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Will Medicare cover me if I travel outside the United States?

Kimberly Lankford,

Medicare doesn’t pay for medical services outside the United States or its territories, except in very limited circumstances, including if: 

• You experience a medical emergency while traveling between Alaska and another state and a Canadian hospital is closest to your location.
• You face a medical emergency while you’re in the United States or one of its territories, but the nearest hospital is across the border, for example in Canada or Mexico.
• You live in the United States or one of its territories and need hospital care, regardless of whether it’s an emergency, but the nearest hospital is in a foreign country.
• You need medical attention and you’re on a ship within six hours of a U.S. port.

Medicare covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as U.S. territories American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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What kind of care outside the U.S. will Medicare cover?

In rare situations,  Medicare Part A  will cover inpatient hospitalization and  Medicare Part B  will cover emergency ambulance and doctor services immediately before and during your hospital stay. 

The same  deductibles, copayments and coinsurance  apply as for services in the U.S. But coverage is limited: Medicare won’t pay for ambulance or doctor services in the foreign country after your covered hospital stay ends.

If you qualify, the foreign hospital may file a claim with Medicare, but it’s not required to do so. In that case, you may need to  submit an itemized bill  to Medicare. If you receive care on a cruise ship within six hours of a U.S. port, the attending doctor usually submits the Medicare claim.

Do Medicare supplement policies cover foreign travel?

If you buy a private  Medicare supplement policy , better known as Medigap, you may be insured for foreign travel emergencies. Medigap plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover emergency health care while traveling outside of the country. But plans C and F are no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries; only those eligible for Medicare before 2020 can enroll in plans C and F.

Medigap plans cover foreign travel emergency care that begins in the first 60 days of your trip. They pay 80 percent of the billed charges for specific medically necessary emergency care you receive outside the U.S., but you must first pay a $250 deductible for the year. Medigap’s foreign travel emergency coverage has a lifetime limit of $50,000.

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What other foreign travel emergency coverage is available?

Medicare Advantage.  Some  private Medicare Advantage plans  cover foreign travel emergency care, but here, too, coverage is limited and details vary. Find out more about the Medicare Advantage plans available in your area by using the  Medicare Plan Finder .

Travel insurance.  While some  travel insurance policies  cover trip cancellations, others also cover emergency medical care in a foreign country and medical evacuation either to a nearby medical facility or back to the U.S. However, some travel insurance policies exclude preexisting conditions, so find out about exclusions, coverage limits and other details before choosing a policy.

Tricare for Life.  If you’re a military retiree, you may have foreign-country health care coverage through Tricare for Life after you enroll in Medicare.  Tricare for Life  typically covers Medicare’s deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, but it also provides additional benefits, such as health care outside of the U.S. It’s the same foreign travel insurance military retirees and dependents have before enrolling in Medicare. You pay any deductibles and copayments for that coverage.

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Keep in mind

If you  plan to live abroad  or travel back and forth regularly, rather than just vacation out of the country, you can enroll in Medicare. But you’ll forgo coverage while you’re away and still have to pay the  monthly Part B premiums , typically $174.70 a month in 2024. You’ll also have to pay  Part A premiums  if you or your spouse haven’t paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

If you decide to wait to enroll in Medicare until after you return to the United States, you may have to pay a  late enrollment penalty . If you work abroad and receive health insurance from your employer, live in a country with a national health system or volunteer and have health coverage through a sponsor organization, you may have some exemptions.

This includes eligibility for an eight-month special enrollment period after you stop working or lose your insurance; six months if you’re volunteering. It’s a good idea to research your options before making any decisions about health care insurance while traveling.

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Kimberly Lankford is a contributing writer who covers Medicare and personal finance. She wrote about insurance, Medicare, retirement and taxes for more than 20 years at  Kiplinger’s Personal Finance  and has written for  The Washington Post  and  Boston Globe . She received the personal finance Best in Business award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and the New York State Society of CPAs’ excellence in financial journalism award for her guide to Medicare.

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Traveling with Medicare: What You Need to Know

Emergencies are unexpected, no matter where you are. Know what to expect from Medicare when traveling in and out of the country.

