1

Compare the quotes by: medical max, evacuation max & whether evacuation is coordinated, trip cancellation annual cap, pre-existing coverage rules, and price. Use CSR only as supplemental evacuation/trip protection if the travel insurer’s evacuation coordination is limited or if you meet CSR charge rules.

Useful source links I used (top references)

IMG Patriot Platinum and Patriot series (medical max up to $8M, evacuation, deductibles). IMG+1

GeoBlue travel & multi-trip (Voyager/Trekker/Xplorer — requirements that multi-trip needs a primary health plan and examples of annual pricing). GeoBlue+1

Allianz AllTrips annual page (AllTrips Prime/Executive/Premier benefits and annual caps). Allianz Travel Insurance+1

TRICARE For Life overseas guidance (Medicare limits overseas; TRICARE as primary in some cases; private travel insurers pay first). TRICARE Newsroom+1

Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits (Emergency Evacuation up to $100k; trip cancellation limits). Chase+1