The Transplant travel benefit allows for reimbursement of transportation, lodging, and meals when a participant seeks services at an Ascension Network facility that are not available at the participant’s own Health Ministry. This benefit is made available to Plan participants to help them minimize their out-of-pocket expenses through utilization of Ascension Network facilities rather than National Network facilities or Out-of-Network facilities whenever possible. The participant is eligible for this benefit when traveling to the closest Ascension Network facility within the United States that offers the service needed.
Travel benefits are also available for transplants. The rules governing such travel benefits are different from those described above. The transplant travel benefit allows for reimbursement of transportation, lodging, and meals when a participant seeks transplant services at any facility that has been approved by SmartHealth’s utilization vendor when such transplant services are not available at the participant’s own Health Ministry. The participant is eligible for this benefit when traveling to an approved Ascension Network, National Network or Out-of-Network facility within the United States that offers the transplant service needed.
There are a limited number of medical conditions that may qualify for a travel benefit. These conditions include heart procedures, complex joint replacement procedures, and pediatric surgeries.