Does Medicare Cover International Travel?

What Medicare Actually Covers Abroad

Medicare was designed for US healthcare. Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) are built around the US billing system and US-based providers. By statute, Medicare generally cannot pay for medical care received outside the 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

There are exactly three exceptions written into federal law:

1. Travel through Canada to Alaska: If you are traveling by land from the contiguous US to Alaska (or back) and a medical emergency occurs in Canada where the Canadian hospital is closer than any US hospital, Medicare may cover that emergency.
2. Emergency on a ship near US waters: If a medical emergency occurs while on a ship within 6 nautical hours of a US port, Medicare may cover care given on the ship or at the nearest US-qualified facility.
3. Border emergencies: In rare geographic cases where a Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer to your US home than any US hospital, Medicare may cover emergency treatment there.

These exceptions cover a vanishingly small number of travel scenarios. A trip to Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, or anywhere else? Medicare pays nothing.

What About Medigap (Medicare Supplement)?

Some Medigap plans include a foreign travel emergency benefit. If you have Medigap Plan C, D, F, G, M, or N, your plan covers:

• 80% of medically necessary emergency care costs outside the US
• After a $250 per-trip deductible
• Up to a $50,000 lifetime maximum

That $50,000 cap sounds significant. But consider what happens when things go seriously wrong:

Medical evacuation alone can consume your entire Medigap lifetime limit. And once that $50,000 is spent — for life — Medigap pays nothing more internationally. A dedicated travel insurance policy is essential even if you have Medigap.

What About Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurance companies and are required to cover at least what Original Medicare covers. Most Medicare Advantage plans follow the same international coverage rules as Original Medicare — meaning they also don't cover care abroad except for the same narrow emergencies.

A small number of Medicare Advantage plans — particularly PPO plans marketed to active senior travelers — include limited urgent care benefits outside the US. But coverage is typically capped at $50–$100 per day for outpatient care, and medical evacuation is rarely included.

Check your plan's Evidence of Coverage before any international trip. Look for the "Emergency Care Outside the United States" section. If it caps at $50K or less, or if evacuation is excluded, purchase supplemental travel insurance.

What Travel Insurance Should Seniors Buy?

Medicare beneficiaries traveling internationally need a travel medical insurance policy that covers:

• Emergency medical treatment — hospitalization, ER visits, surgery, ICU
• Emergency medical evacuation — often the largest single expense ($50K–$200K)
• Acute onset of pre-existing conditions — covers sudden flare-ups of known conditions (heart disease, diabetes, hypertension)
• Repatriation of remains — in the worst case, bringing you home
• 24/7 multilingual assistance — helps coordinate care abroad when you can't navigate a foreign system alone

Three plans consistently rank highest for US seniors traveling internationally:

How Much Does It Cost?

Travel medical insurance for seniors is priced primarily by age. Here are typical monthly costs for $100,000 coverage with a $250 deductible:

Costs vary by carrier and deductible. Get an instant personalized quote to see exact pricing for your age and travel dates.

Frequently Asked Questions