Summer is almost here, and if you’re packing for a trip — a cross-country drive to see grandkids, a beach week on the Cape, or a long-awaited European cruise — your Medicare coverage probably isn’t the first thing on your packing list. It should be.
Medicare’s travel coverage is more limited than most beneficiaries assume, and the gaps can be expensive. Here’s a clear-eyed look at what your plan does and doesn’t do once you cross a state line — or a border.
Original Medicare Travels With You — Within the U.S.
If you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you can see any doctor or visit any hospital in the country that accepts Medicare. That makes domestic travel relatively simple: if you fall and break your hip in Florida, the hospital bills Medicare just like it would back home. Your Medigap supplement (if you have one) follows along the same way.
The Catch: Medicare Advantage Plans Have Networks
Medicare Advantage plans typically operate within a regional network. Emergency and urgent care are always covered nationwide — that’s federal law. But routine care, follow-ups, and prescription refills outside your service area may not be. If you’ll be away for more than a few weeks, call your plan before you go, ask what’s covered, and ask whether you qualify for a “travel benefit” or temporary out-of-area exception. Some Medicare Advantage plans include up to 12 months of out-of-area coverage for snowbirds.
International Travel: This Is Where Medicare Stops
Here’s the big one: Original Medicare almost never covers care outside the U.S. There are narrow exceptions (border emergencies, ships within U.S. territorial waters), but for practical purposes, if you fly to Italy and end up in the emergency room, Medicare will not pay the bill.
This is where Medigap can help. Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N include a foreign travel emergency benefit. It typically covers 80% of approved emergency care during the first 60 days of a trip, after a $250 deductible, up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000. That’s meaningful coverage, but it’s not unlimited — and it doesn’t cover routine care or medical evacuation.
Consider Travel Medical Insurance
For international trips, a short-term travel medical insurance policy is almost always worth the cost. A typical policy runs $40 to $150 for a one- or two-week trip and can include emergency medical care, hospitalization, prescription medications, dental emergencies, and — crucially — medical evacuation, which can cost $50,000 to $250,000 out of pocket if you’re not covered. Most cruise lines recommend a separate policy.
June Is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month — Travel With a Plan
For families traveling with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, a few extra steps go a long way: bring a list of all medications, carry copies of recent medical records, register the diagnosis with the airline, and consider a medical ID bracelet. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term memory care, but it does cover diagnostic evaluations, planning visits, and certain medications. If you haven’t reviewed those benefits with your loved one’s plan recently, now is a good time.
Before You Pack the Suitcase
Pull out your Medicare or Medicare Advantage card, call the number on the back, and ask three questions:
- Am I covered where I’m going?
- What’s the process if I need care while I’m away?
- Is there anything I should bring with me — records, paperwork, an extra card?
A 10-minute phone call before you leave can save thousands of dollars and a lot of stress later. If you’d rather have someone do the calling for you, that’s what we’re here for. Schedule time now.