Having the right coverage while you’re away is just as important as having the right coverage at home, so let’s see if your Medicare coverage will cover you while you’re abroad.
Areas of Coverage
You will be covered anywhere in the U.S. and its territories if you have Original Medicare. This means you will receive medical aid coverage in all 50 states and Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Most doctors and hospitals in U.S. territories take Original Medicare. You won’t have any issue getting coverage if you fall ill or need medical assistance while visiting the states mentioned above or its territories.
Original Medicare For Travel
In certain cases, your Original Medicare plan will cover specific treatments if one of the following circumstances occur:
- You’re in the U.S., and emergency treatment is needed, but the closest hospital is in another country.
- You are traveling through Canada between Alaska and another state when an emergency occurs, and the closest hospital is in Canada.
- You are a U.S. resident requiring specific treatment for a health condition, but a foreign hospital is closer to you than the nearest U.S. location.
But the short answer to the question, “will Medicare cover me when I travel abroad?” is no.
Original Medicare does not cover international medical expenses when traveling outside the United States. However, a Medigap plan might. This is very important to remember before planning your next international trip or holiday.
While Original Medicare only covers your medical expenses within the United States and its territories, you can consider looking into an additional Medigap policy. That is if you don’t already have one.
Some Medigap plans cover emergency medical expenses overseas. You’ll likely have a $250 deductible, coverage limited to the first 60 days of your trip, a copay of 20%, and a lifetime limit of just $50,000 on your Medigap policy.
Medigap Coverage
While Original Medicare may not cover your health insurance costs while traveling outside the United States, a Medigap policy is a great way to bridge the gap between coverage extents.
Some Medigap plans (C, D, F, G, M, and N) can cover up to 80% of your medical charges for health and medical emergencies that take place outside of the United States after you’ve met the $250 deductible for the year.
These policies will cover your medical expenses if the emergency happens within the first 60 days of your trip, which is good news for holiday goers since most people usually don’t travel for more than 2-3 weeks at a time.
Medicare Advantage
Suppose you have a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare with a Medigap plan. In that case, you may have some medical coverage during your travel, but you will most likely also have restrictions regarding the type of coverage you will receive while away. Be sure to research the details of your policy and always speak to your insurance provider, so you understand exactly what is or isn’t covered while traveling.
Before traveling out of the United States, take the time to speak with our experienced Medicare agents to get more information about your coverage while traveling. We’ll ensure you get all the proper Medicare coverage!