Does Medicare Cover You When You Travel?

Inside the U.S.: yes. Original Medicare works in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa — any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, no networks. Outside the U.S.: usually no. Medicare generally doesn't pay for health care in other countries, so in most cases you'd pay the full cost yourself. There are rare exceptions, and some Medigap plans add a foreign travel emergency benefit. If you have Medicare Advantage, your plan's network rules also matter when you're away from home.

Traveling Inside the U.S.

With Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), there's no network. You can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare, whether you're visiting family two states away or spending the winter somewhere warm. Snowbirds often weigh this freedom when choosing coverage. (Moving permanently is different from traveling — see Moving Between States.)

Medicare Advantage works differently. Plans have service areas and networks, and out-of-network care can cost more or not be covered. Before a long trip, check your plan's rules for care away from home — including what counts as emergency or urgent care — in your plan materials or by calling the plan.

Traveling Outside the U.S.: The General Rule

Medicare has very limited coverage outside the U.S. In most cases, you pay all costs for care you get abroad. That's why Medicare.gov itself notes that some travelers choose to buy a travel insurance policy for more coverage — and warns that travel insurance doesn't always include health coverage, so read the terms carefully.

The Three Rare Exceptions

Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital, doctor, and ambulance services in a foreign country only in these situations:

• Emergency near the border. You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency happens, and a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat you.
• Driving through Canada. You're traveling between Alaska and another state by the most direct route, without unreasonable delay, and a Canadian hospital is closer than a U.S. one when an emergency happens.
• You live near a foreign hospital. The foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your condition — emergency or not.

In some cases, Part B may also pay for services on a ship in territorial waters next to U.S. land areas. When an exception applies, you still pay your normal deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. And foreign hospitals aren't required to file Medicare claims — you may need to submit an itemized bill yourself.

Medigap's Foreign Travel Emergency Benefit

Some Medigap plans help where Medicare stops at the border. Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N include a foreign travel emergency benefit that pays 80% of covered emergency care abroad, up to plan limits. Our Medigap guide has the full plan-by-plan benefit table. If foreign travel is a regular part of your life, this benefit is worth understanding before you pick a plan.

Prescription Drugs and Travel Vaccines

Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions you buy outside the U.S. So refill before you leave, and carry enough medication for the trip. One helpful benefit before you go: Part D covers all vaccines recommended by the CDC's advisory committee (ACIP) — including certain travel vaccines like yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis — with no copayment or deductible. Ask your provider which ones you need.

Before-You-Go Checklist

• Traveling in the U.S. with Medicare Advantage? Check your plan's network and travel rules first.
• Going abroad? Assume Medicare won't pay, then check whether your Medigap plan has the foreign travel emergency benefit.
• Consider whether a travel insurance policy with health coverage fits your trip.
• Refill prescriptions before you leave, and ask about ACIP-recommended travel vaccines under Part D.

Common Questions