Written by Alex Rivera • June 15, 2022 • 4 min read

Medicare and Traveling: The Basics

Before you book your next travel destination, ensure you’re prepared for any unexpected medical emergencies. The type of Medicare plan you use, as well as where you travel, will affect your coverage. For example, because Original Medicare is federal health insurance, you can expect coverage across the 50 states and U.S. territories, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Medicare Advantage plans , on the other hand, serve specific areas. Your vacation destination might be outside of that service area, so be sure to understand where your Advantage plan starts and ends or you might find yourself knee-deep in medical bills. Outside the country, Medicare coverage is limited for both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Advantage plans are required to cover emergency and urgent care in the U.S. as long as you’re in the service area of the plan, but don’t have that same requirement outside the country. Medigap plans may cover services not included in your current Medicare plans. Read on to learn when you’re covered and when you’re not as you travel inside and outside the country.

Medicare coverage when traveling domestically

Medicare covers services from sea to shining sea—and beyond. Not only does Medicare take care of your medical business in all 50 U.S. states, it assumes coverage in U.S. territories as well. Whether you’re sailing off the beaches of Puerto Rico, learning the haka on the islands of American Samoa, or visiting the Capitol in the District of Columbia, Medicare has you covered. 

Domestic travel isn’t complicated for Original Medicare, though Medicare Advantage may have some limitations. Every Medicare Advantage plan has specific service areas and health insurance networks. Only certain locations, doctors, and hospitals are covered under a Medicare Advantage plan. Because each plan is different, call your provider ahead of time to ensure that your Medicare Advantage plan provides coverage in your travel destination. Medigap plans cover expenses not included in your Advantage or Original Medicare plans. Like Medicare, Medigap offers coverage just about anywhere in the United States. It will help supplement any copayments, coinsurances, or deductibles that your Medicare plan doesn’t cover. Some Medigap plans also include prescription drug coverage, similar to some Medicare Advantage plans.

Find the plan that best suits your domestic travel needs.

• Original Medicare: When traveling in the U.S., Original Medicare coverage is comprehensive. As long as you’re in one of the states or U.S. territories, you can be sure that Original Medicare will cover at least part of it.
• Medicare Advantage: Although some Medicare Advantage plans have limitations regarding coverage, they still can cover quite a bit of real estate. Depending on the plan you choose, you may or may not have coverage at certain hospitals or with certain physicians. Make sure you contact your provider to see where your Medicare Advantage plan is accepted.
• Medigap: Medigap provides supplemental coverage for services that your Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans don’t cover. Like Original Medicare, there aren’t any restrictions that would stop Medigap from filling in the gap when traveling within the U.S.
• Part D Prescription Coverage: You can pair your Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap plan with a prescription drug plan. When traveling domestically, coverage is relatively straightforward—just ensure that your plan is accepted where you’re going.

Medicare coverage when traveling internationally

If you’re looking to travel North or South of the border or across the pond, Medicare can get complicated. Original Medicare won’t pay for most supplies and services outside the United States. There are very specific exemptions to this rule , leaving little room for coverage in a foreign place.

Be sure to research Medicare Advantage providers during AEP, as some Advantage plans offer international coverage. Not all Medicare Advantage plans are created equal, but Aetna , for example, offers some of the best international coverage out there. From emergency care to urgent care, Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans have you in mind when you travel abroad.  

Unfortunately, prescription drug coverage is also not available outside of the U.S., even when paired with a Medicare Advantage plan. Some Medigap plans help cover services overseas , but you must meet particular prerequisites to receive additional help from Medigap in a foreign country. Medigap coverage may depend upon how long you have been in the foreign country, the type of service you are receiving, and the payment of a $250 deductible. 

Medicare’s lack of international coverage may seem dire, but all is not lost when it comes to health coverage overseas. Although separate from Medicare, international travel insurance pays for emergency and routine medical services outside the U.S. Each travel insurance plan is different, so plan ahead based on potential needs. 

International travel is more enjoyable when you know you’re covered. Find the plan that puts your health first.

