Overall, Medicare does not provide coverage during travel outside of the United States. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans may offer extra coverage for international travel under certain circumstances.
Medicare has different parts:
- Original Medicare (parts A and B)
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
While both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage provide the same comprehensive coverage, Medicare Advantage plans often offer extra benefits. Medigap plans help cover certain costs associated with Original Medicare and may offer additional coverage.
Glossary of Medicare terms
- Out-of-pocket cost: This is the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage. Costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.
- Premium: This is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage.
- Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their treatments.
- Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.
- Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
Original Medicare does not generally cover healthcare when a person travels outside the United States.
However, there may be a few exceptions. For example, Part B covers services that individuals may receive onboard a ship that is in territorial United States waters. Under Medicare’s definition, territorial waters refer to when a ship is within 6 hours of a United States port.
Other exceptions to coverage internationally
There are rare circumstances under which Original Medicare will cover doctors, inpatient hospital care, and ambulance services when a beneficiary is in a foreign country.
These include the following situations:
- A person travels through Canada without any unreasonable delays from a U.S. state to Alaska when an emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than a United States hospital.
- An emergency occurs while in the United States, and a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest United States hospital to treat the individual’s condition.
- An individual lives in the United States, but a foreign hospital is closer to their home than the nearest United States hospital for treating a medical condition, regardless of any emergency.
A note on travel vaccinations
Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) covers all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). These may include any vaccinations that a person may need before traveling to certain areas outside the United States.
Part D plans will not charge a copayment or require a deductible for vaccines.
Learn more about Medicare and vaccines.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are alternatives to Original Medicare that Medicare-approved private insurance companies administer.
Medicare Advantage plans need to offer the same coverage as Original Medicare. However, they often offer additional benefits that Original Medicare does not cover.
Like Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans do not generally provide coverage outside the United States. However, some plans may offer an extra benefit that covers urgent and emergency services during foreign travel.
Individuals can check with their insurance provider for more information on international coverage and other benefits.
Medigap is a supplement insurance that individuals with Original Medicare can purchase from Medicare-approved private insurance companies. These plans help cover certain costs associated with Original Medicare, such as:
- deductibles
- copayments
- coinsurance
Certain Medigap plans — C through G and M and N — cover emergency healthcare when traveling outside the United States. They cover up to 80% of the Medicare-approved costs up to the plan limit.
Individuals can find Medigap plans available in their area by using the Medicare online search tool.
Since Medicare does not provide healthcare coverage when traveling outside the United States, individuals can purchase travel insurance for more coverage.
Insurance providers or travel agents can provide more information about travel insurance. It is important to remember that not all travel insurance plans provide health coverage, so individuals should always read the restrictions or conditions carefully.
Does Medicare cover dialysis treatments outside the United States?
Medicare will not generally cover dialysis outside the United States.
What do I pay if I receive Medicare-covered services outside the United States?
Excluding certain exceptional circumstances where Medicare offers healthcare coverage, individuals are responsible for paying the full cost of healthcare they receive in a foreign country.
Does Medicare pay for prescriptions outside the United States?
Medicare cannot cover prescription drugs that an individual purchases outside the United States.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
Medicare does not usually offer health coverage for beneficiaries traveling outside the United States. However, there are a few exceptional circumstances when it may cover emergency care services.
Some Medigap plans may cover a portion of emergency care when traveling outside the United States.
Individuals can purchase travel insurance through an insurance company or travel agent to help cover health costs when traveling outside the United States.
