Maine Travel Assistance Program

In 2023, Anthem in Maine launched a program that reimburses members who live in Maine for eligible travel expenses for select, covered medical services performed by in-network providers in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Today, most of our members have flexible medical products that allow for coverage out of state, but the expense and the logistics of travel can be a barrier. Anthem has partnered with Healthbase, a white-glove travel concierge, to make access to care outside of Maine more affordable and easier to schedule.

What services are eligible for travel within this program?

The following services are eligible in the Maine Travel Assistance Program (MTAP):

• All inpatient care or treatment, including pretesting (imaging, testing) and follow-up care
• Outpatient care or treatment that requires preapprovals, including services managed by Carelon Medical Benefits Management, Inc. (orthopedic, chemotherapy/radiation therapy)
• Pretesting and post care needs related to a procedure performed out of state
• A second opinion on services eligible for MTAP

What services are not eligible for travel within this program?

These services are not eligible in MTAP:

• Outpatient labs
• Routine screenings
• Routine colonoscopies
• Routine imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, PET scan)
• Outpatient rehab physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy
• Sleep study/sleep therapy
• Genetic screening/testing
• Infusions other than chemotherapy
• Abortion
• All services performed at Centers of Excellence
• Human organ transplant

How does the program work?

Here are the four steps to MTAP:

1. The member contacts Anthem’s Member Experience team, which will confirm whether the member’s plan covers services performed out-of-state and if the procedure/service is eligible for the travel. The team can also help members find in-network providers in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, unless you have already provided support with out-of-state provider selection, in which case your patient can share this information with Member Experience.
2. The Member Experience team will send a secure email referral to Healthbase with the member’s travel information and the selected out-of-state care provider. (Note: Personal health information, PHI, is not shared with Healthbase.)
3. Healthbase will contact the member within one business day to set up travel plans.
4. The member travels to the in-network provider, then submits receipts for covered travel expenses directly to Healthbase for reimbursement. The maximum annual program allowance is $2,000 per member.

This program is included in all non-HMO POS individual, small group, and large group plans that are fully insured or level funded (ABF). This program is an opt-in for administrative service only (ASO) plans.