Does Medicare Cover Me Outside the USA?

 

In most cases, Medicare does not cover medical care you receive when traveling outside the United States and its territories. This includes Original Medicare (Parts A & B) and Medicare Advantage plans.

However, there are a couple of limited exceptions:

• Emergency services in Canada: If you are traveling a direct route between Alaska and another state and the closest hospital that can treat you is in Canada, Medicare will pay for emergency services.
• Medical care on a cruise ship: If you get the care while the ship is in U.S. territorial waters, Medicare may cover it.

It's important to understand that even in these exceptions, you will still likely be responsible for some costs, such as deductibles and coinsurance.

It's crucial to plan ahead if you intend to travel outside the US with Medicare. Here are some options:

• Purchase travel medical insurance: This can help cover medical expenses not covered by Medicare.
• Consider Medigap supplement plans: Some Medigap plans (C, D, F, G, M, and N) offer limited coverage for emergency medical care outside the US, typically with a lifetime limit. However, these plans usually require you to enroll during a specific window and cannot be purchased if you travel outside the US.

Here are some resources for further information:

• Medicare coverage outside the United States: [[invalid URL removed]]([invalid URL removed]).
• Travel medical insurance: https://www.squaremouth.com/
• Medigap supplement plans: https://www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/
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