• Original Medicare: In most situations, Medicare won’t pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S., with few exceptions.
• Medicare Advantage: Unlike Original Medicare, there are Medicare Advantage plans that offer comprehensive international coverage. Take a closer look at Aetna Medicare Advantage plans for example.
• Medigap: Medigap covers foreign travel emergency care if it begins during the first 60 days of your trip. Medigap also pays 80% of the billed charges for certain medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after you meet a $250 deductible for the year.
• Part D Prescription Coverage: If you purchase prescription drugs outside of the U.S., do not expect Medicare drug plans to cover them. You’ll need to get travel insurance or Medigap* to potentially help pay those expenses.

* Medigap will only potentially cover 80% of medically-necessary prescription drugs that are administered in a hospital during a medically-necessary stay.

Quick Medicare & Travel Guide 

The following chart shows you which Medicare plans cover what services both domestically and internationally. Remember: if you have questions or need extra help enrolling in a new plan with better travel coverage, call 833-716-0673   to speak with a licensed Medicare agent.

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Travel outside the U.S.

Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S. There are some exceptions, including some cases where Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) may pay for services that you get on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S. However, Medicare won't pay for health care services you get when a ship is more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital , doctor , and  ambulance services  you get in a foreign country in these rare cases:

• You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
• You're traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another U.S state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
• You live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.

Medicare may cover medically necessary ambulance transportation to a foreign hospital only with admission for medically necessary covered inpatient hospital services.

Medicare drug coverage (Part D) covers all vaccines that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends, including certain vaccines you might need to get before you travel outside the U.S. (like yellow fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis). Your Part D plan won't charge you a copayment or apply a deductible for vaccines ACIP recommends. Contact your Medicare drug plan for details and talk to your provider about which ones are right for you.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay 100% of the costs, in most cases. In the situations described above, you pay the part of the charge you would normally pay for covered services. This includes any medically necessary doctor and ambulance services you get in a foreign country as a part of a covered inpatient hospital stay. You also pay the coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles you'd normally pay if got these same services or supplies inside the U.S.

In the situations above, Medicare pays only for services covered under Original Medicare : Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers hospital care (care you get when you've been formally admitted with a doctor's order to the foreign hospital as an inpatient).

• Medicare didn't cover your hospital stay.
• You got ambulance and doctor services outside the hospital after your covered hospital stay ended.

Foreign hospitals aren’t required to file Medicare claims for your travel medical costs. You need to  submit an itemized bill  to Medicare for your doctor, inpatient, and ambulance services if both of these apply:

• You're admitted to a foreign hospital under one of the situations above
• The foreign hospital doesn't submit Medicare claims for you

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:

• Other insurance you may have
• How much your doctor charges
• If your doctor accepts assignment
• The type of facility
• Where you get your test, item, or service

Things to know

The 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are considered part of the U.S. Anywhere else is considered outside the U.S. 

Medicare drug plans don't cover prescription drugs you buy outside the U.S.

Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies may cover emergency care when you travel outside the U.S.

Because Medicare has limited travel medical coverage outside the U.S., you may choose to buy a travel insurance policy to get more coverage. An insurance agent or travel agent can give you more information about the cost of travel medical insurance. Travel insurance doesn’t necessarily include health insurance, so it’s important to read the conditions or restrictions carefully.

Related resources

• Medicare & You: traveling abroad (video)

Is my test, item, or service covered?

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We have over 30 years experience in international health insurance. And more than 500,000 members trust us with their care worldwide. We offer:  

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Designed to help expats find first-class international medical coverage, this type of plan offers a wide range of options to fit a busy lifestyle.  

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This style of coverage gives you access to the highest level of health care and services, regardless of your location.  

This insurance plan offers you:

