What Medicare covers
Does Medicare cover you outside the U.S.?
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Short answer
Original Medicare usually doesn't cover health care outside the U.S., with a few exceptions, such as some emergencies when a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital, and certain care on a cruise ship in or within 6 hours of a U.S. port.
Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N pay 80% of the cost of emergency care during travel abroad, up to the plan's limits.
Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions you buy outside the U.S., and Medicare Advantage plans may cover some emergency care abroad, which varies by plan.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What counts as the U.S. | The 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa | Medicare.gov |
| Original Medicare abroad | Generally not covered; rare exceptions | Medicare.gov |
| Cruise ships | Part B may pay when the ship is in a U.S. port or within 6 hours of one | Medicare.gov |
| Medigap foreign travel emergency | 80% after a $250 yearly deductible, up to $50,000 in a lifetime (Plans C, D, F, G, M, N) | Federal Medigap standards |
| Part D drugs bought abroad | Not covered | Medicare.gov |
When does Original Medicare pay for care outside the U.S.?
- You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency happens, and a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat you.
- You're traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state, an emergency happens, and a Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital.
- You live in the U.S. and a foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your condition, whether or not it's an emergency.
- You're on a cruise ship in a U.S. port, or no more than 6 hours from one, and the ship's doctor is allowed to treat you; Part B may pay for medically necessary services.
What does Medigap pay for care abroad?
Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N include a foreign travel emergency benefit: under the federal standards, they pay 80% of the cost of medically necessary emergency care during the first 60 days of a trip outside the U.S., after a $250 yearly deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime limit. Plans A, B, K and L don't include it. Compare Medigap plans.
Does Medicare Advantage cover emergencies abroad?
Some Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency and urgently needed care outside the U.S. as an extra benefit, often with a yearly limit. Coverage varies by plan, so check the plan's Evidence of Coverage before you travel.
Should I buy travel insurance?
If you travel abroad often or for long periods, a travel medical insurance policy can fill the gaps, such as medical evacuation, which Original Medicare doesn't cover. Read the policy's conditions: travel insurance doesn't always include health coverage.
Good to know
More questions people ask
Does Medicare work in Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories?
Does Part D cover prescriptions I fill abroad?
Do I need Medicare if I live abroad?
Related questions
- Medicare.gov: Travel outside the U.S.
- Medicare.gov: Compare Medigap plan benefits
- Medicare.gov: What Medicare covers
Figures are Medicare’s, set nationally, and were checked against these pages on October 2026. For your own situation, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
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This page was last updated: October 2026.