Does Medicare or U.S. Health Insurance Cover You Overseas?

The honest answer is: sometimes, partly, and usually less than people assume. The only reliable answer for your situation is in your plan documents.

The government position

The U.S. Department of State states plainly that the U.S. government does not pay medical costs for U.S. citizens abroad, and recommends asking your insurer whether it covers emergency and routine care overseas before you go.

Medicare

Medicare states that it usually does not cover health care while you are traveling outside the United States, with limited exceptions. Medicare drug plans do not cover prescriptions bought abroad. Some Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies include foreign travel emergency coverage, and some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited coverage abroad — in both cases, the specific plan determines what applies.

For anyone living abroad rather than visiting, Medicare is generally not a substitute for health coverage where you live.

Employer and individual plans

Domestic employer and individual plans vary widely. Some cover emergency care abroad, often requiring you to pay first and seek reimbursement. Some cover it at out-of-network rates. Some cover very little. Plans with narrow networks may cover nothing outside their service area except emergencies.

Even plans that cover an emergency abroad are generally not designed to be your ongoing healthcare in another country, and rarely include medical evacuation.

What to ask your plan before you leave

• Does the plan cover emergency care outside the U.S.? Routine care?
• Will I have to pay up front and claim reimbursement?
• Is medical evacuation covered? Repatriation?
• How long can I be outside the U.S. and remain covered?
• What happens to coverage if I establish residence abroad?

Get the answers in writing. If the answers are mostly no, coverage designed for life abroad is the relevant next step.

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