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• Aetna Dental Clinical Policy Bulletins (DCPBs) are developed to assist in administering plan benefits and do not constitute dental advice. Treating providers are solely responsible for dental advice and treatment of members. Members should discuss any Dental Clinical Policy Bulletin (DCPB) related to their coverage or condition with their treating provider.
• While the Dental Clinical Policy Bulletins (DCPBs) are developed to assist in administering plan benefits, they do not constitute a description of plan benefits. The Dental Clinical Policy Bulletins (DCPBs) describe Aetna's current determinations of whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary, based upon a review of available clinical information. Each benefit plan defines which services are covered, which are excluded, and which are subject to dollar caps or other limits. Members and their providers will need to consult the member's benefit plan to determine if there are any exclusions or other benefit limitations applicable to this service or supply. Aetna's conclusion that a particular service or supply is medically necessary does not constitute a representation or warranty that this service or supply is covered (i.e., will be paid for by Aetna). Your benefits plan determines coverage. Some plans exclude coverage for services or supplies that Aetna considers medically necessary. If there is a discrepancy between this policy and a member's plan of benefits, the benefits plan will govern. In addition, coverage may be mandated by applicable legal requirements of a State or the Federal government.
• Please note also that Dental Clinical Policy Bulletins (DCPBs) are regularly updated and are therefore subject to change.
• Since Dental Clinical Policy Bulletins (DCPBs) can be highly technical and are designed to be used by our professional staff in making clinical determinations in connection with coverage decisions, members should review these Bulletins with their providers so they may fully understand our policies.
• Under certain plans, if more than one service can be used to treat a covered person's dental condition, Aetna may decide to authorize coverage only for a less costly covered service provided that certain terms are met.

Medical clinical policy bulletins

• Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) are developed to assist in administering plan benefits and do not constitute medical advice. Treating providers are solely responsible for medical advice and treatment of members. Members should discuss any Clinical Policy Bulletin (CPB) related to their coverage or condition with their treating provider.
• While the Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) are developed to assist in administering plan benefits, they do not constitute a description of plan benefits. The Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) express Aetna's determination of whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary, experimental and investigational, or cosmetic. Aetna has reached these conclusions based upon a review of currently available clinical information (including clinical outcome studies in the peer-reviewed published medical literature, regulatory status of the technology, evidence-based guidelines of public health and health research agencies, evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations, views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas, and other relevant factors).
• Aetna makes no representations and accepts no liability with respect to the content of any external information cited or relied upon in the Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs). The discussion, analysis, conclusions and positions reflected in the Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs), including any reference to a specific provider, product, process or service by name, trademark, manufacturer, constitute Aetna's opinion and are made without any intent to defame. Aetna expressly reserves the right to revise these conclusions as clinical information changes, and welcomes further relevant information including correction of any factual error.
• CPBs include references to standard HIPAA compliant code sets to assist with search functions and to facilitate billing and payment for covered services. New and revised codes are added to the CPBs as they are updated. When billing, you must use the most appropriate code as of the effective date of the submission. Unlisted, unspecified and nonspecific codes should be avoided.
• Each benefit plan defines which services are covered, which are excluded, and which are subject to dollar caps or other limits. Members and their providers will need to consult the member's benefit plan to determine if there are any exclusions or other benefit limitations applicable to this service or supply. The conclusion that a particular service or supply is medically necessary does not constitute a representation or warranty that this service or supply is covered (i.e., will be paid for by Aetna) for a particular member. The member's benefit plan determines coverage. Some plans exclude coverage for services or supplies that Aetna considers medically necessary. If there is a discrepancy between a Clinical Policy Bulletin (CPB) and a member's plan of benefits, the benefits plan will govern.
• In addition, coverage may be mandated by applicable legal requirements of a State, the Federal government or CMS for Medicare and Medicaid members. 

See CMS's Medicare Coverage Center

• Please note also that Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) are regularly updated and are therefore subject to change.
• Since Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) can be highly technical and are designed to be used by our professional staff in making clinical determinations in connection with coverage decisions, members should review these Bulletins with their providers so they may fully understand our policies.
• While Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) define Aetna's clinical policy, medical necessity determinations in connection with coverage decisions are made on a case by case basis. In the event that a member disagrees with a coverage determination, Aetna provides its members with the right to appeal the decision. In addition, a member may have an opportunity for an independent external review of coverage denials based on medical necessity or regarding the experimental and investigational status when the service or supply in question for which the member is financially responsible is $500 or greater. However, applicable state mandates will take precedence with respect to fully insured plans and self-funded non-ERISA (e.g., government, school boards, church) plans.

See Aetna's External Review Program

• The five character codes included in the Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) are obtained from Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®), copyright 2015 by the American Medical Association (AMA). CPT is developed by the AMA as a listing of descriptive terms and five character identifying codes and modifiers for reporting medical services and procedures performed by physicians.
• The responsibility for the content of Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) is with Aetna and no endorsement by the AMA is intended or should be implied. The AMA disclaims responsibility for any consequences or liability attributable or related to any use, nonuse or interpretation of information contained in Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs). No fee schedules, basic unit values, relative value guides, conversion factors or scales are included in any part of CPT. Any use of CPT outside of Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) should refer to the most current Current Procedural Terminology which contains the complete and most current listing of CPT codes and descriptive terms. Applicable FARS/DFARS apply.

