Medicare coverage inside the U.S.
If you’re travelling within the United States, your Medicare coverage mostly stays the same—depending on the plan you have.
Original Medicare is very flexible. You can use it anywhere in the 50 states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. You don’t need to worry about out-of-state restrictions, surprise costs, or extra approvals. Whether you’re visiting family in another state or taking a road trip across the country, your coverage travels with you.
Medicare advantage (MA) plans, however, work differently. These plans are built around a network of doctors and hospitals, and that network usually doesn’t stretch beyond your local area. If you go out of network, you might have to pay more for care or even the full bill for non-emergency visits.
The good news is that Medicare Advantage plans must cover emergency and urgent care anywhere in the U.S. But for non-emergency situations, you’ll need to check with your plan before travelling. If you can, use telehealth to speak with your regular doctor for things like prescription refills or minor issues while you’re away.
Read this later: Bad news for millions of New Yorkers – This is the public transportation fare increase in NY that will take effect on January 4,…
What happens when you leave the country
Once you travel outside the United States, Medicare coverage becomes very limited. Both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans generally don’t pay for care abroad, except in a few special situations.
There are three rare cases when Medicare might help pay for hospital care outside the country:
- A foreign hospital is closer. You’re in the U.S., but the nearest hospital that can treat you is in another country.
- Travelling through Canada to Alaska. You’re driving between Alaska and another U.S. state “without unreasonable delay”, and a medical emergency happens near a Canadian hospital.
- A foreign hospital is closer to your home. You live near the border, and a hospital across the border is closer than one in the U.S.
Outside these situations, you’ll need to pay all costs out of pocket. Most foreign hospitals won’t file claims with Medicare, so you’ll have to handle payments directly.
What parts A and B cover abroad
Even in those rare approved cases, Medicare only covers certain services:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays if you’re formally admitted.
- Part B (Medical Insurance) covers doctor and ambulance services that happen right before or during that hospital stay.
Once you leave the hospital, or if Medicare doesn’t approve your hospital claim, you’ll be responsible for everything.
Options for international coverage
If you travel abroad often, you have two main ways to protect yourself: Medicare Advantage plans with travel benefits or Medigap supplemental insurance.
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited coverage for emergency or urgent care while traveling overseas. The details vary, so it’s important to check the fine print before choosing or using your plan.
Several Medigap plans also offer foreign travel emergency coverage—specifically plans C, D, F, G, M, and N. Here’s what they include:
- You pay a $250 yearly deductible for foreign medical emergencies.
- The plan covers 80% of the costs for qualified care after the deductible.
- There’s a $50,000 lifetime limit on foreign travel benefits.
- Coverage applies only during the first 60 days of your trip abroad.
If your trip lasts longer than 60 days or you’ve already hit your lifetime limit, you’ll be on your own for future expenses.
Don’t forget about prescriptions and vaccines
Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans) doesn’t cover medicine purchased outside the U.S. You’ll have to pay for those drugs yourself.
However, your Part D plan does cover travel vaccines recommended by the CDC, like those for yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, or chikungunya—without any copay or deductible.
Final tips for travelers
If you’re planning to travel abroad, consider buying travel medical insurance or a Medigap plan with foreign coverage before you go. For long-term travellers or retirees spending time outside the U.S., this extra step can prevent massive medical bills later.
Inside the U.S., your Medicare will usually have you covered. But once you leave the country, it’s best to be prepared—because Medicare won’t always come along for the trip.
