Medicare Outside the United States:
Original Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage & Travel Coverage

If you are on Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement / Medigap plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan, do not assume your coverage works the same way when you travel or live outside the United States. Medicare’s official booklet on coverage outside the United States explains that Medicare coverage outside the U.S. is limited, and your exact protection depends on your type of Medicare coverage, your plan documents, and whether the care is emergency, urgent, or routine.

This page is for people who are traveling outside the United States, living outside the United States, comparing Medigap foreign travel emergency benefits, reviewing Medicare Advantage out-of-area rules, or deciding whether separate international travel medical insurance may be needed.

• Quick Summary |
• Original Medicare |
• Medigap |
• Medicare Advantage |
• Living Abroad |
• Travel Insurance

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Quick Summary

• Original Medicare generally provides coverage mainly in the United States, with only limited exceptions outside the country.
• Most Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N include a foreign travel emergency benefit, but it has limits.
• Medicare Advantage plans may include worldwide emergency or urgent care, but details vary by plan.
• Part B enrollment decisions can create long-term penalty issues if you live outside the United States and later return.
• Social Security benefits outside the United States are a separate issue from Medicare coverage.
• Travel medical insurance may help fill gaps that Medicare, Medigap or Medicare Advantage do not cover.

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Original Medicare Outside the United States

Original Medicare, meaning Medicare Part A and Part B, generally does not cover health care outside the United States except in limited situations. This is why people who travel, cruise, snowbird, or live abroad should check their Medicare coverage before leaving the country.

Medicare’s official travel booklet is one of the best starting points: Medicare Coverage Outside the United States, Publication 11037.

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Medicare While Traveling Outside the United States

If you are only traveling temporarily, the key questions are whether the care is emergency care, whether you have Medigap foreign travel emergency coverage, whether your Medicare Advantage plan includes worldwide emergency or urgent care, and whether separate travel medical insurance is appropriate.

For commercial non-Medicare travel issues, see my related page on out-of-state and international PPO, HMO and EPO coverage.

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Medigap Foreign Travel Emergency Coverage

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement insurance, may help pay for some emergency care outside the United States. Medicare’s official booklet says most Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N include foreign travel emergency coverage, usually after a deductible, usually during the first 60 days of a trip, and with a lifetime limit. Medicare Publication 11037.

Related Medigap pages:

• Anthem Blue Cross Medigap
• Blue Shield Medigap
• Health Net Medigap
• UnitedHealthcare Medigap

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Medicare Advantage Outside the Service Area or Country

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C or MAPD, works differently from Original Medicare plus Medigap. Some Medicare Advantage plans may include worldwide emergency or urgent care, but routine care, network access, service-area rules and residency rules vary by plan.

If you are on Medicare Advantage and will be away from your service area for an extended period, review the plan’s Evidence of Coverage and the plan’s rules on maintaining residency in the service area.

Related Medicare Advantage pages:

• Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage
• Blue Shield 65 Plus Medicare Advantage
• UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
• SCAN Medicare Advantage

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Living Outside the United States

If you live outside the United States for a long period of time, Medicare decisions can become more complicated. Medicare has a special publication for people who are enrolled in Medicare or approaching Medicare while outside the United States: Medicare Publication 11871 — Medicare if you live outside the United States.

The difficult question is often whether to keep paying for Medicare Part B while living abroad, especially if Medicare will not pay for most care outside the United States. That decision can affect future penalties and enrollment timing if you return to the United States.

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Part B Premiums, Late Enrollment Penalties and Returning to the United States

Medicare Part B has late enrollment penalty rules. If you delay or drop Part B and later return to the United States, you may face a higher premium or delayed effective date depending on your situation. See my related page on the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty.

Because this decision can involve Medicare rules, Social Security timing, foreign residence, employer coverage, taxes and long-term planning, consider getting advice before dropping Part B.

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Social Security Payments While Outside the United States

Social Security benefits outside the United States are not the same thing as Medicare medical coverage outside the United States. The Social Security Administration has a separate booklet explaining how being outside the United States may affect benefit payments and reporting requirements: SSA Publication 05-10137 — Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States.

You can also review the Social Security Administration’s Office of Earnings & International Operations.

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Travel Medical Insurance and International Coverage

International travel medical insurance may be worth reviewing if Medicare, Medigap, or Medicare Advantage does not fully cover the risk you are worried about. Travel medical plans may address issues such as emergency medical care, foreign hospitals, medical evacuation, trip length and claims outside the United States.

You can review international travel medical quotes here: Get International Travel Insurance Quotes & Information.

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Emergency, Urgent and Routine Care Are Not the Same

When reviewing Medicare travel coverage, always separate emergency care, urgent care and routine scheduled care. A plan may cover emergency or urgent treatment while traveling, but not cover routine non-emergency care outside the service area or outside the United States.

For more general health insurance emergency coverage information, see my page on Emergency Room Coverage.

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Before You Travel or Move Abroad

• Review Medicare Publication 11037.
• Review Medicare Publication 11871 if you live outside the United States.
• Check your Evidence of Coverage.
• Confirm whether your Medi gap plan includes foreign travel emergency coverage.
• Confirm whether your Medicare Advantage plan includes worldwide emergency or urgent care.
• Ask about claim forms, reimbursement, medical evacuation and preauthorization rules.
• Consider international travel medical insurance for gaps.
• Keep Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Part D and travel insurance cards with you.

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Related Pages

• Medicare Overview
• Medigap / Medicare Supplement
• Medicare Advantage / MAPD
• Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans
• Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
• International Travel Insurance
• PPO, HMO & EPO Out-of-State / International Coverage
• Provider Finder Resources
• Evidence of Coverage
• Emergency Room Coverage

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Need help comparing Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage or travel coverage before leaving the United States?

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This page is for general educational purposes. Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Social Security, tax and travel insurance rules can change. Always review the official plan documents and government publications before making enrollment or travel decisions.