LICENSE FOR USE OF CURRENT PROCEDURAL TERMINOLOGY, FOURTH EDITION ("CPT®")

CPT only copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

You, your employees and agents are authorized to use CPT only as contained in Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (CPBs) solely for your own personal use in directly participating in healthcare programs administered by Aetna, Inc. You acknowledge that AMA holds all copyright, trademark and other rights in CPT.

Any use not authorized herein is prohibited, including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, making copies of CPT for resale and/or license, transferring copies of CPT to any party not bound by this agreement, creating any modified or derivative work of CPT, or making any commercial use of CPT. License to use CPT for any use not authorized herein must be obtained through the American Medical Association, CPT Intellectual Property Services, 515 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610. Applications are available at the American Medical Association Web site, www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt.

Go to the American Medical Association Web site

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Does Medicare Supplement Plan G Cover Foreign Travel?

Eligibility for Original Medicare is an important milestone for seniors, but it may be disappointing to learn that it does not cover everything. Part A helps with inpatient care in a hospital, skilled nursing unit and religious nonmedical health care facility. Part B provides for outpatient care, medical office visits, home health services, durable medical equipment and mental health services. But both Parts A and B have a deductible, coinsurance, copayments and no ceiling on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses that may be incurred.

Some Medicare recipients choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan instead, which provides Parts A and B, and often includes drug coverage and other additional benefits as well. Others prefer to stay on Original Medicare and simply want to supplement it to fill some of the gaps in coverage. The solution is often a Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, which is supplemental insurance for a series of plans labeled with letters A through N.

Asking the Right Questions When researching supplement plans, there are a few key questions that may expedite the selection process:

• How much is the monthly premium?
• What is the premium based on; for example, health status, gender, smoking history or marital status?
• Does everyone pay the same premium regardless of age, or will premium increases be imposed as I age?
• Will pre-existing conditions impact the timing of my eligibility to join certain plans?

Medicare Supplement Plan G Plan G is known for its robust coverage compared to other supplement policies. It covers all the components available in a Medigap program except the Medicare Part B deductible, and there is no limit on out-of-pocket expenses. The Part B deductible is not worth any consideration at this point because that benefit will become obsolete in 2020. The only supplement plans that currently cover it are Plans C and F, which are being phased out in 2020. Of course, the price tag reflects this suite of provisions.

Plan G is also one of the Medigap plans that include foreign travel. With so many people on the move these days, this benefit is a priority for those who travel for work or leisure. Foreign travel emergency care is covered if it begins during the first 60 days of the excursion. After meeting a deductible, the benefit amounts to 80% of the charges invoiced for specific medically necessary emergency care outside the United States. In 2019, the deductible is $250 and the lifetime limit is $50,000.

Related articles:

Does Medicare Supplement Cover Deductibles?  (Opens in a new browser tab)

How Do I Choose the Medicare Advantage Plan That’s Best for Me? (Opens in a new browser tab)

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Scott and White Health Plan now part of Baylor Scott & White Health, Simply, UnitedHealthcare®, Wellcare, WellPoint

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Does Medicare Cover International Travel?

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Medicare doesn’t typically cover you when you travel internationally, although there are limited circumstances when Medicare will pay for your health care outside the United States. Medicare Advantage international coverage is similar, although it differs from Original Medicare for travel within the U.S.

Be sure to confirm your travel coverage before you take flight. Here’s what you should know.

Shopping for Medicare plans? We have you covered.

Does medicare cover international travel.

Outside the U.S., Medicare usually doesn't cover health care unless [0] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Travel outside the U.S. . Accessed Aug 8, 2023. View all sources :

A medical emergency occurs in the U.S., but a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can help.

A medical emergency occurs while you’re traveling between Alaska and another U.S. state by way of Canada, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can help.

You live in the U.S., and a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can help. (In this case, it doesn’t have to be an emergency.)

