Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care while you’re travelingoutside the U.S.There are some exceptions, including some cases where Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) may pay for services that you get on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S.
Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital, doctor, andambulance servicesyou get in a foreign country in these rare cases:
- You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
- You're traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another U.S state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
- You live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.
Medicare may cover medically necessary ambulance transportation to a foreign hospital only with admission for medically necessary covered inpatient hospital services.
Medicare drug coverage (Part D) covers all vaccines that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends, including certain vaccines you might need to get before you travel outside the U.S. (like yellow fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis). Your Part D plan won't charge you a copayment or apply a deductible for vaccines ACIP recommends. Contact your Medicare drug plan for details and talk to your provider about which ones are right for you.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay 100% of the costs, in most cases. In the situations described above, you pay the part of the charge you would normally pay for covered services. This includes any medically necessary doctor and ambulance services you get in a foreign country as a part of a covered inpatient hospital stay. You also pay the coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles you'd normally pay if got these same services or supplies inside the U.S.
In the situations above, Medicare pays only for services covered under Original Medicare: Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers hospital care (care you get when you've been formally admitted with a doctor's order to the foreign hospital as an inpatient).
- Part B covers emergency and non-emergency ambulance and doctor services you get immediately before and during your covered foreign inpatient hospital stay. Medicare generally won't pay for services (like return ambulance trips home) in either of these cases:
- Medicare didn't cover your hospital stay.
- You got ambulance and doctor services outside the hospital after your covered hospital stay ended.
Note
Foreign hospitals aren’t required to file Medicare claims for your travel medical costs. You need tosubmit an itemized billto Medicare for your doctor, inpatient, and ambulance services if both of these apply:
- You're admitted to a foreign hospital under one of the situations above
- The foreign hospital doesn't submit Medicare claims for you
Find out cost
To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:
- Other insurance you may have
- How much your doctor charges
- If your doctor accepts assignment
- The type of facility
- Where you get your test, item, or service
Things to know
The 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are considered part of the U.S. Anywhere else is considered outside the U.S.
Medicare drug plans don't cover prescription drugs you buy outside the U.S.
Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies may cover emergency carewhen you travel outside the U.S.
Note
Because Medicare has limited travel medical coverage outside the U.S., you may choose to buy a travel insurance policy to get more coverage. An insurance agent or travel agent can give you more information about the cost of travel medicalinsurance. Travel insurance doesn’t necessarily include health insurance, so it’s important to read the conditions or restrictions carefully.
Is my test, item, or service covered?
FAQs
If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel outside the U.S., you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements. While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do.
What are the requirements to go abroad? ›
These are important and non-negotiable, so make sure you secure them before even thinking of flying to another country:
- Passport (must be valid for at least six months from your departure date)
- A visa, depending on your destination country.
- Confirmed return or roundtrip ticket.
- Boarding pass.
A passport is required for overseas travel. It is recommended to make a copy of your passport and put it in a separate place. Carry your passport - do not pack it in your checked luggage. You must present it to the Customs and Border Protection officer upon arrival in the United States.
How long can US citizens stay in other countries? ›
US citizens can live outside the country for as long as they wish — even for the rest of their lives — without a problem. A US citizen cannot be prevented from re-entering the US.
Can a U.S. citizen be denied entry back into the USA? ›
U.S. citizens have the right to enter the United States, so if you are a U.S. citizen and the officers' questions become intrusive, you can decline to answer those questions, but you should be aware that doing so may result in delay and/or further inspection.
What countries are visa free for Americans? ›
Let's Look At The US Passport Visa-Free Countries
EUROPE: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo.
What are the requirements to fly internationally? ›
International travel documents
- U.S. passport.
- U.S. passport card.
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
- Permanent resident card.
- Border crossing card.
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License.
All travelers must have a passport book for international air travel. Please note that hospital-issued birth certificates, voter registration cards, and affidavits cannot be used.
What is the process of traveling abroad? ›
Table of Contents
- Prepare your travel documents.
- Research your destination.
- Address money matters.
- Compare transportation & accommodation options.
- Book everything in advance.
- Avoid travel fatigue.
- Prioritize your health & safety.
- Pack appropriately.
A passport is required for all international travel. If you're traveling anywhere overseas, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. for international air travel.
7 Things You Must Do Before Your Next International Trip
- Make sure your passport and visa are up-to-date. ...
- Check for health advisories and travel warnings and advisories. ...
- Register your trip with the State Department. ...
- Stock your wallet with acceptable methods of payment. ...
- Buy travel insurance. ...
- Pack appropriately.
Ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months with enough blank pages. Additional passport photographs are very useful should you need a temporary passport or emergency travel certificate. Make sure that your family, friends or colleagues know what your movements will be while away.
Where can U.S. citizens not travel? ›
Learn about your destination
| Advisory | Level | Date Updated |
|---|
| Iran Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | January 11, 2024 |
| Iraq Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | April 24, 2024 |
| Italy Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | July 26, 2023 |
| Jamaica Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | January 23, 2024 |
143 more rowsOne of the many benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen is that it is a stable immigration status. Unlike the situation for lawful permanent residents (green card holders), someone who has attained naturalized U.S. citizenship can't lose that status solely by living outside of the United States for a long time.
What country allows U.S. citizens to stay the longest? ›
Indefinite Stay
The Marshall Islands – This archipelago in the Pacific Ocean was a US territory until the 1970s, and still uses the US dollar today. It's starting to become a popular tropical vacation destination, but is still affordable. Americans can visit and stay as long as they wish, no visa required.
Can U.S. citizens travel to every country? ›
As of 2024, holders of a United States passport may travel to 188 countries and territories without a travel visa, or with a visa on arrival. The United States passport currently ranks 7th in terms of travel freedom, according to the Henley Passport Index. It is also ranked 7th by the Global Passport Power Rank.
Do U.S. citizens have the right to travel? ›
The right precedes the creation of the United States and appears in the Articles of Confederation. The U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court recognize and protect the right to interstate travel. The travel right entails privacy and free domestic movement without governmental abridgement.
Can a U.S. citizen enter the US without a passport? ›
You are not allowed to enter on your foreign passport, because U.S. law requires all U.S. citizens to enter and depart the U.S. on a valid U.S. passport.
