Traveling After 65: What Medicare Covers and What It Doesn’t

Retirement is the perfect time to hit the road, whether you’re exploring America’s national parks or setting sail on a European river cruise. However, before you pack your bags, one essential item to review is your Medicare coverage. Many retirees assume Medicare will follow them wherever they go, but that’s not always true. So, let’s break it down clearly to see how Medicare and travel work together.

Traveling Within the United States

If you’re traveling inside the United States including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Medicare generally works just fine.

Traveling with Original Medicare in the United States

If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you can see any doctor or visit any hospital that accepts Medicare. It doesn’t matter which state you’re in. This is especially helpful for retirees who RV full-time or travel frequently, since there’s no need to stick to a specific network.

Traveling with Medicare Plans in the United States

You’ll have even more freedom if you also have a Medicare Supplement plan (also called Medigap). These plans are designed to work alongside Original Medicare and are accepted anywhere Medicare is accepted. This means you don’t need to worry about being “in-network”. If the provider takes Medicare, they’ll take your Medigap plan, too.

However, things can get a bit more complicated if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans often have local and regional networks, meaning they may only fully cover your care within a particular geographic area. Most Medicare Advantage plans will still cover emergency or urgent care anywhere in the U.S., but for routine visits or follow-up care while traveling, you could be responsible for the full cost if you’re outside your plan’s network.

Before you travel, checking your Medicare Advantage plan’s out-of-area policies is a good idea. Some offer national networks or travel flexibility, while others don’t.

Traveling Outside the United States

Regarding international travel, Medicare’s coverage becomes much more limited. Original Medicare does not generally pay for healthcare services you receive outside the United States.

There are a few very specific exceptions. For example, if you’re in the U.S. and a foreign hospital is closer than a U.S. one, Medicare might cover the emergency care. This could happen if you’re traveling near the Canadian or Mexican border. Medicare may also cover care if you’re on a cruise ship and the ship is within six hours of a U.S. port when the medical service is provided. But outside of these rare scenarios, don’t count on Medicare to foot the bill when you’re abroad.

Traveling Outside the United States with Medicare Plans

Some Medigap plans (specifically Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N) include a foreign travel emergency benefit. These plans typically pay 80% of the cost of emergency care outside the U.S., after a $250 annual deductible. Coverage is limited to emergencies within the first 60 days of your trip and has a lifetime limit of $50,000. While this can be helpful, it’s important to know that this benefit is meant for true emergencies only, and it won’t cover things like routine doctor visits, long-term hospital stays, or medical evacuation.

Medicare Advantage plans also offer emergency care when traveling overseas. However, you’ll still need to review your plan’s specific benefits or call the insurance company to find out how you can get your care covered. Typically, you would pay up front and get reimbursed from the plan for the services they cover.

What Should You Do Before You Travel?

Before you pack your suitcase, take a few simple steps to ensure you’re covered. First, know what kind of Medicare plan you have. Original Medicare with or without a Medigap plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Then call your insurance company or review your plan documents to see what’s covered when you’re away from home.

If you’re staying within the U.S. and have Original Medicare and a Medigap plan, you should be covered just about anywhere. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to ask how your plan handles care in other states.

If you’re heading overseas, don’t rely on Original Medicare alone. Check to see if your Medigap plan includes foreign emergency coverage, and consider adding travel insurance if you’ll be gone more than a few weeks or visiting remote areas. If you have Medicare Advantage, you’ll want clear answers from your insurance provider about what happens if you need emergency care abroad.

Also, remember to carry your Medicare card (and your Medigap or Advantage card, if applicable) and a list of medications and emergency contact numbers, just in case.

Final Thoughts

Travel is one of the great joys of retirement, and Medicare shouldn’t hold you back from enjoying it. But like any savvy traveler, it pays to plan ahead. Understanding what your Medicare plan does and doesn’t cover can help you avoid surprise bills and give you peace of mind while exploring new places.