You receive medically necessary health care on a ship within territorial waters near the U.S. (But if the ship is more than six hours from a U.S. port, Medicare won’t cover it.)

Under all circumstances, Medicare drug plans won’t cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S.

If you have Original Medicare and you’re traveling within the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands, you’re covered for care from any provider that accepts Medicare.

If your health care services outside the U.S. are covered, you’ll be responsible for your normal Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles, along with any copayment or coinsurance. Foreign hospitals won’t submit a claim to Medicare for you — you’ll need to get itemized bills and submit them.

Does Medicare Advantage cover international travel?

Medicare Advantage plans , or Medicare Part C plans, provide the same coverage that Original Medicare offers, so the scenarios listed above for international travel are also true for these plans [0] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Medicare Advantage Plans cover all Medicare services . Accessed Aug 8, 2023. View all sources . Some Medicare Advantage plans may also offer emergency coverage for foreign travel. Call your plan provider for more information.

If traveling within the U.S., Medicare Advantage plans insure emergency medical care [0] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans . Accessed Aug 8, 2023. View all sources . Beyond that, your coverage depends on your service area and the type of plan.

Medicare Advantage plans include a network of providers, and some plans (such as HMOs ) are more restrictive about out-of-network services, so you’ll pay more for out-of-network care. Other plans (such as PPOs or private fee-for-service plans) are more flexible, although you’ll probably still pay more for out-of-network health care.

If you travel regularly and for long periods — maybe you winter in a sunny spot each year or you own a ski condo in the mountains — some Medicare Advantage plans offer “visitor” or “travel” programs for coverage while you’re away. This is something to consider, since if a Medicare Advantage enrollee remains outside their plan’s service area for more than six months, they may be involuntarily disenrolled from the plan.

UnitedHealthcare, for instance, offers a Passport feature on some plans that allows members to receive care from participating providers away from home for up to nine consecutive months.

Medicare Advantage companies

Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage companies. These insurance companies offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.

AARP Medicare Advantage plans .

Aetna Medicare Advantage plans .

Anthem Medicare Advantage plans .

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans .

Cigna Medicare Advantage plans .

Humana Medicare Advantage plans .

Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans .

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans .

Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans .

How to cover yourself when traveling

For peace of mind, there are a few ways you can make sure you’re covered for medical care when you’re out of your policy’s service area:

Get Medigap coverage

If you have Original Medicare (or switch back to it), you may be able to purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan (or Medigap plan) that covers foreign travel emergency health care. Standard Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover foreign travel emergency health care [0] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Medicare Coverage Outside the United States . Accessed Aug 8, 2023. View all sources . Plans E, H, I and J also provide this coverage, but they’re no longer for sale. (If you bought one of these plans before June 1, 2010, you have this coverage.)

Under Medigap, you’re covered for foreign travel emergency care if it starts during the first 60 days of your trip. The plans pay 80% of billed charges after you meet a $250 deductible, and this coverage has a lifetime limit of $50,000.

Get travel insurance

Travel medical insurance acts like health insurance when you’re away from home, although it generally doesn’t cover routine medical care. (Need a checkup? Get that at home.) This is a policy you’d use if you broke a limb, needed emergency dentistry or required a medical evacuation, for example. If you’re traveling abroad, be sure to buy a policy that covers you internationally.

Get a Medicare Advantage plan with a travel benefit

Some Medicare Advantage plans come with travel coverage, but benefits vary, so check with your plan to get details on where and when you’re covered. Find out, too, how the plan functions: Do you pay first and file a claim for reimbursement, or will you owe a normal copay? The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.

Carry your documents

If you’re going abroad, carry your member ID card for the insurance covering you while you’re away, plus a claim form.

What Medicare covers

Medicare covers a lot of things — but not everything. Find out where Medicare stands in the following areas:

Dental care.

Hearing aids.

Shingles vaccine.

Cataract surgery.

Chiropractic care.

COVID testing and vaccines.

Home health care.

Acupuncture.

Nursing home care.

Assisted living.

Dental implants.

Mental health services.

Addiction treatment.

Ambulance services.

Got questions about Medicare and travel? Contact Medicare at medicare.gov or 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY: 877-486-2048).

On a similar note...

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medigap plans